This is just something I've noticed over the last few years in the English (UK) media and I wondered if there is some explanation for it.
It used to be that 'financial' and 'finance' were pronounced with an 'iy' sound (fiynancial) - the I sound from 'sigh' or 'bye' for example. But it seems that all newsreaders and correspondents are currently under instructions to pronounce these with a hard I such as the I from 'kick'.
I find this particularly irksome with the word 'finance' for some reason!
Has anyone else noticed this? Is there a reason? Is it an Americanism?
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Jun 12 '15 at 11:21
El Ronnoco
156●1●5
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The "correct" pronunciation, as given by the 1892 Webster's International Dictionary (American) and John Walker's 1828 Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language (British) has the short vowel of "kick". So you're wrong about the "way it used to be." I suspect that both pronunciations have been around for the last 70 years. Of course, that doesn't explain why British newsreaders have suddenly settled on one pronunciation, if indeed they have and you're not just noticing it more because you started paying attention. – Peter Shor Jun 12 '15 at 11:38
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I almost think pronouncing it 'fiynancial' is more an example of Americanism. – Chris R Jun 12 '15 at 11:46
There is example of pronounciation of finance and financial. As you say, the right pronounciation is like "bye" – Yohann V. Jun 12 '15 at 11:48
El -- pronunciations change constantly. – Fattie Jun 12 '15 at 13:05
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@Peter Shor: Is the pronunciation with a short "i" associated with a stress on the second syllable of "finance"? That pronunciation is a lot easier for me to imagine than one with stress on the first syllable, like "FINN-ance". As an American, I'm used to pronouncing it with a stressed and diphthongal first syllable. – sumelic Jun 12 '15 at
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