Alexandra Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Is this sound a North American phenomenon? Would a British person say words with the schwa sound? I am trying to imagine a Britain saying progression...they would say the first syllable as a long "o" - is that correct? An American OTOH would (most likely) say "prugression". If I have that correct, is the schwa a difference in accent or perhaps laziness? Thanks for any help with this. Alexandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2J112903 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I have lived in the states all my life and say progression (with a long /o/) and never have *I* heard it pronuced prugression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I say progression with a schwa. If I am purposefully enunciating very clearly, I do not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amydavis Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 (edited) I say it with the schwa sound. All the dictionary entries I have found list it as being a short sound, not a long o. (Editing to just add the dictionary pronunciation) pro·gres·sion noun \prə-ˈgre-shən\ Edited October 5, 2010 by amydavis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof4pks Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 The schwa sound is found in unaccented open syllables. While there may be some regional variations, there are many words that I would think any English speaker would say with the schwa. The initial "a" in "above, "awake", etc., the final "a" in "comma", "tundra", etc.--there are tons of words with these usages of schwa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xuzi Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Totally not on topic, but after reading the thread title, all I can think of is "Shaw-iiiing!!!" (ala Wayne's World) And now back to your regularly scheduled discussion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amydavis Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Totally not on topic, but after reading the thread title, all I can think of is "Shaw-iiiing!!!" (ala Wayne's World) And now back to your regularly scheduled discussion... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Interesting. We came upon the schwa sound today in Megawords. Wouldn't someone in the UK say progress with a long o? Why do we say it with a schwa sound? I think you raise a great question. I have NEVER in the states heard anyone pronounce it with a long o sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Totally not on topic, but after reading the thread title, all I can think of is "Shaw-iiiing!!!" (ala Wayne's World) And now back to your regularly scheduled discussion... :lol: Too funny - that's exactly what I thought of when I saw the thread title!! Unfortunately, I have nothing helpful to contribute to the actual topic (especially since I now have Wayne's World scenes floating through my brain)... Excellent! Party on! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaNZ Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 For whatit's worth - I'm English and I say progress with a long-o, but progression with a schwa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 That's how we say it too. Using a schwa isn't necessarily lazy, it allows you to put the stress on the appropriate syllable of the word. You couldn't stress something if there wasn't a way not to, could you? Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 The schwa is common in British English. In standard British English the first 'o' in progression would definitely be a schwa, being unstressed. In 'progress' it would be a long 'o', as it is stressed. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 In the south, we often stress first syllables where others stress the second. Because "schwa" is in unstressed syllables, this can affect when it is used. For example, most southerners will say "umbrella" or "police" stressing the first syllable. I would think a northerner would use a "schwa" in the first syllable of "police" but a southerner won't because it is stressed and has a long "o." Think about "guitar" - it's the same way. My kids had a book identifying "guitar" as having a schwa sound. Well, not amongst many speakers around here! For me (and I don't really have a southern accent, but I think that being around it all my life affects what seems normal to me, so some things creep in, and the emphasis on the first syllable may be one), - the word "progress" would have an emphasis on the first syllable when used as a noun and the "o" would be pronounced like like the "aa" in "baa baa black sheep." - the word "progress" would have a long "O" in the first syllable when used as a verb - and I guess "progressive" probably has a schwa sound in my speech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I believe the schwa is used in all accents of English, as well as in many other languages. However, since I am Australian, I speak as though I'm trying to keep the flies out, so take no notice of anything I say :tongue_smilie: ROFL @ Danestress "Ah wanna play mah GUIT-ar" I <3 Southern accent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Hmmm. progression? I say the prog like frog. Short o. Prog res sion. Maybe I should pull out a dictionary...:001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabrett Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 (edited) In the south, we often stress first syllables where others stress the second. Because "schwa" is in unstressed syllables, this can affect when it is used. For example, most southerners will say "umbrella" or "police" stressing the first syllable. I would think a northerner would use a "schwa" in the first syllable of "police" but a southerner won't because it is stressed and has a long "o." Think about "guitar" - it's the same way. My kids had a book identifying "guitar" as having a schwa sound. Well, not amongst many speakers around here! For me (and I don't really have a southern accent, but I think that being around it all my life affects what seems normal to me, so some things creep in, and the emphasis on the first syllable may be one), - the word "progress" would have an emphasis on the first syllable when used as a noun and the "o" would be pronounced like like the "aa" in "baa baa black sheep." - the word "progress" would have a long "O" in the first syllable when used as a verb - and I guess "progressive" probably has a schwa sound in my speech. Being from the south, this is probably why I couldn't spell phonetically. "Spell it like it sounds" I was told. geesh....50% of the vowels sound like /uh/. I never could figure out which vowel to use. I actually had to start to learn to PRONOUNCE the vowel in the word correctly, without a schwa, to learn to spell. :001_huh: When teaching my dc to read, I pronounce all the vowels correctly, without a schwa sound, in hopes it will help with spelling. Needless to say, the southern accent will end up prevailing. Edited October 6, 2010 by Tabrett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Progress: I say the noun with a longish "o" and the verb with a schwa. Progression: schwa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 In standard British English the first 'o' in progression would definitely be a schwa, being unstressed. In 'progress' it would be a long 'o', as it is stressed.Both noun and verb? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Is this sound a North American phenomenon? Would a British person say words with the schwa sound?I am trying to imagine a Britain saying progression...they would say the first syllable as a long "o" - is that correct? An American OTOH would (most likely) say "prugression". If I have that correct, is the schwa a difference in accent or perhaps laziness? Thanks for any help with this. Alexandra There's nothing 'lazy' about any dialect, for one thing... Also, schwa is just a sound -- a mid central vowel, no better or worse than any other sound. In English it is used in unaccented syllables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Progress: I say the noun with a longish "o" and the verb with a schwa.Progression: schwa Interesting. Here I do exactly the opposite. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Interesting. Here I do exactly the opposite. Bill I'm a Canadian raised by an English father. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Both noun and verb? Many people avoid that as an americanism. If it's used, then the 'o' is a a schwa and the stress is on the second syllable. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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