Are word puzzles of interest here?

petrw1 · 2010-09-24, 17:59

How many different ways can the letters "EA" be pronounced in words in the English Language. I guess to be fair there is no reason why I couldn't expand this to ANY language.

The obvious and most common one is the Long-E sound in words like:
real or cream

How many more can you find?
I think there could be as many as 10 or maybe even more.

retina · 2010-09-24, 18:03

"ough" has many pronunciations also.

Uncwilly · 2010-09-24, 18:26

There are 44 phonemes in Englsh. If memory serves, there are 1063 spellings of those. Thus the dyslexia issues are worse than, say, Italian.

science_man_88 · 2010-09-24, 18:28

http://www.morewords.com/contains/ea/ sites like this found by the google search: "*ea*" + english words may help a bit lol. I think the list on that one site has 4000 words to search through.

CRGreathouse · 2010-09-24, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

There are 44 phonemes in Englsh. If memory serves, there are 1063 spellings of those. Thus the dyslexia issues are worse than, say, Italian.

That overstates the issue, though -- the top few spellings cover the vast majority of the cases.

science_man_88 · 2010-09-24, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by science_man_88

http://www.morewords.com/contains/ea/ sites like this found by the google search: "*ea*" + english words may help a bit lol. I think the list on that one site has 4000 words to search through.

so far I think these are separate:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/abeam
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/acidhead
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/amenorrheas
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anneal
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bureaucratic
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nuclear
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bear
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/break

lavalamp · 2010-09-25, 00:09

Abeam and anneal are the same, with a long e sound, just like cheese.

Here's another:
beautiful

xilman · 2010-09-25, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavalamp

Abeam and anneal are the same, with a long e sound, just like cheese.

In many British dialects, anneal contains a dipthong A N EE-UH L

Paul

davieddy · 2010-10-02, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

In many British dialects, anneal contains a dipthong A N EE-UH L

Paul

But usually no UH in annealing.

How about Neil or kneel? I find it possible but unnatural
to avoid the UH in both.
OTOH I have no problem with film!

David

Uncwilly · 2010-10-26, 13:17

Can we have some more word puzzles please?

petrw1 · 2010-11-05, 04:45

Code:

WORD --- Rhymes with
=================
beam ---- see
head ---- red
nuclear -- see + sir with emphasis on see sound
bear --- air
break --- take
idea ---- see + buck with emphasis on see sound
yeah ---- hat
heart --- car
ocean --- pin
react --- see + cat with emphasis on cat sound
European -- see + pin with emphasis on see sound
learn ---- sir
noticeably --- buck

Your pronounciations may NOT agree depending on whose English you speak.
Note I excluded words like Beau and Beautiful since it is not ONLY the 'ea' vowels that make the sound.

2010-09-24, 17:59	#1
petrw1 1976 Toyota Corona years forever! "Wayne" Nov 2006 Saskatchewan, Canada 3·1,759 Posts	Are word puzzles of interest here? How many different ways can the letters "EA" be pronounced in words in the English Language. I guess to be fair there is no reason why I couldn't expand this to ANY language. The obvious and most common one is the Long-E sound in words like: real or cream How many more can you find? I think there could be as many as 10 or maybe even more.

2010-11-05, 04:45	#11
petrw1 1976 Toyota Corona years forever! "Wayne" Nov 2006 Saskatchewan, Canada 3×1,759 Posts	EA - I count 13 so far Code: WORD --- Rhymes with ================= beam ---- see head ---- red nuclear -- see + sir with emphasis on see sound bear --- air break --- take idea ---- see + buck with emphasis on see sound yeah ---- hat heart --- car ocean --- pin react --- see + cat with emphasis on cat sound European -- see + pin with emphasis on see sound learn ---- sir noticeably --- buck Your pronounciations may NOT agree depending on whose English you speak. Note I excluded words like Beau and Beautiful since it is not ONLY the 'ea' vowels that make the sound. Last fiddled with by petrw1 on 2010-11-05 at 04:45

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2010-09-24, 18:03	#2
retina Undefined "The unspeakable one" Jun 2006 My evil lair 5·7·191 Posts	"ough" has many pronunciations also.

2010-09-24, 18:26	#3
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 10101010001111₂ Posts	There are 44 phonemes in Englsh. If memory serves, there are 1063 spellings of those. Thus the dyslexia issues are worse than, say, Italian.

2010-09-24, 18:28	#4
science_man_88 "Forget I exist" Jul 2009 Dartmouth NS 2×3×23×61 Posts	http://www.morewords.com/contains/ea/ sites like this found by the google search: "ea" + english words may help a bit lol. I think the list on that one site has 4000 words to search through.

2010-09-25, 00:09	#7
lavalamp Oct 2007 Manchester, UK 1,373 Posts	Abeam and anneal are the same, with a long e sound, just like cheese. Here's another: beautiful

2010-10-26, 13:17	#10
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 5×2,179 Posts	Can we have some more word puzzles please?