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Welcome to the English language... (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by b_randon

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[–]Fredthef1sh 52 points53 points ago

well as KulaanDoDinok said in a previous post of this image:

False. The "GH" in "GHOST" sounds like "Guh", the "O" in both "GO" and "GHOST", and the "TI" in "TIME" sounds like Ty. Ghoti sounds like "Goaty".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghoti Linguists have pointed out that the location of the letters in the constructed word is inconsistent with how those letters would be pronounced in those placements, and that the expected pronunciation in English would be "goaty".'

[–]Knotted 22 points23 points ago

As someone who reads english, this is how I pronounced it.

[–]TheSeedCraft 5 points6 points ago

I was going to reply with a similar comment.

We do have some form of construction in our language, even if it's weird.

[–]redleg86 0 points1 point ago

Wait - this isn't clear. Most words I know that end in -TY are pronounced like tee.

So if the "TI" is being pronounced like it is in "TIME", I'm perplexed by that spelling. Additionally, since the placement of letters in words was addressed, "TIME" seems like a bad example. Since "TIME" has "TI" at the beginning, while "GHOTI" has it at the end. I would expect it to be more like "GRAFFITI" or "YETI" where "TI" is pronounced tee. Of course, "CACTI" would be a counter example. But I can't think of a single word that ends with -TY where it is pronounced like the "TI" in "TIME".

[–]RepostParrot 45 points46 points ago

"Prounced"? How about the creator of this practices what they preach, instead?

[–]morganjarvis88 43 points44 points ago

PROUNCED IS NOT A WORD

[–]matthewtheninja 10 points11 points ago

I've seen this a million times, and I still think that the dude who came up with this is a smart-ass and a douchebag.

[–]captainclumzee 3 points4 points ago

This. Also: a faggot.

[–]redleg86 0 points1 point ago

An early known published reference is in 1874, citing an 1855 letter that credits ghoti to one William Ollier Jr (born 1824). source

So even when it was first put on the internet, it was stolen from this chap.

[–]Blame_The_Green 16 points17 points ago

/r/forwardsfromgrandma

[–]PlusLovely 7 points8 points ago

You're making dangerous assumptions here...

[–]andrews5051 12 points13 points ago

TI does not make the SH sound. TION makes the SHUN sound.

consider yourself TION..ed

TIONNED!

[–]Differently-Aged 0 points1 point ago

Relevant T-I-O-N!

shun shun-shun-shunnn

T-I-O-N!

shun shunshunshun

Good times.

[–]redtgh 41 points42 points ago

title comnts points age /r/
scum bag english 15coms 23pts 1yr funny
Welcome to the English language. 614coms 683pts 1yr funny
Welcome to the English language, asshole. 3coms 3pts 1mo funny
Fish 112coms 781pts 4mos funny
Welcome to the english language, asshole. 3coms 15pts 1mo funny
Welcome to the English language 4coms 11pts 7mos funny
And they say French is a complicated language... 1com -6pts 9mos funny
Welcome to the English language 90coms 318pts 8mos funny

source: karmadecay

[–]SassyMoron 8 points9 points ago

older than the internet

[–]Buriedwhere 4 points5 points ago

Please credit source: George Bernard Shaw.

[–]paladiumsteve 4 points5 points ago

I'm not normally one to complain about reposts, but this exact thing was in an English textbook I had in 6th grade that was published in the 90s.

[–]shnookumsmuffin 3 points4 points ago

Old.

[–]somanybanelings 6 points7 points ago

who the fuck says 'wimmin'

[–]Apellosine 5 points6 points ago

It's the plural of woman...

[–]Termin8r 2 points3 points ago

Nice repost

[–]Wilsonethan44 2 points3 points ago

Goddamn this picture is old.

[–]TheJanks -1 points0 points ago

half my beef with English language

http://www.steaksmoothie.com/?p=203

[–]Karfedix_of_Pain 1 point2 points ago

"Phoch" can also be pronounced like "Fish".

[–]RookiesRevenge 0 points1 point ago

Switch the "Gh" to "ph" as in "phone" and it works

[–]1151955 0 points1 point ago

I didnt laff not one bit

[–]p0rnflakes 1 point2 points ago

That is just not how phonetics work, sorry.

Source: I study linguistics.

[–]SchiferlED 0 points1 point ago

This is the slogan for my high school's psychology club.

[–]Fredrick_Sinclair 0 points1 point ago

I saw this on StumbleUpon about 8 months ago.

[–]Theultimateturtle 0 points1 point ago

Gh is 'f' at the end of the word

[–]matari 0 points1 point ago

well tiot

[–]RhinelandBasterd 0 points1 point ago

Ahem. "ghost", "moat", "tiara". Your argument is invalid.

[–]Freyniku -1 points0 points ago

No you just proved his point. There sometimes is a discrepancy between what you write and how you pronounce it in English. More so than many other languages but still not uncommon.

[–]PandaSensei 0 points1 point ago

Who the fuck pronounces women with an I?

[–]Surfacetovolume 1 point2 points ago

The same as the first I in idiot.

[–]ahepler72 -3 points-2 points ago

who the fuck says "wimen"

[–]breadnbutta -3 points-2 points ago

ghoti hook? anyone?

[–]SkaakS 1 point2 points ago

Yes! I never realized until now that's where their name came from! One of my favorite bands growing up. I played in a ska back in HS and got to open for them one show. One of the greatest nights of my life!

[–]breadnbutta 0 points1 point ago

You sir, have gained my respect

[–]SamCropper -5 points-4 points ago

This is why my Xbox live gamer tag is "phyti" pronounced "fish". The only difference is the ph instead of gh as in Physics.