The first ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘ants’, ‘pants’, and ‘hands’; the second is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘e’ like the ‘e’ in ‘set’, ‘bet’, and ‘pet’, and the final ‘ic’ is like the ‘ick’ in ‘pick’, ‘click’, and ‘stick’.
The stress is on the third syllable ‘dem’. The word is pronounced ‘akeDEMik’.
Example: “Do you want to be an academic when you grow up?”
Source: “The Hindu” – Know Your English Column – Jan 29, 2008
Pronunciation: The ‘e’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘fit’ and ‘kit’, and the following syllable is pronounced like the word ‘June’. The stress is on the second syllable. The word is mostly used in formal contexts to show disapproval.
When you say that someone is ‘jejune’, what you mean is that the person is rather childish or unsophisticated. When used with things, the word means uninteresting.
*I’ve been listening to jejune lectures all day.
The word comes from the Latin ‘jejunus’ meaning ‘fasting or hungry’. When it was first used in English, ‘jejune’ meant ‘going without food’.
Source: “The Hindu” – Know Your English Column – Jan 08, 2008
‘Needle phobia’ is an expression that is commonly used by a lot of people for fear of injections. Doctors, on the other hand, refer to the extreme and irrational fear of injections as ‘trypanophobia’. The ‘y’ in the first syllable is like the ‘i’ in ‘bit’, ‘hit’, and ‘sit’, and the following syllable is pronounced like the word ‘pan’. It is also possible to pronounce the ‘a’ in the second syllable like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The ‘o’ is like the ‘o’ in ‘go’, so’ and ‘no’, and the final syllables are pronounced like the word ‘phobia’. The main stress is on ‘pho’. These are just two of the ways of pronouncing the word.
Source: “The Hindu” – Know Your English Column – Jan 08, 2008
The word rhymes with ‘sure’, ‘poor’, and ‘cure’. It is normally used to refer to a person’s appearance or his manner. When you say that an individual is dour what you mean is that he appears very serious and rather unhappy. He looks rather severe, gloomy and unfriendly.
*Surprisingly, the normally dour Harish became the life of the party.
The ‘sh’ is like the ‘sh’ in ‘shop’ and ‘ship’, and the following ‘oa’ is like the ‘oa’ in ‘boat’ and ‘coat’. ‘Shoal’ rhymes with ‘pole’, ‘coal’, and ‘hole’. The word is normally used with reference to fish. A shoal of fish is a large group of fish swimming together. It is also possible to say ‘school of fish’.
*Scuba diving was a wonderful experience. We swam among shoals of fish
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – November 27, 2007
First, let’s deal with the pronunciation. The `u’ in both words is pronounced like the `oo’ in `cool’, `pool’, and `fool’, and the final `i’ is like the `i’ in `hip’, `dip’, and `ship’. The `a’ in the second syllable of `mutatis’ is like the `a’ in `ask’, `path’, and `task’; while the `a’ in `mutandis’ is like the `a’ in `ant’, `pants’, and `stand’. The main stress is on the second syllable of `mutandis’. This is just one of the ways of pronouncing the word.
`Mutatis mutandis’ is a Latin expression frequently used in economics and law. Its literal meaning is “things being changed that have to be changed”. This can be interpreted to mean “the necessary changes having been made”. For example, if you were to say, “The same agreement will, mutatis mutandis, be given to each manager in the organisation,” what you mean is that the agreement that will be given to each manager will be more or less the same. The only change will be the name – each agreement will contain the name of a different manager.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – November 20, 2007
‘Lingerie’ is one of the most commonly mispronounced word. Many people pronounce it as ‘ling-er-rie’. The correct pronunciation is ‘lahn-zhuh-rey’ ( US) or ‘lahn-zhuh-ree’ ( UK).
The `ph’ in the first syllable sounds like the `f’ in `fish’, `feel’ and `full’; the `l..e..g’ that follows sounds like the word `leg’. The following syllable is pronounced like the word `mat’, and the final `ic’ is like the `ic’ in `picnic’ and `fantastic’. The main stress is on the second syllable `mat’; the word sounds like `flegmatic’.
The word is normally used to talk about an individual’s temperament. When you say that someone is phlegmatic, what you mean is that person remains cool under pressure. He remains unemotional.
Example: As expected, the champion remained phlegmatic throughout the tense fifth set.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – November 20, 2007
The word ‘finale’ consists of three syllables. The ‘i’ in the first syllable and the ‘e’ in the final syllable are like the ‘i’ in ‘hit’, ‘bit’ and ‘kit’; the ‘a’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘path’ and ‘bath’. The stress is on the second syllable ‘na’. The word is pronounced ‘finaali’. The last item in a stage show can be referred to as a finale; so can the final movement of a musical composition.
*The fireworks were the grand finale of the ten-day event.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – November 13, 2007
The `a’ in the first syllable is like the `a’ in `amount’ and account’; the `cer’ sounds like the word `sir’. The final `ic’ is like the `ick’ in `stick’, `chick’, and `kick’, and the main stress is on the second syllable. The word is pronounced `asirbick’. It comes from the Latin acerbus’ meaning `harsh’.
When you say that someone’s comments were `acerbic’, what you mean is that they were cruel, stinging or bitter tasting.
Examples: Ram’s acerbic wit has made him many enemies.* *Despite the acerbic reviews, Usha’s latest book has become a bestseller.
Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – November 06, 2007
KYE 