Dubious distinctions

[muckefuck]

At lunch today, I was helping one of my more lefty co-workers on with his jacket. Ignoring his protestations, I said, "Every man should know what it's like to have a valet," pronouncing the last word in the manner of Bertie Wooster. "Oh," he replied, "you're one of those people who says ['valɪt]."

"A [væ'leɪ] is someone who parks your car," I shot back. "Someone who helps you with your clothes is a ['valɪt]."

Comments

[areia.livejournal.com]

Interesting, I've never heard that distinction. Will have to pull out the OED tonight and see what it thinks. (No, there's absolutely nothing wrong with anthropomorphizing books. Especially big ones...)

Incidentally, according to Wikipedia, that infallible repository of world knowledge: "the older pronunciation in which the 't' was pronounced (so 'valet' rhymes with 'pallet') [is] considered old-fashioned or even ignorant."

Wikipedia says you're ignorant. Must be true then. ;)

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

Far be it from me to preclude anyone's trip to the OED, but I happen to have it at my fingertips here, and I can tell you that the first pronunciation listed is ['vælɪt]. But, then, if some anonymous contributor to Wikipedia says that pronunciation is "considered...ignorant", then it must be the OED is wrong.

(Interestingly, the only other pronunciation given is ['væleɪ], with initial stress; there's no mention of what is by far the most usual pronunciation in the single most populous English-speaking nation on the planet. So, perhaps, calling the OED "ignorant" on this point isn't as off-base as it seems.)

[areia.livejournal.com]

Fear not, I've never needed an excuse to pull our the OED; I'll quite happily sit and read random entries for hours.

I've only ever heard the 't' pronounced by an English speaker in the word 'valeting', in the sense of having a car professionally cleaned in the UK. I don't think I ever had my car parked for me over there, so I have no idea how they pronounced that profession. I do think I've noticed some of the more American spelling and pronunciation trends missing from the OED in the past, so there may be some bias there.

As such, I think we should rely solely on Wikipedia.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

I agree; after all, Wikipedia has never steered me wrong. (Well, except for that one article on polar bears. But I think some jerkwad may have hacked it or something.)

[oakwonder.livejournal.com]

Wankipedians are like the G*rm*ns of the Internet: a quick towel over the deck chair early in the morning and it's enough to convince some people they must have some backup for what they're saying. So those of us who take pride in saying [vælIt]... well, we're out of it if the great non-U oracle is to be believed.

[pne.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've heard it pronounced, but I'd say ['væleɪ]. So this may be a Britishism.

[teapot-farm.livejournal.com]

Nope, I've never heard it with a pronounced t over here... just archaic, I think.

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

teapot_farm, meet oakwonder. oakwonder, teapot_farm. The two of you should talk.

[richardthinks.livejournal.com]

I think the issue here may be that the Oxford English Dictionary delivers Oxford English. If you want steak for your entree and valet parking you may need the New American Heritage.

Bertie Wooster's good enough for me: I'll take it as archaic "U" and be done. Related to "varlet" - a low person.

[richardthinks.livejournal.com]

You could have really thrown him by styling yourself his batman.

[profundojoe.livejournal.com]

I love Bertie Wooster. And Gussy Finknottle. And really any book by Wodehouse.

[foodpoisoningsf.livejournal.com]

Are you one of those guys who likes to help other men get dressed at the gym?

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

No way. I like to help them undress.