Along that vein, how does everyone pronounce "mature"?

Depends how fast I am speaking. I say ma-t-u-or when I am speaking slow and mach-uor when I am speaking fast.

I personally believe that English is a living language that is always evolving and changing, so the pronunciation from 100 years ago is not the same pronunciation used today. It doesn't mean that today's pronunciation is wrong, just evolved. And the pretentious "scholars" who think that it is incorrect to pronounce 'what' without the 'h' sound (it's correct to pronounce it either way) need to look around them and see that things change. I'm surprised they are even willing to use computers.

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I just read a book last night that seemed oddly familar. Found out why. I had read it 8 years ago. This is not a good sign if I am buying the same books again.

I read The Da Vinci Code a few months ago but was unimpressed and bothered by some of the errors in it (didn't he have an editor?) I liked the book overall, but it wasn't a favorite and I didn't find it worth keeping. Am I missing something that everyone else seems to be getting from it?

ETA: is it just me or does the line breaks in the second paragraph cause mucho alliteration?

The Illumnati in the book were anti-religion and believers in science.

The Illumnati in the book were anti-religion and believers in science.

Aha! See that's what I get for trying to comment when I don't know what people are talking about.

Nah! No worries. It makes for good conversation. What are you reading, Jesse?

I personally believe that English is a living language that is always evolving and changing, so the pronunciation from 100 years ago is not the same pronunciation used today.

I agree. But I turn into a total prescriptivist whenever I see someone write "Here, here!" instead of "Hear, hear!" or "free reign" rather than "free rein."

Who wants to be totally consistent, after all?

I agree. But I turn into a total prescriptivist whenever I see someone write "Here, here!" instead of "Hear, hear!" or "free reign" rather than "free rein."

True, that. But, spelling is a completely different subject than pronunciation....

ETA not saying that spelling and pronunciation are different subjects, because they really are, but they don't really belong together because they follow such different rules. And I am becoming confused once more.

mmmmm.....you said "Illuminati".....

(signed, complete and total "Illuminatus Trilogy" freak over her)

I have that book. Well, it's on a friend's bookshelf right now, but I read that book so many times in college. I tried to read it on acid once, in the mistaken assumption that I would get clued in to some scret code or something, but instead I just read the same page about 15 times.

Signed, Can Only Not Read on Acid or In Cars.

Signed, Can Only Not Read on Acid or In Cars.

I think we may have been separated at birth on this one.

What are you reading, Jesse?

I am currently looking forward to a stack of vacation reading, including two Pelecanos and I forget what else. Also probably cheesy magazines.

I'm with Skyzy on The DaVinci Code. It had some interesting ideas but was ruined by bad structure, bad dialogue, and a major plot twist that was far too predictable.