• KSP Atlas@sopuli.xyz
    6·
    2 days ago

    The reason why the p in “pterodactyl” is silent is because the consonant cluster /pt/ isn’t allowed as the initial part of a syllable

    When words are borrowed into English but have consonant clusters like this, English simplifies the cluster (in this case, /pt/ becomes /t/)

    However, if the consonant cluster is preceded by a vowel, it splits up and the first consonant becomes the coda (final part) of the preceding syllable

    So while it might have been he-li-co-pter in Greek, it became he-li-cop-ter in English

    This also explains the silent g in “phlegm” and why it’s pronounced in “phlegmatic”

    • grissino@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 day ago

      Funny that pt isn’t allowed but ph is allowed. Or maybe we should start to say “hlematic” 😜

      • KSP Atlas@sopuli.xyz
        2·
        23 hours ago

        That’s because “ph” is a combination of two letters to make a single sound

        Using the IPA, an alphabet designed for writing down sounds of words, where one sound tends to correspond to one letter, “phlegm” is /ˈflɛm/ and “phlegmatic” is /fleɡˈma.tɪk/

      • KSP Atlas@sopuli.xyz
        2·
        1 day ago

        That’s perfectly fine, as long as others understand you the exact was you pronounce it doesn’t matter

        I was just saying what tends to happen, not what always happens