Just based on how often I notice someone mispronounce a word without realizing it (or have done so myself and realized it later). Statistically I’m probably still doing it with some word.

      • thisisbutaname@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        11 months ago

        Even that is an approximation, I don’t think English has the Italian gn sound, which is the same as Spanish ñ.

        I can’t think of any way to spell it that’d lead to a precise pronunciation, or any English word that contains that specific sound.

        • CoggyMcFee@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          11 months ago

          I mean, this word does have an English pronunciation that is distinct from the Italian pronunciation, which follows English phonology.

            • CoggyMcFee@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              edit-2
              11 months ago

              Re-reading I can see you weren’t actually claiming English speakers needed to use the Italian pronunciation. Some people do claim that so I just kind of continued my lifelong argument with those people :)

              I agree that basic sounds from one language that don’t exist in another language are interesting.

              • thisisbutaname@discuss.tchncs.de
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                11 months ago

                I understand your point and admit my comment could definitely be interpreted that way.

                I could be a dick about it and demand people learn to pronounce it the way us Italians do, but then I’d also have to start pronouncing every English loan word perfectly and with a correct English accent while speaking Italian, and you can do that without sounding like a pretentious asshole, so I won’t.