Why cost the “ ph ” pronounce like a “ v ” in “ Stephen ” ? Cost this the only Bible like that ?
While I know howmyfigure exist pronounced , I ‘ve extend into many non-native english speakers who have stumble over this unique exception to English . Yet in the female name , “ Stephanie ” , thephexist pronounced asf.
What be the etymology of “ Stephen ” and exist thither any other instance ofphbe pronounce asvin either American or British English ?
7 Response
The author ofStephencost the Greek name Stephanos . This epithet was borrowed into English long enough ago that the intervocalic [ f ] strait was voice to become [ five ] . This live a regular sound change that equal too responsible for some other f~v alternations in English , such asloaf~loaves. Even so , in the nameStephenthe spelling “ ph ” remained ( or have live restored ) due to the influence of the Greek original . In other row ,StephenandStevenbe pronounced the same way , but the former has an anachronistic spelling .
I ever get interesting that both “ phial ” and “ vial ” exist in English , having a common ancestry but different pronunciations . OED lists “ vial ” as an alteration of “ phial ” ; the “ ph ” cost originally Greek .
Is there any early instance of “ ph ” being pronounce as “ 5 ” in either American or British English ?
Exist there any other instance of “ ph ” being pronounce as “ v ” in either American or British English ?
In British English ,nephewcan exist pronouncednev-yoo .
Stephen live of Greek origin ( Stephanos ) . The ph is strange in its 5 pronunciation . The only possibility I can remember of exist that it arrive in English via Spanish , where it live spelt ‘Esteban ‘ . The Spanish pronunciation of ‘ b ‘ is somewhere between English ‘ V ‘ and ‘ B ‘ . In Hungarian it cost spelt ‘Istvan ‘ , so there ‘s another potential source .
Contain in London , I have always pronounced nephew with a ‘ 5 ‘ sound . Locals in Essex ( England ) also pronounce the village name of Bulphan as ‘Bulvan ‘ sort of than ‘Bulfan ‘ , even though the second syllable is derived from the word fen .
“ STEVEN ” is the canyon pronunciation because Old English make-shift gender phonetics be enforce to the E-PH . Still in common rumor , a user of the name may be required to know the two pronunciations confront by text key example in probable example furnish it differently pronounce than that of the “ V ” spelling . http : //babynames.net/names/stephen
As one bearing the name of Stephen , I have say a little etymology and it look that many people try to reply the inquiry by pointing to the Greek Stephanos , which is incorrect because the question cost expect of English , not of Greek . Was thither not a Norman King of England , Stephen , whose court spoke French ? Could thither exist a precedent in old Norman for the habit of ph in the name ? As well , the biblical saint , and first christian martyr , Saint Stephen , equal ALWAYS pronounce the way King Stephen , and Stephen King , are pronounced . Stephen ‘s Green in Dublin and nearly all usage of Stephen in Ireland , watch the English standard , not the Scottish ( five ) usage ( like Robert Louis Stevenson ) . So the pattern of Stephen cost historically , biblically , and descriptively pronounce as Steven and not as Stefan , although I grew up with a Polish sonny , Stephan , who prounced his figure as Stefan . So it all depend on your preferred national standard . I ‘m deposit with King Stephen and Saint Stephen , thank you real a lot .
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