Comments on: Brain Game: Kiss Me, I’m…

By: Reba

Reba — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:57:45 +0000

Ah, Marty, you’ve gone and mentioned my response. In sixth grade, I was astounded to find out Lima, Peru was pronounced differently than lima beans (which, to this day, I will not eat).

I think Job and job is clever, too, elih.

By: ThePolynomial

ThePolynomial — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:44:44 +0000

(Mike) Gravel v. gravel

By: elih

elih — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:33:25 +0000

Weiner/weiner, Job/job, Nice/nice, Natal/natal

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:56:02 +0000

live/live

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:49:55 +0000

the noun or adj gentile and the Italian name Gentile.

By: SDK

SDK — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:55:19 +0000

In the world of Make-Believe (Narnia) Animal vs animal

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:42:42 +0000

Martha Stewart apologists aside, the name Herb vs herb works for me.

By: Kevin H

Kevin H — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:25:40 +0000

Here’s your grammar lesson for the day, free of charge…

This post is talking about heteronyms, and capitonyms in particular. Heteronyms are words that have the same spelling (they are homographs) but different pronunciation (they are heterophones) and also different meanings. This would include excuse(n)/excuse(v), minute(n)/minute(adj), etc.
Capitonyms are words that change their pronunciation when capitalized. Some more are Worms (city in Germany)/ worms (the slimy things) and Male (capital of the Maldives)/ male (dude).

By: gmsc

gmsc — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:02:06 +0000

Here are a few:

Begin/begin
Nestle/nestle
Ionic/ionic
Rainier/rainier
Ravel/ravel
Tangier/tangier

Adrienne & Molly: The puzzle concerns words that change their pronunciation when they’re capitalized. True, produce (n) & produce (v), as well as complex (n) and complex (adj), are pronounced differently, but it doesn’t have anything to do with capitalization.

By: CoZ

CoZ — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:01:41 +0000

More so where you are from I would suppose. Such as regional tongue I know in all different parts of the US I have heard all of these words pronounced differently regardless of capitilization. Also hearing a british person speaking its all different so this one threw me a loop.