Accent on 'happy'...

The Lady Shael · October 30, 2003, 04:56:55 PM

I won't say which sides me and my teacher are on, because then you'd get biased and completely deteriorate the purpose of this poll.

Just say the word out loud. Which syllable is stessed?

For example, say the word stapler. It's not stapLER, it's STAPler.

We're studying meter and iambic feet, by the way, in case you were wondering.

Gen. Volkov · October 30, 2003, 05:10:23 PM

Its definitely pronounced HA' ppy

The Lady Shael · October 30, 2003, 05:25:33 PM

Okay, see, that's what I told her. But my teacher insisted it was DEFINITELY the other way around. Me and one of my friends are still very skeptical, and the rest of the class aren't too bright, and decided to go with what the teacher says.

Gen. Volkov · October 30, 2003, 05:30:47 PM

Yes.. well most teachers are A) ignorant or stupid.. and B ) Stubborn.. otherwise they wouldn't be teachers... the best and the brightest don't teach in this country.. unless they are college professors.. and even then.... sometimes not.. you are definitely right.

Kilkenne · October 30, 2003, 05:37:09 PM

In Wisconsin/Lower Minnesota/Northern Iowa/Upper Illinois...(Pronounced Wesconsen here.), we don't put emphasis on that word. At all. When I say it it just sounds like both syllables are equal...*shudder*

Abby The Rat · October 30, 2003, 06:04:30 PM

HA'ppy

And I'm deaf......... O.o

Domitian · October 30, 2003, 06:25:33 PM

In New York we say happy. Just happy. No HAppy or haPPY. happy.

Riverpaw · October 30, 2003, 08:52:26 PM

Quote from: DomitianIn New York we say happy. Just happy. No HAppy or haPPY. happy.

Ditto, New York traffic drowns out most of the accents anyways. In Memphis where I used to be from, though, it's HA' ppy, though not as much as it would appear from some of the other comments.

The Lady Shael · October 30, 2003, 09:27:39 PM

Everyone I've talked to so far, bar my English teacher of course, agree that the stress is on the first syllable. She just moved from California this year though, that might be the case...*shrugs*

Riverpaw · October 30, 2003, 09:34:21 PM

Quote from: The Lady ShaelShe just moved from California this year though, that might be the case...*shrugs*

I'll ask Luke, he's from CA. ^_^

Luke the Warrior · October 31, 2003, 09:17:25 AM

It's plain old happy in CA, but wash in Sacremento is warsh. Strange huh? Im gonna warsh my clothes. I prefer wash, thanks.

Trajan · October 31, 2003, 01:27:03 PM

Why do you want to make fun of Californians??? This is dumb.

Veranor · October 31, 2003, 04:11:15 PM

Quote from: RiverpawDitto, New York traffic drowns out most of the accents anyways. In Memphis where I used to be from, though, it's HA' ppy, though not as much as it would appear from some of the other comments.

Yep, have to agree here. I'd have to say because we're one of the bigger states, and therefore there are a lot of accents. It kind of gets muddled. I'd still say that perhaps the correct way would be with a SLIGHT accent on the HA of HA' ppy. Though as already said, it's not commonly said either way here.

Gen. Volkov · October 31, 2003, 04:13:13 PM

I'm from Indiana.. so I have that real Midwestern accent... I think thats why I stress the HA in happy...

The Weasel Liberation Mov · October 31, 2003, 04:55:07 PM

Up in Canada where I live we just say "happy". I suppose there is a very slight emphasis on the ha bit. So, I voted for HA'ppy...