How should "aargh" really be pronounced?
The common interjections "argh!", "aargh!", "aaargh!", etc., is pronounced, as far as I know, the same as "aaa!" For most of my life, however, I (and I imagine many other second language speakers) pronounced it due to its spelling with an audible 'r' and hard 'g', and still do occasionally. In fact, I think this mispronunciation is so common that it has become an accepted alternative, especially when the word is used in humour (as opposed to genuine fright.) I often hear this version from native English speakers.
Questions:
- Is "aaa!" really the correct pronunciation?
- Why exactly is it spelled with the "rgh"? What purpose do those letters serve?
- If you agree that the mispronunciation has become an accepted alternative, can you think of any other cases where a mispronunciation gradually supplants or supplements the original? (Especially where this is caused by the eccentricities of English spelling and pronunciation.)
Solution 1:
My online dictionary shows that aargh is pronounced with the "r" sound, and either with a hard "g" or a silent "g" at the end.
I imagine that's the point of the "h" - to allow the "g" to go silent.
aargh |är; ärg| (exclamation) used as an expression of anguish, horror, rage, or other strong emotion, often with humorous intent.
Solution 2:
Regarding your question #3, I have heard people say "tisk, tisk" when mock-scolding. This comes from the written form "tsk, tsk" which is itself a representation of the dental click sound, used by many English speakers, signifying disapproval.