Thicknesse: Question on Pronunciation - All and Oil in Texas

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at ...> wrote:

> bboyminn:

> As to Sirius vs Serious, I think we are running into
> a conflict between Common pronunciation, or pronunciation
> in the vernacular, and technically correct pronunciation.
> 
> In common speech, they are virtually the same. I think
> most people would pronounce then exactly the same, and
> make no distinction at all.
> 
> However, I do think there is a very minor and subtle
> technical difference, that is difficult to explain. 
> 
> The best I can show is -
> 
> sear-ee-us (Sirius)
> 
> and
> 
> sear-ee-os (serious)
> 
> There is a microscopic hint of the 'O' in Serious,
> that would technically not be present in 'Sirius'.

Geoff:
In UK terms, the pronuncaiton would be approximately:

Sirius = si-ri-us

Serious = see-ri-us

The stress would be identical.