Harassment

[FredPuli43]

Do you say 'ha RASS ment' ? If you do, I bet you don't say emba RASS ment ! Trying to work out when the given pronunciation became popular in Britain. Within the last 40 years, I think. Even newsreaders sometimes use it. Is it an American import? Is it a generational matter in that we oldies prefer the old pronunciation?

[pixie373]

It has changed within the last 30 years i believe. I was taught HARassment, at school, but now harASSment sounds more normal.

[Prudie]

I thought it was because standard English generally stresses on the 2nd syllable eg peCUliar, rePUTedly, emBArassment and that old controversial one ConTROVersy..

[Peter Pedant]

Hi Fred how are ya today

The girl with the flashing eyes (newscaster) used both

harassment (flash flash) harassment...... she said, she did

(doesnt look as good in print. do'em ? )

[jno]

I think Prudie's put her finger on it. With HARassment the word just tails off into two syllables with schwas. HarASSment has a more balanced sound, like a seesaw with a pivot in the middle.

[AB Editor]

It seems to be pronounced like you're being "harrised"

Or Rolfed I suppose (sorry).

I say is as "har-ass-ment" rather than "harrisment".

[mccfluff]

i am now sitting here saying it out loud trying to figure out how i say it....

both ways i think

[Clanad]

Both ways are used, in my experience, here in the western U.S. Thing is, I'm not sure one can easily predict the pronunciation of one word based solely (or in large part) on how a similarily spelled word is vocalized.

By the way, by "both ways" I meant AB Editor's example of the one he doesn't use, i.e. 'herrisment'... When I hear 'herrisment', I don't think it's an affectation, (harRASSment seemingly being favored) rather more likely a regional difference... more often heard in the eastern areas of the U.S. as opposed to the south or west...

[China Doll]

I just also said it outloud - turns out it sounds like when I pronounce embarassment.

[Wordist]

I think "ha RASS ed" Started to become the more common pronunciation after it was used by Frank Spencer in "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em".
At the time, it was considered funny BECAUSE he mispronounced it.

[shoota]

Perhaps, on AB we could replace it with THAT word.....

'You are looking a little estoppled today darling'

[stewey]

It's just a matter of putting the emPHAsis on a diFERRent sylLAble.

[Quizmonkey]

Wordist is completely correct - was going to post the same