Why does CH sounds like K?
- Thread starter meex2
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Sometimes it does, but mostly it doesn't.
Like other English words, you just have to learn them.
Well, there are general rules, right?
CH is K in Biblical words...
Shadrach / Meshach
and Greek words...
autarch / psyche / chiasmus / character
and Germanic words, when it's a terminal consonant...
Munich / Munch (Edvard) / einfach (musical direction)
and there are probably more general rules than these, but here's what I can think of right now.
CH is K in Biblical words...
Shadrach / Meshach
and Greek words...
autarch / psyche / chiasmus / character
and Germanic words, when it's a terminal consonant...
Munich / Munch (Edvard) / einfach (musical direction)
and there are probably more general rules than these, but here's what I can think of right now.
Well, it sort of depends on which biblical words. It's not "k" in charity or chastity or chariot or church or cherubim or chasten, but it is in Christ and Chaldeans and Chronicles and chrysolite. 
I think that's as mixed up as any other list.
We have:
chorus (k) but chores (ch)
chasm (k) but chase (ch)
aching (k) but caching (sh)
You might be able to learn groups of words based on the originating language but that takes more work than learning just the words themselves.
I don't think you can use Germanic origin as a guarantee of the K sound. "Child" is of German origin. So are bench and church and match.
I can't think of a word in English that ends in "tch" that doesn't have the "ch" sound but there may be one.
I was going to say that "nch" is also an indicator of a "ch" sound, but then we have "conch", don't we, which has a "k" sound.
I can't think of a word in English ending in "uch" that doesn't have the "ch" sound (other than names taken from other languages such as Baruch).
I think that's as mixed up as any other list.We have:
chorus (k) but chores (ch)
chasm (k) but chase (ch)
aching (k) but caching (sh)
You might be able to learn groups of words based on the originating language but that takes more work than learning just the words themselves.
I don't think you can use Germanic origin as a guarantee of the K sound. "Child" is of German origin. So are bench and church and match.
I can't think of a word in English that ends in "tch" that doesn't have the "ch" sound but there may be one.
I was going to say that "nch" is also an indicator of a "ch" sound, but then we have "conch", don't we, which has a "k" sound.
I can't think of a word in English ending in "uch" that doesn't have the "ch" sound (other than names taken from other languages such as Baruch).
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Welcome to English spelling. It's the reason that spelling bees (competitions) are so popular in the U.S. It is actually a learned skill to be able to spell English words properly and it basically involves memorization of individual words rather than rules.
I have been searching for references for you that specifically address "ch" but I haven't found a good one yet.
I think a few generalizations that would work fairly well, with some exceptions, would be:
1) If the word ends in "ch" and a consonant precedes it, it's most likely the "ch" sound.
Examples: launch, lunch, mulch, branch, brunch, bunch, arch
2) If the word has the "tch" combination anywhere in it, it's most likely the "ch" sound.
Examples: pitch, hatchet, latch, catch, ketchup, ketch, fetch, stretch, twitch, witch
3) If the word starts with "chr" it's most likely the "k" sound.
Examples: Christ, chrome, chrysalis, chronic, chronometer
There are many words that aren't covered by these generalizations and the generalizations aren't perfect but it may give you something to start with.
It's the reason that spelling bees (competitions) are so popular in the U.S. It is actually a learned skill to be able to spell English words properly and it basically involves memorization of individual words rather than rules.I have been searching for references for you that specifically address "ch" but I haven't found a good one yet.
I think a few generalizations that would work fairly well, with some exceptions, would be:
1) If the word ends in "ch" and a consonant precedes it, it's most likely the "ch" sound.
Examples: launch, lunch, mulch, branch, brunch, bunch, arch
2) If the word has the "tch" combination anywhere in it, it's most likely the "ch" sound.
Examples: pitch, hatchet, latch, catch, ketchup, ketch, fetch, stretch, twitch, witch
3) If the word starts with "chr" it's most likely the "k" sound.
Examples: Christ, chrome, chrysalis, chronic, chronometer
There are many words that aren't covered by these generalizations and the generalizations aren't perfect but it may give you something to start with.
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This is the first time I have come upon the suggestion that conch be pronounced conk
Mind you, it's not a word that I use, or hear, often.
Mind you, it's not a word that I use, or hear, often.
And I've never heard conch pronounced any way other than conk (well, more like cahnk, actually). What a lovely language we have!
My wife grew up in southern Florida. We've spent a lot of time there, including some time in Key West - which styles itself "The Conch Republic." It's always "conk." Anyone who says it any other way is a first-time visitor (who didn't pay attention to the guidebook).This is the first time I have come upon the suggestion that conch be pronounced conk
Mind you, it's not a word that I use, or hear, often.
You can even get Conch Republic passports, thanks to an enterprising chap named Peter Anderson. They look reasonably official and cost $100 (more for a diplomatic passport). Reportedly, people have been able to cross some borders with them, though they have no official standing and are not sold as travel documents. Anderson claims that one person avoided being killed by Guatemalan revolutionaries by saying ""Americano no! Republica de la Concha" and showing his.
Once you get into "ch" in the middle of a word it gets very confusing.
I was thinking about David Fincher (ch), the filmmaker, but then I thought about Brian Urlacher (k), the Chicago Bears' linebacker. I used to think, "why Fincher with ch and Urlacher with k?"
If a vowel precedes the "ch" we must pronounce "k" then
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Oh, I see there are some exceptions...JamesM said:
The best you can get in English are general guidelines. There is rarely a "must".
(Besides, my guideline was "ending in 'ch' and preceded by a consonant." I can't think of a guideline that would help when it's in the middle of the word.)
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I think English reading and English law have one thing in common - precedent.The best you can get in English are general guidelines. There is rarely a "must".
It is all precedent-based.
Thank you, James.The best you can get in English are general guidelines. There is rarely a "must".
(Besides, my guideline was "ending in 'ch' and preceded by a consonant." I can't think of a guideline that would help when it's in the middle of the word.)
The beginnings are also confusing:
chief (ch) but chef (sh)
chamber (ch) but chambray (sh)
chart (ch) but chartreuse (sh)
You would think that recognizing a French word that started in "ch" would help, but no :
champion (ch)
change (ch)
cheque / check (ch)
chief (ch) but chef (sh)
chamber (ch) but chambray (sh)
chart (ch) but chartreuse (sh)
You would think that recognizing a French word that started in "ch" would help, but no
:champion (ch)
change (ch)
cheque / check (ch)
Nudibranch is another with a mixed Latin (nudus) and Greek origin (branchia). "Branch" doesn't look very Greek. It's a type of colorful sea slug popular in salt water aquariums if you haven't heard of them.
Eunuch = K from Latin from Greek, Pentateuch = K (from the Biblical word list and Greek)
Interesting comment, but overstated, I think. English law has statutes (Acts of Parliament) which in principle give new content to the law on a constant basis.
As for spelling and pronunciation, there are indeed rules, but they are subject to exceptions and in any case are not comprehensive. Two important principles are:
(a) Spelling is largely historical. It is derived from earlier word-forms, often depends on another language from which a word comes into English and evolves over time.
(b) In many cases, pronunciation precedes spelling, not the other way round. The spelling is an attempt to render a pre-existing sound. This principle is complicated by sound-shifting: a given spelling comes to be pronounced differently as the centuries pass.
Of course, these general principles do not help the learner acquiring an initial vocabulary.
Hence it seems better to say 'largely precedent-based'. The lack of any attempt to rationalise our spelling may reflect the characteristic English preference for an empirical approach: dealing with things as they come, rather than making compehensive overall plans.
There are always exceptions, aren't there.
See post #2.
There is no point in going through endless examples that illustrate the inconsistency.
There is no point in going through endless examples that illustrate the inconsistency.
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