Quoting James Propp <propp@math.wisc.edu>:
When is 15 pronounced "FIF-teen", and when is it pronounced "fif-TEEN"?
I'm a mathematician, and my wife teaches English as a Second Language, so you'd think we'd know the answer to this one, but the tacit rules followed by American speakers seem to be a bit complicated.
I, who speak (American) English as a first language, say fif - teen. In primary school, we were mercilessly slapped down for "singing" or squealling or squeaking. Some unfortunates, who have already learned to speak, get hit by the reverse problem when coming into their second language. I hope nobody denounces this thread as "neither math nor fun." Fifteen is, after all, a number and thus part of "mathematics," and should be treated with respect, including good pronumciation or its name. - hvm ------------------------------------------------- www.correo.unam.mx UNAMonos Comunicándonos