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Pronunciation of Thespian

  • 1.  Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-26-2020 22:31
    I pronounce Thespian with a "p" sound, but I've also heard it pronounced with a "b" sound. 

    How do you pronounce Thespian?


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    David Tate Hastings
    Olathe South High School
    Theatre Educator
    Thespian Troupe #5006
    Kansas Thespians
    Treasurer & Membership Chair
    Educational Theatre Association
    Board Director
    913-481-1868
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-27-2020 08:12
    We are Thespians with a P named after Thespis.

    Sent from my iPhone


    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-27-2020 09:09
    I agree, Tony. Even if you look at the origin of the work in Greek or Latin, I don't think the B sound is justified. In English, P is a voiceless sound and B is a voiced sound. They are close, but different.

    Would you correct someone if you heard it pronounced with a B?

    ------------------------------
    David Tate Hastings
    Olathe South High School
    Theatre Educator
    Thespian Troupe #5006
    Kansas Thespians
    Treasurer & Membership Chair
    Educational Theatre Association
    Board Director
    913-481-1868
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-27-2020 14:26
    Hi David! I studied linguistics in undergrad and might have some insight for you... you're right to identify /p/ as voiceless/unvoiced and /b/ as voiced. I think the issue comes up when people pronounce the usually-voiceless letter "S" in the word as a voiced /z/ sound rather than a voiceless /s/. This isn't unusual... think of names like Esmeralda, Maslow, or Casimir, all of which have the "S" pronounced as /z/. If that happens, then you'd expect assimilation of the following sound (what would be /p/) to become voiced as well (/b/). I can't help but think the increasing commonality of the word "lesbian" has also had an impact here, since its "S" is pronounced /z/.

    I think we must be careful not to say that pronouncing it /thezbian/ is an "error," per se, but rather an understandable consequence of a logical choice for pronouncing the sound represented by "S." If you listen carefully, I predict you'd always hear either /sp/ or /zb/, but never a mixture of both.

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    Alexander Dzurick
    Philadelphia PA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-30-2020 10:34
    Thank you for this answer. The best I have read.  I know how to pronounce the word but when conversing - especially in a fast-moving conversation - my friends always harp on me for pronouncing it wrong. I am not intending to - I pronounce it correctly when I am focused on it.  It gets annoying and sounds, at times, a bit condescending to always hear the proper pronunciation explained every time I slip it out wrong - unintentionally!

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    Stephanie Schultze
    Drama Teacher/Director
    Russellville AR
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-27-2020 10:51
    Thanks for this post, David. It involves one of my pet peeves. Thespian should be pronounced with a p, as written. 



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-27-2020 13:38
    with a "p"



    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-27-2020 14:20
    With a p. The word is derived from Thespis (/ˈθɛspɪs/; Greek: Θέσπις; fl. 6th century BC) of Icaria (present-day Dionysos, Greece), according to certain Ancient Greek sources and especially Aristotle, was the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a character in a play (instead of speaking as him or herself).



    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-27-2020 16:03
    I'm with you David, I use a "p" sound.

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    Stewart Hawk
    Washington State Thespian Co-Chapter Director
    206-252-2408
    stewart.hawk@gmail.com
    http://washingtonstatethespians.com/
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-28-2020 19:24
    I generally assume that any pronunciation sounding like "Thesbian"is a holdover from junior high bullies who had to mock us dweeby theatre kids. Because, you know: "gay."

    As such, I make a habit of correcting the record.

    Tim

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    Tim Mooney
    www.timmooneyrep.com
    www.moliere-in-english.com
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-28-2020 06:56
    I feel that this is due to the laxity of today's pronunciation.
    pronunciations such as  Budton, Akx,impor ent are becoming the norm

    I have a 8 year old daughter and she is not required to learn spelling in school such as I did, the schools put an emphasis on writing the word the way it sounds not the proper way at least so far through 3rd grade, I think they do this as they lean to heavy on spellcheck fixing everything as long as you are close.

    This is my opinion only, I loved spelling, the early practice at memorization of words assisted me in learning lines for productions

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    Jerry Onik
    V.P. Theatrical Supplies and Equipment
    Omaha NE
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-28-2020 09:16
    It's an "s" and a "p" for me.  My students have no problem with it.  However, I don't seem to be able to correct the ladies in our school office who make p.a. announcements; they still say "Thezbians."

    But we love the jokes about it, don't we?  The T-shirts proclaiming, "Mom ... Dad ... I'm a Thespian" ... or "No, Mom and Dad, I said Thespian."

    In the first play that my co-author and I wrote, a lesbian character attending a high-school reunion comes out to her former classmates, whereupon one of them does a spit-take and says, "How can you be a thespian?"  Now, admittedly, the play premiered at a Thespian one-act play festival, but that moment got the biggest laugh of the show by far - and even a full applause break.  I think a lot of members of that audience had gotten tired of hearing the pronunciation getting twisted.

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    Jeff Grove
    Theatre Teacher, Aesthetics Department Chair
    Stanton College Preparatory School
    Jacksonville FL
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    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-28-2020 13:04

    Just to add a little more context - As a Chapter Financial Officer, I often (and I do mean often) receive checks from school bookkeepers made out to Georgia Thesbians.
    So, it may be more than just a pronunciation issue, since these are typed/written. 



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    Frank Pruet
    Former EdTA Board President
    Former Chapter Director Georgia Thespians
    Atlanta, GA
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-28-2020 14:16
    To Frank: only thing I can say is wow, in written form...WoW

    Sent from my iPhone


    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Pronunciation of Thespian

    Posted 04-30-2020 12:35
    What I'm hearing from this thread is:
    • the official pronunciation is with an S and a P. The sound is /sp/
    • some people find it offensive or funny to pronounce it Thezbian
    • some people may have a personal preference for the sound /zb/ 
    • some people may simply pronounce it wrong by accident
    • the spelling of the word is in honor of Thespis
    • spelling it wrong may be a result of the way spelling is taught today
      • the emphasis on the way it sounds
      • using spell check to correct if you are close
    • don't correct pronunciation
      • as it may be a personal preference
      • it could be viewed as condescending
    Thank you for all the input. This gives me a better perspective on why Thespian is pronounced different ways.

    ------------------------------
    David Tate Hastings
    Olathe South High School
    Theatre Educator
    Thespian Troupe #5006
    Kansas Thespians
    Treasurer & Membership Chair
    Educational Theatre Association
    Board Director
    913-481-1868
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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