Fox Radio News を聞いていると、時々コマーシャルの放映が入る。クリントンが大統領選に参加すると思われているが、彼女のメールの不適切な使用を非難するPRがよく放送される。それに対するクリントンの反論の一部に次のような文を発音していた。The facts are stubborn.
注目したいのは、この Facts がファクスと聞こえる点である。t の音が落ちて聞こえる。自分は昔 twenty をトウェンティと発音したらアメリカ英語に関心を持っていた友人からトウンニイと発音するようにと直されたことがあったことを思い出した。
n の横の tは消えて聞こえる傾向がある。「北米英語の特徴、消える音 “T”」という興味ふかいサイトを見つけたので紹介したい。nのそばのtは消える傾向がある。Internet、Interview、Center、Santa Monica、Rent a car などはイン・ナーネット、イン・ナヴュー、セン・ナー、サンナ・モニカ、レンナ・カーといいう発音になる。
なお、アメリカ英語とイギリス英語の発音の違いの一つとして t の音を破裂させて発音するか否かの問題がある。better, beautiful, party, water はアメリカ英語では t の音はあまり破裂させないが、イギリス英語ではかえって強く発音させる。t の音が強くなればそれはアメリカ英語の特徴となる。
それから母音の間の t が d の音になることの説明が下のYouTube にある。これも有益なので下に示す。t のように比較的簡単な発音と思われている音も実はかなり難しい。
Facts are stubborn things. は有名な引用文である。The Quotation Pages より。
Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence. John Adams, ‘Argument in Defense of the Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials,’ December 1770
US diplomat & politician (1735 – 1826)
この John Adams とはアメリカ人なのにイギリス人を弁護したということで非難されたようだ。
サイト Facts Are Stubborn Things より
JOHN ADAMS In 1768, British soldiers were posted in Boston to help British officials enforce the Townshend Acts. What ultimately followed is an illustration of the many dangers risked by the insertion of a standing army into the midst of a free people, an unfortunate tragedy. On March 5, 1770, a confrontation between an angry merchant and a lone sentry posted in front of the Customs House devolved into an angry mob hurling chunks of ice, coal, and stones against a group of quickly assembled reinforcements. One of the soldiers fell after someone threw a wooden club at him. Then from one in the crowd: “Fire!” That’s when the shooting began. Five Boston citizens were killed. The British soldiers were put on trial. It was with great difficulty that a defense team was assembled. John Adams, a respected attorney from nearby Braintree, agreed to lead the defense. Adams knew he was risking his reputation, but firmly believed in the principle that every man deserves a fair trial. Against all odds, Adams and his team were able to uncover the truth of the incident and expose it to the juries. The troops’ leader, Captain Preston, was tried separately first, and acquitted. In the second trial of the soldiers, Adams gave a brilliant closing argument. It contained a universal truth : “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence; nor is the law less stable than the fact…” All but two of the soldiers, were acquitted. The two were convicted of manslaughter as there was evidence that they had fired directly into the crowd. John Adams’ representation of the British soldiers cost him much business and set him at odds with many of his fellow citizens for some time. Eventually, though, his fellow patriots came to respect him for what he had done. Adams’ actions and the administration of justice in the case proved that despite all differences, men of principle can act justly under the rule of law. Adams statement about facts, like many truths, is universal and teaches that we must face truths, even when we don’t like them.
