Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Visiting Ben's Best

8 comments:

Big Hairy Balls said...

mmmmmmmmmmm pastrami!

georgetheatheist said...

MartyStein, Catering Manager:

"...any kind of occasion. That's my forte."

Pronounced "fort", Marty. Not "fortay".

Anonymous said...

no, it's fortay.

Queens Crapper said...

George is correct. Had an English teacher that was obsessed with the proper pronunciation of that word.

georgetheatheist said...

And here's why the pronunciation of "forte" is "fort":

"Forte" is both an Italian and a French word.

In Italian "forte" is an adverb meaning "strongly", e.g. one plays the piano "forte" (pronounced "fortay"), i.e. with vim and vigor.

In French "forte" is a noun meaning "strong point", e.g. Marty does great catering for all occasions. That's his "forte" (pronounced "fort"), i.e. it's Ben's Best specialty.

Capisce? Comprenez-vous? Verstehst? Dig?

And Crapper, your English teacher was probably "obsessed" with its proper pronunciation because he/she didn't want you to sound foolish.

So it is indeed pronounced "fort". Stop farting around already.

And don't get me started on "hieroglyphics" vs. "hieroglyphs".

This site is s-o-o-o edyookayshanul.

Anonymous said...

I disagree. The language is subject to change. What was once pronounced like that is now pronounced like this.

Anonymous said...

That makes cents from hugh.

georgetheatheist said...

"Aks not want your country can do for you; rather, aks what you can do for your country." -John F. Kennedy

Lemme aks you somethin', Anonym. Why would you say "fortay" using 2 syllables, when the 1 syllable "forte" saves your breath?