How do you pronounce short-lived?

[pokerfan]

The 'i' as in 'if?'
The 'i' as in 'eye?'

I may just figure out my native language before I'm fifty.

Barely.

[Connonym]

1. I as in if

[Zuiderelle]

2. "i" as in "eye"

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. Why?

That's not the proper pronunciation. It's i as in if. Short-lived.

[Zuiderelle]

4. The long "I" is correct and is the first pronunciation... The short "i" as in "if" is the alternate.

short-lived (shôrt'līvd', -lĭvd') Pronunciation Key
adj. Living or lasting only a short time; ephemeral.

USAGE NOTE The pronunciation (-līvd) is etymologically correct since the compound is derived from the noun life, rather than from the verb live. But the pronunciation (-lĭvd) is by now so common that it cannot be considered an error. In the most recent survey 43 percent of the Usage Panel preferred (-lĭvd), 39 percent preferred (-līvd), and 18 percent found both pronunciations equally acceptable.


http://www.answers.com/topic/short-lived
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/short-lived

[patricia92243]

11. Interesting. I did not know this. Reckon I can change at age 63? Not that I ever say short-lived....

But just in case - I'll be ready - lol :)

[Zuiderelle]

13. LOL! It's just one of those words I looked up when I was a kid,

and saw how it was supposed to be pronounced. Since it's a rather interesting pronunciation, and since I've heard both pronunciations, it just stuck with me. I can't for the life of me say short-lived with a short "i," it just feels wrong.

Definitely not worth changing though, since the other pronunciation is perfectly acceptable now. You say pə-tā'tō I say pə-tä'tō. :D

[pokerfan]

21. Some people consider it a pet peeve

to pronounce it incorrectly. Sheesh.
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19960717

[SmokingJacket]

22. Those with grammar peeves should take a chill pill.

Language is a living, changing, growing thing!

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. 'i' as in 'if'

Short-lived = you live for a short time. live is a verb. pronounced with a short 'i'

Short-lived = you have a short life. life is a noun. I suppose it could be pronounced with a long 'i,' but that's unusual.

[bigwillq]

6. If (nt)

[NewWaveChick1981]

7. I as in "if".

:hi:

[Magrittes Pipe]

8. Correctly.

[Karenca]

9. IF --- Not EYE

Language is always evolving -- The modern, short i pronunciatio has replaced the
traditional long I.

[Zuiderelle]

10. It has not replaced it. The Long I is still the primary and correct pronunciation.

Language has evolved to accept the alternative (incorrect) pronunciation. The root is "LIFE", it means short-"lifed", and is correctly pronounced short-lived with a long I. Just like many other words, our incorrect pronunciation of it has become acceptable.

I'd be interested in seeing a source that shows the short "i" as the more correct pronunciation. I've never seen that.

[Gormy Cuss]

14. It has not replaced it yet, but it is an accepted pronunciation.

As for the evolution, your own earlier citation showed that American Heritage's usage panel was just about evenly split on the pronounciation. I doubt that would have been the case 20 to 30 years ago. It is evolving towards being the more common pronunciation at least among Americans.

While it is not the primary, preferred pronunciation, the short "i" pronunciation is also correct. Now if on the other hand one were to pronounce it "short-liv'-id" that would be incorrect.

You say tomayto, I say tomahto.

[Zuiderelle]

15. Yes, I realize that the second pronunciation is also acceptable.

I was just responding to the other poster saying that the second pronunciation has replaced it, which it has not.

Funny, I just posted the potato bit above too. :rofl:

[Gormy Cuss]

19. Let's call the whole thing off.

:rofl:

[Karenca]

16. Short i is now the more commonly used pronunciation than the long i

On language evolution:

"when
enough of us are wrong, we're right." -

William Safire

[Zuiderelle]

17. From one of my links above, 43% use the short i and 38 the long with 18 considering both acceptable

So, you could argue the short i is more common, but it has certaily not replaced the original pronunciation. Not as long as there are geeks like me around. :D

[Wapsie B]

12. Short-lived as in political promises?

The check is in the mail, I'll respect you in the morning sorta thing? :shrug:

[1gobluedem]

18. Short 'i'

As in what ever was short lived didn't live very long.

[bridgit]

20. liv'd as in iv'd, and so: "Ney, though ever so vital he lived a short life..."

whilst living on the coast his entire life, he never once lied to his wife & lover; or at least that is what he has been known to suggest."

whereas...

"Were he to have l-eye'vd not near the sea; would he have l-eye'vd'd a bit longer? Suggestions as to truthfulness, or no? Cannot be known with any certainty."

seems odd to me

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. 'But, moooooom,

Justin and Jason and Tyler and Justin get to pronounce it with a short 'i'."

"If Justin and Jason and Tyler and Justin spelled 'lose' l-o-o-s-e, would you do that, too?"

:7

[Pacifist Patriot]

24. Ch-ay-n-ee

HR 333

[Suich]

25. This word used to drive a friend of mine nuts

because it was mis-pronounced all the time! Funny to see it here on DU!

:)