this post was submitted on 09 Aug 2023
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This has become a pet peeve of mine and as a non-native English speaker I just don't understand why so many people make that typo in the first place- what is it?

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Because that’s how most people pronounce it, and it’s an uncommon word so most are guessing on the spelling anyway

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Ah, sounds fair - the O is very much pronounced O in French and I didn't realise how similar to A it would be in English. Thanks!

[–] whiskyjack 10 points 2 years ago

So English is weird; any non-stressed syllable in a word has the exact same vowel sound: the schwa

It's basically a very neutral vowel sound because we are lazy speakers.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 years ago (1 children)

People spell by sounding out words.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Ah, sounds fair - the O is very much pronounced O in French and I didn't realise how similar to A it would be in English. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah to add to that it is pronounced more like "Mass-tah-don" rather than "Mass-toe-don". The "tah" portion makes people think it's spelled with a "ta" since that would give you that pronunciation normally instead of "to". One of the many insane quirks of the English language stealing from other languages over the centuries.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Ah, nice explanation, thanks!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

This post is literally the first time I've seen it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Because when Zach Mighty Morphs into the Black Ranger... This is what it looks like.

https://youtu.be/NQawDn9g_9c

What did he say? Clearly he said MASTADON!!!!!!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

English speakers, especially Americans, don't put much value in spelling, especially on the internet. Can't be arsed to Google it, or even look at the logo on the page they're on. Just wing it because it sounds right and they've never actually read it.

Then they do read it and continue to get it wrong anyway, because fuck you that's why, I guess?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

We may be pretty fucking dumb, but I don’t think disregard for spelling things correctly on the internet is a strictly American quality lol

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

People think it's spelled Mastadon, because they pronounce it Mastadon. No one googles what they think they already know.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Native English speaker here. Although I pronounce it Mast-a-don, I spell it Mastodon because that’s how it’s spelled and I know how to read and write. Also, I’ve never seen it spelled like that. English speaking or otherwise.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Because it's fuckign confusing that is why 🤣

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's to subconsciously avoid the closeness to Mast O'Don

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago

I've said before the name mastodon sucks... It's like mastrubation and dong combined.