How do you pronounce “laud”?
  • CatholicZ09
    Posts: 351
    I’m listening to the Palm Sunday Mass from my diocese’s cathedral, and the cantor this morning sang “laud” as “loud” throughout the hymn. I’ve always sung it as “lawd,” but now I’m wondering if “loud” is actually more accurate since the word itself is derived from Latin.

    This isn’t an isolated instance, either. I’ve heard similar in other instances.
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,483
    No I don’t think that loud is a homophone of laud in most varieties of English and certainly not in what I want from singers.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,590
    Click on the pronunciation for confirmation: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laud
  • GerardH
    Posts: 659
    Applaud, auditory and August are all derived Latin too
    Thanked by 1Chant_Supremacist
  • NoahLovinsNoahLovins
    Posts: 18
    Au is in fact a dipthong in Latin (Ah-oo). See Liber Usualis p. xxxvij
  • GerardH
    Posts: 659
    Yes, but not in English.
    Thanked by 2Liam Chant_Supremacist
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 556
    Loud= Latin Pronunciation as in Laudate
    Lawd= English Pronunciation as in Lauds
    Thanked by 3Roborgelmeister PaxMelodious ServiamScores
  • NoahLovinsNoahLovins
    Posts: 18
    OP was unclear if hewas referring to English or Latin. I assumed Latin.
  • tandrews
    Posts: 229
    This came to mind immediately: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GGhnUxoucbo
  • CatholicZ09
    Posts: 351
    So- in an English hymn, like “All Glory, Laud, and Honor,” it should be pronounced as “lawd,” but if singing in Latin, it would sound more like “loud” is what I’m picking up.
    Thanked by 1monasteryliturgist
  • NoahLovinsNoahLovins
    Posts: 18
    That is correct @CatholicZ09
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 712
    L oww d. “Oww” as in “oww, that hurt!”
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,590
    SC

    Are you indicating that you believe that is the correct *English* pronuncation of "Laud(s)" (which is an English word, not a Latin word, albeit evolved from Latin (like crucifix))? Or just punning about how bad such a pronunciation would be?
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 712
    Are you indicating that you believe that is the correct *English* pronuncation of "Laud(s)" (which is an English word, not a Latin word

    No. I’m still stuck in Latin mode and can still hear my chorus director yelling out over-exaggerated Latin pronunciations, the most common being “exaudisti” and was thinking the declensions of “laus” that use “laud”.

    The English pronunciation depends on whether you’re using American English or British English,
  • francis
    Posts: 11,325
    I laud (loud) you all!
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,965
    Leave laudness to the Methodists.
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,590
    Quoting yourself again!
    Thanked by 1StimsonInRehab
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 12,074
    In East Tennessee it is pronounced lawd. As in Lawd, Lawd.
  • Bobby Bolin
    Posts: 434
    Homophone of Lord (in Boston)
    Thanked by 2CharlesW Liam
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,590
    Frugal people of eastern Massachusetts don't waste those Rs; they just get repurposed to end other words, like Cuber (Cuba), Juder (Judah), et cet. The Law of Conservation of Rs (pronounced AH(r)s).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwvONJXJUO4
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen MatthewRoth
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,483
    well, for non-rhotic folks (Brahmin rhoticity was more variable than the stereotypical working-class person's accent was), there are at least linking r situations. I've never really heard the famous "past-er" for "pasta" (it's not quite a homophone for "pastor" in GAE) or for that matter my sister's (redacted) name, but I know that linking r exists (though I have only heard it in clips from an Australian speaker used as an example).

    that reminds me, my sister's name suggests that my family has Mary-merry split, but not really a full three way with marry, although I've got a friend in my age bracket from Jersey who does, and that knocked my socks off. Actually, two of them, in my area which feels statistically unlikely: both college-educated white maless who should have lost these features!
    Thanked by 1Liam
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