DR> Because singer comes from the verb sing. If it were from the verb DR> singe then it would be pronounced as in ginger.
That explains why singer is pronounced the way it is, it does not explain why Ginger is not pronounced in rhime with singer. Or why Ginger is not spelled Djindzjer.
And BTW would someone who singes be a singer, buit pronounced as sindzjer?
MvdV>> Why does Reading (the place) rhime with Redding? (as in Otis)
DR> I had an uncle whose surname was Reading (pronounced Redding) and an DR> aunt whose maiden name was Redding (pronounced Redding).
These things baffle me. If it is pronounced Redding, why is it not spelled redding?
MvdV>> Why does Worchester rhime wit booster?
DR> Worcester. And it doesn't quite rhyme with booster. The "u" sound is DR> shorter, like u without an umlaut in German.
The 'u' as in "Kurt" or as in "Burt"?
MvdV>> Why does Featherstonehaw rhime with Bernard Shaw?
DR> Featherstonehaugh and it is pronounced Fanshaw.
I know about Fenshaw. It was a gag in an episode of inspector Linley.
DR> And what about plough/Slough and tough/enough.
Don't ask me... ;-(
DR> And bow can be pronounced in two ways according to whether it's how to DR> tie a knot or whether it's an acknowledgement.
Things like that are very hard for non native speakers. Homographs are very rare in most other languages.
DR> And to, too and two are all pronounced the same!
As "break" and "brake". And there and their. I often confuse them.
