A pronunciation question

[dchaikin]

There are different pronunciations of the three-syllable word “pianist.”  I’ve always preferred to accent the second syllable, so the “a” sounds like the “a” in “vanish.”  But there are many who accent the first syllable, or even condense the word into two syllables and leave out the "a," resulting in a pronunciation that sounds a whole lot like “p*nis.”  What do you all think?

[liszmaninopin]

I don't know if it's correct, but I've always accented the first syllable.  Really, people will know what you mean either way, so it doesn't matter that much.  Actually, I just realized that nearly everyone accents the "a" in "piano," so it makes sense to do the same in "pianist."

[schnabels_grandson]

My teacher pronounces the "a" like in father.  Like this: Pee-ah-no, and Pee-ahn-ist.

[eddie92099]

If you don't want to sound American (which quite frankly, I don't), then I suggest you don't make such a big deal out of the "a" sound,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

What would be the United Kingdom way of saying it?

[dchaikin]

Yes, it does become a rather American, drawling kind of pronunciation (pee-yeah-nist)!  My bugaboo is when the "a" gets lost and you start hearing "he's an accomplished p*nis."  

[liszmaninopin]

I don't think I've ever heard it said quite that way.

[schnabels_grandson]

I think he's trying to say  "pee-uhn-ist".  Say it really fast and it will sound like "pee-nist".  Obviously this sounds pretty bad.

[eddie92099]

What would be the United Kingdom way of saying it?

The correct way,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

What exactly is this correct way?

[eddie92099]

It's the way it is said in the United Kingdom,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

Clever, but not helpful.

[Dave_2004_G]

Pee-a-nist

Dave

[rachfan]

While the UKers speak the Queen's English, we Americans speak correct English.     The preferred accent for "pianist" is on the second syllable, while placing the accent on the first syllable is the secondary pronunciation.  Both are completely acceptable (as British and American speech coexist).  This difference between the Webster's and Oxford dictionaries will ignite CONtroversy, although my British friends will surely insist it is conTROversy, merely proving that we Americans have, to date, been unsuccessful in modifying British pronounciations and very odd spellings.  I can report, however, that we have made inroads with the Canadians.  They now choose British or American spellings as it suits their fancy, which makes reading their newspapers at times humorous--or is it humourous?  

[eddie92099]

While the UKers speak the Queen's English, we Americans speak correct English.

We invented the damn language ,
Ed

[liszmaninopin]

Yes, but we perfected the language.

[Bob]

I've always gone the safe way -- Pee-ANN-ist.  It's less likely to be heard the wrong way.