Pronunciation

[Walden]

This poll concerns the pronunciation of mandolin. "Uh", in this context, represents a schwa sound.

[Congratulations]

I'm also interested in where people put the stress. I pronounce it MAN-duh-linn, but I've heard some people pronounce it man-duh-LIN.

[Maddes]

I pronounce it man-duh-LIN, but that's probably 'cause my mother tongue's German at it's prononced that way there..

[Wombat]

I slightly stess the first syllable but it's pretty even throughout.

[Wanderer]

Man-do-lin. Just like it's spelled

[Darwin]

I'm also interested in where people put the stress. I pronounce it MAN-duh-linn, but I've heard some people pronounce it man-duh-LIN.

man-duh-LIN for me.

[Redwolf]

"man-duh-LINN" for me as well, which is how my dad (who played mandolin) said it. I once had a book and record for learning the instrument, however, and the person on the record said "MAN-duh-linn."

Usually at the session I just say "look, here come the mandos"

Redwolf

[emmline]

Same as those guys. Emphasis on the lin.

I had a great, great Uncle who was a collector of stuff, including instruments, one of which is a ---what's it called...melon-backed--mandolin. It lives at my parents house and looks pretty. If someone were to try to play it, I think it would need some work first.

[GaryKelly]

Man-doe-linn with the 'doe' as opposed to 'do' or 'duh' or 'der'.

Usu. abbreviated mando, pronounced man-doe.

[Darwin]

what's it called...melon-backed--mandolin

I believe that the official high-class technical term is 'tater bug.

[rh]

what's it called...melon-backed--mandolin

[tommyk]

Yes, the stress question is paramount; whether the syllable is stressed or unstressed can completely change the sound of the vowel.

I say, in normal, fast, native-speaker speech:
man-duh-LINN

The "duh" in my pronunciation is a bit different, though.
As often happens in fast speech with anyone (though most of us aren't always aware we're doing it), the brain anticipates the upcoming sounds and adjusts the tongue to do less work.

For me, I pronounce "man", then (since the tip of the tongue touches just behind the top teeth [or on the alveolar ridge] for both "n" and "l") the tongue remains in place, and the "duh" is pronounced around both sides of the tongue.
A "d" is a "plosive" sound, beginning from an entirely closed set of articulators (like two lips, or in the case of "d" usually the tip of the tongue and either the alveolar ridge or the teeth) and "exploding" into being sounded. In my pronunciation of mandolin, the articulators of the plosive "d" are actually the sides of the tongue and the upper back teeth.
It's a very interesting sound in isolation; it comes much closer to the Welsh "double L" than a "d".

Okay, okay, a linguist and ESL teacher on the weekend. What do you want from me?

[Darwin]

Yes, the stress question is paramount; whether the syllable is stressed or unstressed can completely change the sound of the vowel.

I say, in normal, fast, native-speaker speech:
man-duh-LINN

The "duh" in my pronunciation is a bit different, though.
As often happens in fast speech with anyone (though most of us aren't always aware we're doing it), the brain anticipates the upcoming sounds and adjusts the tongue to do less work.

For me, I pronounce "man", then (since the tip of the tongue touches just behind the top teeth [or on the alveolar ridge] for both "n" and "l") the tongue remains in place, and the "duh" is pronounced around both sides of the tongue.
A "d" is a "plosive" sound, beginning from an entirely closed set of articulators (like two lips, or in the case of "d" usually the tip of the tongue and either the alveolar ridge or the teeth) and "exploding" into being sounded. In my pronunciation of mandolin, the articulators of the plosive "d" are actually the sides of the tongue and the upper back teeth.
It's a very interesting sound in isolation; it comes much closer to the Welsh "double L" than a "d".

I presume, however, that your sound is voiced, making it more like the <dhl> of Zulu (IPA l-yogh).

I'm so suggestible that I can't quite tell whether I normally pronounce it like you do, or if I do something more like a normal "d"--but just barely released. In any case, my vowel in that syllable is so brief that it's almost as though it's nothing but residual voicing continuing from the "d" to the "l".

I hate trying to figure out details of articulation by watching myself speak. It reminds me of this little verse:

A centipede was happy quite,
Until a frog in fun said:
"Pray tell which leg comes after which?"
This raised her mind to such a pitch,
she lay distracted in a ditch,
considering how to run.

[talasiga]

Man-doe-linn with the 'doe' as opposed to 'do' or 'duh' or 'der'.

Usu. abbreviated mando, pronounced man-doe.

Sadly I have to agree with Gazza here. This is how I pronounce it also.
You are losing your bite Kellioh.

[Birl]

This poll concerns the pronunciation of mandolin. "Uh", in this context, represents a schwa sound.

I would say man-do-line with a nasty french accent (although some girls find it sexy )

Birl