Changes

Some languages have fixed rules of pronunciation.  For example, in [[French]], the same [[letter]]s and [[syllable]]s are almost invariably pronounced the same way whenever they occur.  In [[English]], however, letters can be pronounced in many different ways.  For example, there are approximately twenty-five different [[vowel]] sounds, which can be conveyed by only five vowels (or six if '''Y''' is counted), and the combination ''''ough'''' can be pronounced at least six different ways in most dialects of English, varying up to eight in certain dialects of English.<ref>The number of ways varies according to accent as well as the variety of English, such as American, British, or Australian English.  Examples of the different ways are ''rough'', ''through'', ''bough'', ''cough'', ''dough'', ''thought'', ''though'', ''thorough'', and ''hiccough''.</ref>

Some languages have fixed rules of pronunciation.  For example, in [[French]], the same [[letter]]s and [[syllable]]s are almost invariably pronounced the same way whenever they occur.  In [[English]], however, letters can be pronounced in many different ways.  For example, there are approximately twenty-five different [[vowel]] sounds, which can be conveyed by only five vowels (or six if '''Y''' is counted), and the combination ''''ough'''' can be pronounced at least six different ways in most dialects of English, varying up to eight in certain dialects of English.<ref>The number of ways varies according to accent as well as the variety of English, such as American, British, or Australian English.  Examples of the different ways are ''rough'', ''through'', ''bough'', ''cough'', ''dough'', ''thought'', ''though'', ''thorough'', and ''hiccough''.</ref>

Dictionaries use various [[notation]] systems and sometimes esoteric [[symbol]]s to convey how a word is pronounced.

Dictionaries use various [[notation]] systems and sometimes [[esoteric]] [[symbol]]s to convey how a word is pronounced.

Pronunciation of some words differs widely according to a person's [[accent]], [[dialect]], and [[cultural]] and [[religious]] background.  This is conveyed in the famous song "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off", from the musical ''[[Shall We Dance?]]'', which includes the line: "you say toma[y]to, I say toma[h]to".  The 'tomayto' pronunciation of '[[tomato]]' is most common in the [[America]], while the 'tomahto' pronunciation is more common in [[Britain]].

Pronunciation of some words differs widely according to a person's [[accent]], [[dialect]], and [[cultural]] and [[religious]] background.  This is conveyed in the famous song "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off", from the musical ''[[Shall We Dance?]]'', which includes the line: "you say toma[y]to, I say toma[h]to".  The 'tomayto' pronunciation of '[[tomato]]' is most common in the [[America]], while the 'tomahto' pronunciation is more common in [[Britain]].