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- Glottal stop in 'möchten'?
Glottal stop in 'möchten'?
I've heard the word 'möchten' pronounced both with a definite 't' sound, and also without the 't', I think replacing it with a very small glottal stop, like Londoners do when they 'drop the t', like if they said the word 'limiting', either with or without the t sound.
Am I right in thinking that this is what I am hearing, can anyone tell me? For instance one of the pronunciations for this word in forvo dot com is without an actual t sound. Also, how common is this in Germany, to drop a 't' from the middle of the word, and is there some general rule of when it may or may not work? I presume it wouldn't work for 'möchte', because it just sounds weird to drop the t there. Is that right?
Thanks
8 Comments
I'm not sure what you mean. I hear a "t" in all examples on forvo, just one is not pronouncing the last "e" ("möcht'n") (see https://forvo.com/word/m%C3%B6chten/#de). So it's definitely not like in the English "often". (Native German)
usually we do not drop the t at all. might be some people pronounce it more clear then others but it actually has to be there. otherwise it is simply wrong (native german as well) ps. i just listened to the examples on forvo. just like Max.Em i hear the t in every single one of them.
1539
I think Rungus is right (native German here, too) and in the fourth example the 't' is replaced by a glottal stop. Just try to speak 'möchtn' without the 'e' but with a clear 't' and I guess you will hear the difference.
Funny thing is, that I wasn't even aware so far that I often don't speak the 't' when saying 'möchten' - so I learnt something new about speaking my own language :-)
And you are right, Rungus, that the 't' isn't dropped in 'möchte'.
I just tried saying it myself (native German) and you are right, it does sound a bit like a glottal stop, I wasn't aware myself either. I don't pronounce the 'e' which leaves the 'tn' sound a bit like a glottal stop + n (or maybe a bit like 'dn'?), although I would have sworn that the 't' is not dropped. :) The 't' is fully pronounced in 'möchte' though.
Uh, for me there is quite some difference between a dropped t in often and the t in möchten, even if you "swallow" the e. Compare to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSd16tLz-0E for example. Of course, the t is there in möchten even with a mute e, but less pronounced.
