this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
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Showerthoughts

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Tooth doctor doesn't have the same ring as eye doctor (self.showerthoughts)
submitted 1 year ago by half_built_pyramids to c/showerthoughts
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Saying eye doctor in a conversation feels normal. Saying tooth doctor feels like listening to someone who had a bad disco elysium roll and they're punching themselves in the face to get the words out.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think the 'easier to say' part is the key thing here. "Pee-dee-atrition" is a lot easier for most English speakers that "op-tha-mologist". I think the "th" throws people off enough to just say "eye doc"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's even harder to spell than it is to say "ophthalmologist" What are the extra h and l doing there? I don't know. Most people forget them. Another English word not really pronounced like it's spelled. Trips me up every time I try to type it out. Optometrist, the non-MD eye doctor, much easier to say and spell.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't quite see it, but I'm used to saying opthamologist because of Tim Minchin and I'm not a native speaker. But seems plausible.