RachelZ3 said: [...] Is it custom to go back further than the 15th century? I am new here, perhaps that is the case. [...] Click to expand...

some regional dialects

RachelZ3 said: [...] Note that I am frustrated because the schools that have kilns are only pronouncing it with the n, and the dictionary is only providing the sound with the n. This is killing off the 700 year old pronunciation, and it saddens me. [...] Click to expand...

some

Ws

Why settle on the 15th century? You can of course be selective with evidence to make any point you like, but looking at the bigger picture might be more appropriate.As many sources show (and as the very same writer of that forum post quoted bywent on to say afterwards), the word wasorin Old English in the early 8th century. The presence of the final e indicates that thewas pronounced. The spelling evolved (via), and then 700 years later, in the 15th century, the-less pronunciation started to occur (I suppose you might consider that a 'dumbing down'!).We have no evidence that dropping thebecame standard, only that by the late 19th century it was widespread in. That fact alone suggests that the pronunciation of theprobably remained as 'standard', at least in BrE. It's possible that the-less dialect version became established in some parts of North America (depending, by area, on which English region the original colonists came from).That statement, "We suspect theis now being pronounced simply because people read the word before hearing it and have no reason to assume that theis silent ", is simply the opinion of 'Melanie and Mike', who run the website from which it was taken. Personally I suspect that theis now being pronounced because it's always been there (except for those who drop the, and their number seems to be diminishing).Well, let's look at that bigger picture. Based on the evidence we have seen, thewas pronounced for at least 700 years. For the next 500-600 years,people dropped the. In the last 100 years or so, that-dropping habit has virtually disappeared in BrE, and is obviously lessening in AmE.So perhaps you shouldn't be so frustrated or saddened. Schools and dictionaries are simply recognising the normal and logical pronunciation. Nobody should criticise you for using a dialect version if you want to, but maybe you should be just as tolerant of the perfectly (and perhaps more) legitimate other pronunciation. This may be killing off a 600-year-old (mis?)pronunciation (in round centuries, 21 minus 15 makes 6 by my counting), but it's preserving the essence of a pronunciation that's been around for 1300 years!So, if you're really a traditionalist, you should logically prefer the pronounced. If you're a 'modernist' you should also prefer the pronounced(the prevalent pronunciation of the present day). If you prefer the localised variant you were brought up with, then fine, do your thing. But it's really not worth being sad or frustrated just because others are quite justifiably doingthing.PS. I wrote most of this before reading your latest post, Rachel. I'm glad you're feeling a lot better now.