Sine Die

[MULTIZ321]

I came across the Latin word Sine Die during recent readings. I didn't remember its meaning and looked it up on my phone dictionary App which has a speaker icon that pronounces the word if you so desire.

I was familiar with the word and thought I knew how to pronounce it. Alas, I was far off. So, for those of you who are interested, check your dictionary for the pronunciation key, and if you have an App with a pronunciation icon, even better yet.

Richard

 

[ricoba]

Merriam-Webster online has pronunciation for it.

Here is the link:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sine die

 

[BevL]

Interesting, two different pronunciations from two different websites.

In my experience, at least in British Columbia courtrooms, it's pronounced:

Synee dye.

Another legal one I love hearing on American TV is voir dire - it's all over the map compared to how it's pronounced in the work I do.

 

[Passepartout]

We're getting a kick from this thread. DW, who studied in Texas says they insisted on pronouncing voir dire, Vohr DAHR. And heck, any legal eagle worth his/her Latin salary knows it's synee dyee or dyuh.

Interestingly, in the American legal system, often both the English and Latin terms for the same thing are used together. Like 'cease and desist' or 'last will and testament'.

When our state legislature ends it's session, the Speaker says, "This session is adjourned, sine die." Again both terms.

Jim

 

[BevL]

Reminds me of the movie, "My Cousin Vinny." The pronunciation of voir dire in that movie was hilarious to me, I can't really reproduce it phonetically.

Here in courtroom proceedings it's pronounced by lawyers and judges alike , as close as I can get it phonetically:

Vwor deer - very definite W sound after the V in voir.

Of course, My Cousin Vinny was the same movie that Joe Pesci and Fred Gwynne were having trouble with "Yewts" versus "youths".

Put it down to my Canadian accent - LOL, another thread.