4 syllables: ac, knowl, edge, ments. Stress on knowl.
ak-NAH-lij-muhnts
/æˈknɑlɪdʒmənts/
acknowledgements is pronounced ak-NAH-lij-muhnts (/æˈknɑlɪdʒmənts/). It has four syllables (ac-knowl-edge-ments), with the stress on "knowl". A plural noun referring to expressions of thanks or recognition, typically in writing, speeches, or formal acknowledgments. It can also denote formal recognitions or endorsements. In most contexts it appears at the beginning or end of a document, where individuals or groups are thanked or named.
A plural noun referring to expressions of thanks or recognition, typically in writing, speeches, or formal acknowledgments. It can also denote formal recognitions or endorsements. In most contexts it appears at the beginning or end of a document, where individuals or groups are thanked or named.
- You’ll often stress the wrong syllable and say ac-KNOW-le dge-ments; keep the stress on KNOW. - The /kn/ cluster can become a true /n/ or a hard /k/ release; aim for a quick, light /k/ into /n/. - Ending cluster /mən(ts)/ is frequently pronounced as /mɛnts/ or /mənz/; practice a light /t/ with a clean /s/ to avoid a voiceless-vowel mismatch. - In rapid speech, the middle /dʒ/ may be swallowed; hold the /dʒ/ firmly. - Don’t insert extra vowels; stay with ac-KNOW-lij-ments, not ac-knowl-EDGE-ments.
"We include several acknowledgements to colleagues who contributed to the project."
"The book’s acknowledgements thank the researchers and mentors who supported me."
"In the conference, the presenter paused for acknowledgements before opening questions."
Pronunciation: /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ.mən(ts)/ or /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ.mənts/ depending on dialect. Start with a neutral schwa, then a stressed secondary vowel in the second syllable. The key is the /nɒlɪdʒ/ cluster where the 'ledge' sound is not present; think 'ack-no-lidge.' The final /mən(ts)/ may be syllabic or reduced to /mts/ in fast speech. Practice slowly: uh-KNOW-lij-muhnts; then connect rapidly without adding extra vowels.
Common errors: (1) misplacing stress on the first syllable instead of the second; (2) pronouncing /nɒ/ as /æ/ or /ɒ/ inconsistently, leading to an awkward sound; (3) adding extra syllables in the ending /mən(t)s/ or pronouncing the final -ts as clearly enunciated. Correction tips: emphasize the /ɒlɪdʒ/ chunk with a crisp /dʒ/ between; reduce the final vowel to a quick schwa before /nts/; keep the end cluster light and not exaggerated.
US: /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ.mən(ts)/ with rhotic r-like influence minimal; UK: /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ.mənts/, tighter final consonants; AU: /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ.mənts/ similar to UK, slight vowel elongation in some regions and less pronounced /r/ influence. Focus on the middle /ɒlɪdʒ/ cluster and the unstressed ending. Note that Australians often reduce /t/ to a flap or stop in informal speech, but formal contexts retain /ts/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern (the stress lands on the second syllable), plus a dense consonant cluster /kn/ and the /dʒ/ sound in /dʒ/. The ending /mən(ts)/ can be tricky due to syllable reduction and elision in rapid speech. Practice the sequence ac-KNOW-lid-ge-ments, ensuring the /n/ blends with /l/ and that the /dʒ/ is clearly articulated without inserting an extra vowel.
A notable feature is the sequence /knɒlɪdʒ/ where the /k/ and /n/ occur together, producing a silent-ish /k/ feel in some speakers as the tongue quickly transitions from /k/ to /n/. Also, the /dʒ/ begins the third syllable, which can be mispronounced as /dj/ or /dʒj/ if spoken slowly. Keeping /n/ immediately after the /l/ helps maintain the correct flow.
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- US: R-less rhotic close to non-rhotic before consonants; no extra rhotic vowel. - UK: Non-rhotic; careful with /ɒ/ quality; emphasize /dʒ/ clearly. - AU: Similar to UK, with variable vowel length and a tendency toward flatter intonation; keep /ɒ/ concise. - IPA guides: /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ.mən(ts)/ (US), /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ.mənts/ (UK/AU). - Mouth positions: start with a neutral schwa, lips relaxed for /ə/, then bite into /ɒ/ with a rounded vowel; the /lɪdʒ/ uses a light tongue tip for /l/ and a quick /dʒ/ release.
The term acknowledges stems from Old English acnianan or oncnian, combining a prefix a- (toward) with a root meaning ‘to know’ or ‘to admit’. The modern form acknowledges emerged in Middle English as a verbal noun from the verb acknowledge, meaning to admit or recognize. By the 16th-17th centuries, the plural noun form acknowledgements appeared, especially in formal writing and scholarly works, to denote the section where individuals or institutions are thanked. The spelling with -gements reflects the suffix -ment (from Latin -mentum) indicating action or result, adapted to the plural form. Its use expanded with academic publishing, ceremonial occasions, and grant documents, where explicit recognition of contributions and support became customary. Over time, the word shifted from a verb-derived noun to a conventional section header, carrying a formal, appreciative connotation in professional and literary contexts. First known uses trace to early English legal and scholarly texts, but the contemporary long form retains the British spelling with -gements. The plural variant acknowledges the participation of multiple contributors or supporters, not merely one person, and is widely used across varieties of English, with minor pronunciation adaptations in different dialects.
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