Doug Purl writes:

>>...  Ro-DAY-o is the perfect pronunciation for Pretensionville, just as
>>flautist is the word of choice of the ignorant, who know not it was long
>>antedated by flutist, but briefly overcome their sense of nothingness by
>>conspicuous fondling of the affectation.

And Scott Morrison adds:

>While we're at it, let's not forget PEE-an-ist, instead of the correct and
>less pretentious pee-AN-ist.

Well, maybe we Brits are pretentious by definition:  I can't imagine
pronouncing "pianist" except with the stress on the first syllable.  As for
"flautist" - this is the word I have always used; in fact I never heard the
word "flutist" until I came to this country.

Julia Werthimer <[log in to unmask]>
California, USA