ABSTRACT
[Abstract: Spelling pronunciations are pronunciations that deviate from established standard pronunciations, this deviation being caused by features of the spelling of words (e.g. pronouncing a /b/ in debt). Many of these, like debt, are caused by silent letters introduced into English spelling by scholars in the 16th century. English placenames and surnames, many of which have a long history, are common examples of such mispronunciations, (e.g. pronouncing Leicester as three syllables instead of two).]
