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Pronouncing asterisk as asterix /æstərɪks/ is called metathesis.

Some common examples of this phenomenon that I have heard are ask -> aks and introduce -> interduce /ɪntərˈdjuːs/.

So this phenomenon has a fancy name. But is it correct to say asterisk as asterix? How does one decide whether it's metathesis or just a mispronounced word?

herisson
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Ankit
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  • Related: Pronunciation and spelling of “asterisk”, Why is “ask” sometimes pronounced “aks”? – RegDwigнt Jun 03 '11 at 15:22
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    My understanding is that the phenomenon is always referred to as metathesis, whether it's a one-off error or the accepted norm. Thirteen is metathesis, so is aks, so is pasketti. So the question basically boils down to When does a mistake become standard usage? – RegDwigнt Jun 03 '11 at 15:30
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    @RegDwight is right on the money. Words often change over time, and one way they can change is through metathesis. After some time, if enough people (or perhaps more importantly, the right people) pronounce a word a new way, the new pronunciation can eventually be adopted as standard. But there is no guarantee of standardization for a given pronunciation of a given word. – Kosmonaut Jun 03 '11 at 15:32
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    Usage changes over time, but "asterix" and "axe" are both likely to get you funny looks round these parts.

    See also "religious tenants" - drives me mad, that one.

     – Christi Jun 03 '11 at 15:36
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    Random fact: in Greek there is also metathesis quantitatis, "change of length". (Quantitas is a Latin word, but we often use Latin words to describe Greek.) With two successive vowels, it is possible that only their lengths are swapped. Polis ("city, city-state"), genitive pole(y)-os*, would regularly be polē-os. But the long e* becomes short, and the short genitive ending -os is lengthened in compensation, to become poleōs. M.q. usually occurs where a PIE semi-vowel has disappeared, either yod (y) or wau (w). – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jun 03 '11 at 16:20
  • nucular; prostrate (in speaking of the prostate gland). – Pete Wilson Jun 05 '11 at 17:15
  • It has a special name because it's common; and it's common because it's a normal result of the way the mechanics of pronunciation works. In other words, swapping consonants is an easy thing to do (try pronouncing Unique New York three times fast and see what you wind up doing) and therefore quite often generates new words in new contexts. So it's always metathesis, and it may or may not be a mispronunciation -- that depends on who's judging. – John Lawler Feb 22 '17 at 20:45
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  • "Scrimmage" is a metathetic transformation of "skirmish," and "dirt is a metathetic transformation of "drit. " 2) My father taught me,"Mary upon the ice did frisk. How foolish of her, her *. " 3) Here's a verse from the American folk song, Revolutionary Tea," Oh mother, oh mother," the daughter replied, I shan't do this thing that you ax. I'm willing to pay a fair price for the tea, but never no thr' penny tax."
    • – Airymouse Feb 22 '17 at 23:03