Pronounciation of "arch-vile" (Doom monster)

[Ocelote.12]

English is not my native language, so I'd want to ask:

Is "ch" in "arch-vile" pronounced as /tʃ/ (like in "chopper") or as /k/ (like in "school")?

[ShikenNuggets]

Personally I go with "chopper", but I don't think there's a correct pronunciation.

[Arrow]

"chopper" is it. "Ark" would be /k/ - "school"

[Ocelote.12]

Then why is "patriarch" pronounced with /k/ ?

[Repugnant Human]

I'd also go with "chopper" variant since I use'd to name the demon as just Archie.

[Toni]

I say "Ark" bcause I think it comes from Archaic, meaning that it is an ancient demon, but I dk...

[ShikenNuggets]

Originally posted by Manul:

Then why is "patriarch" pronounced with /k/ ?

English is very inconsistent.

[Arrow]

Yep, English is very inconsistent. Patriarch, oligarch, and tetrarch all have a hard k - ark - but 'arch rival' has a soft k - chopper - even though the meaning of arch in both cases is the same ie; the original greek root means the same, cheif or master (thanks to my girlfriend for that infobyte) Generally fluent English speakers will say 'arch' as in 'channel' if they see 'arch' alone, and if they hear the word 'archville' with a hard k they will more often than not spell it 'arkville' or 'arcville'.

[Arrow]

People learning English often have difficulties with the language's habit of having rules that apply only in some cases, with no logical reason as to why those rules apply in those cases and not others. Usage came before rules - ie; the rules were formulated on the basis of how the language was spoken by English speakers - and as long as the speakers could communicate well they didn't really care about logic or consistency.

[MikeB0s]

khe

[Telephone]

I pronounce it Ark-Vile.

[Jennifer]

It's pronounced "Arch" as in Archie, and Ville as in Vile.

[Peter Brev]

Originally posted by optimuswhat:

I pronounce it Ark-Vile.