Enigmatic variations : the "silent E" in French. Part 2.

Continuation of the article, Enigmatic variation : the "silent E" en French. Part 1.
Before going further, I must point out to you that everyone does not agree on the subject. Phonetic books contradict themselves and often offer complicated rules to apply. What is certain :

1. Normally we do not pronounce the silent e at the end of a word, see previous article.
2. Normally we do not pronounce the silent e when it is in the second syllable of the word.
3. Normally, the more the language is formal, the more we pronounce the silent e.
4. Normally, the more it is an everyday language, the less we pronounce the silent e.
5. Normally, in some areas the silent e is very expressive and it invites itself everywhere, in the south of France for example;-)

Notice, the word that begins each sentence, normally ... here is the problem ... normally! So if you are in doubt, better say this capricious "e" except of course those which are PROHIBITED;-)

Observe:
You can choose to pronounce or not the "e" when it is followed by a consonne: 
1. Mange ce gateau (5 syllables = man-ge-ce-ga-teau)
2. Mang(e) ce gateau (4 syllables = man-jce-ga-teau)
You NEVER pronounce the e when it is followed by a vowel:
3. Mang(e) un gateau. (4 syllables = man-jun- ga-teau)

You can choose to pronounce or not the "e" when it is followed by a consonne: 
4. Regarde là-bas (5 syllables = re-gar-de-la-ba)
5. Regard(e) là-bas (4 syllables = re-gar-dla-ba)
You NEVER pronounce the e when it is followed by a vowel:
6. Regard(e) ici (4 syllables = re-gar-di-ci)

You can choose to pronounce or not the "e" when it is followed by a consonne: 
7. Le vent souffle fort. (5 syllables = le-vent-sou-ffle-fort)
​8. Le vent souffl(e)  fort. (4 syllables = le-vent-sou-fffort)*
You NEVER pronounce the e when it is followed by a vowel:
9. Le vent souffl(e) encore ( 5 syllables = le-vent-sou-flen-cor)

* Listen carefully the record below. Notice that the "L" disappear. 

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​​The silent e when it is on the second syllable and more. 

Normally we do not pronounce the silent e when it is in the second syllable of the word.
For example: 
​2ème syllabe : dang(e)reux, ach(e)ter, am(e)ner, dév((e)lopper, méd(e)cin*...
3ème syllabe : normal(e)ment, complèt(e)ment, sauvag(e)ment, dérang(e)ment...
4ème syllabe : renouvèl(e)ment, dédommag(e)ment, dév(e)lopp(e)ment...

*Notice the transformation of the sound. What do you hear? I will explain in a future article. 

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Exceptions

Well, there are of course exceptions, if not it'd be too easy!

• When the word is too hard to pronounce, for example: mercredi. The sequence cr and d would be too hard to say. 
• When the E is followed by: lier, nier, riez, rions, mions... Atelier, chandelier, pal(e)frenier, nous chanterions, nous appelions...
• And for reasons undetermined according to Jean-Michel Kalmbach in the following words: apercevoir, guenon, benêt, concevoir, échevelé, ensevelir, énervement, femelle, semer, garnement, porcherie, inversement, peler, penaud, quelque chose*, quelquefois*, quelque part*, peser (et formes conjuguées) bedaine, forgeron, quenouille, querelle, fenouil, squelette, secousse.

* The final e of these words is usually maintained. If it disappears, it takes with him the "l": kekchoz, kekfois, kekpar.

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In real life ... If the TV is part of real life;-)

​Listen to this pub without subtitles. Then put the subtitles, I removed all E which are not pronounced!
Below you will find a more detailed explanation if you wish.

Green, the e which disappear at the end of the word.
Red, the e which disappear on the second syllable. 
Purple, the e which become é ou è... 
Orange, the e  which disappear and sometimes transform the sound. 
Bold, the e which stay. 

Cinq vies ! Ben bien sûr qu'un papier peut viv’(1) 5 vi’, parfois plus mêm’ !
Ben euh... moi j'ai eu la chanc’ de démarrer en journal… un quotidien... (rires) 
Ben oui, c'est pas un’ vi’ très longu’ mais c'est intens’, c'est un très bon souv’nir. 
Ah et puis après j'ai été un annuair’, pendant... deux ans. 
Ah et y'a longtemps, j'ai été un joli p’tit(2) roman, en poch’, pas un grand succès mais... un premier roman c'est toujours émouvant.
Voilà, ben après tout ça, me voilà en... en prospectus, Un’ vi’ simpl’ et pratiqu’ quoi.(3)
Non, bien sûr on sait jamais à l’avanc’. On mérit’ tous de viv’(1) plusieurs vi’, mais bon… C'est pas automatiqu’.
On connait tous des histoir’ de papiers qui finiss’ brûler comm’ un vulgair’ déchet. Abandonné !
Aucun papier ne mérit’ de mal finir comme ça; bêt’ment…
Si j’ pouvais(4) choisir ? euh... un beau papier... un papier à lettr’, finir en lettre d’amour… ouais ! Ça ça m’ plairait bien !
Mais bon, j’ prends(4) c’ qui vient, c'est la vi’ !
Je peux ? Ben, j’ voulais(4) juste remercier tous ceux qui m'ont trié, c'est grâc’ à(3) eux que j'ai pu viv’ tout’ ces vi’, Merci…


(1) In the word "vivre", two letters disappear "re" to facilitate linking with "cinq".
(2) "Petit", that e which disappears is in the first syllable! 
(3) Notice the nice chaining between "simple" + "et" = simplé, and another between "graçe" + "à" = graça. Also "pratique" + "quoi" = "pratiquoi"
(4) Note the difference in sound between: "j'pouvais", "j'prends" and "j'voulais". What do you notice? I will explain in a future article.

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