Re: ...not what I mean (fwd)

On Fri, 24 Sep 1999, John Cowan wrote:

> Padraic Brown scripsit:
> >
> > That's hilarious!  :D
> >
> > On Sat, 25 Sep 1999, andrew wrote:
> >
> > > Some clever wordplay on how not to answer the telephone for your
> > > edification.
> >
> > > * "Watt."
> > > * "What is your name, please?"
> > > * "Watt's my name."
> > > * "That's what I asked you. What's your name?"
> > > * "That's what I told you. Watt's my name."
> >
> > Obviously they don't distinguish [w] and [hw].
>
> More than that.  I don't either, but "what" is [wVt] or [w@t] ---
> I don't distinguish [V] and [@] worth mentioning --- but "Watt"
> is distinctly [wAt], with a back vowel.
Curious.  For me the important bit was the w/hw discrimination.  I didn't
even consider which vowels might be in play.  I have [hw@t] and [wat].

Padraic.

>
> --
> John Cowan                                   cowan@ccil.org
>        I am a member of a civilization. --David Brin
>