Re: Phonology question

On Wed, 14 Jul 1999, BP Jonsson wrote:

> At 15:15 -0500 13.7.1999, Patrick Dunn wrote:
>
> >The tip arches up.  Make the /t/ sound, then relax and drop the center of
> >your tongue until you get a fricative.
> >
>
> Unless it sounds anything like an English "sh" it's definitely the
> Icelandic "thorn" sound, i.e. laminal alveolar fricative.
Hmmm. If it's laminal, then it can't be produced with the tip of the
tongue; the term laminal implies the blade of the tongue. Patrick
described this as being pronounced with the tip. Since the tip curls
back, it's a retroflex.

At least that's how I read Patrick's description ...

Dirk

--
Dirk Elzinga
dirk.elzinga@m.cc.utah.edu                   "All grammars leak."
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~elzinga/                 -Edward Sapir