Re: The one already done

In a message dated 6/30/01 6:26:50 AM, zsau@YAHOO.COM.AU writes:

<< Do americans spell aero- as ero-? (For example, do they spell
'aerodrome' as "erodrome" (I know they spell 'aeroplane' as "airplane",
and pronounce it to match, and that's the only diff i remember seeing).
If not, why not? They spell 'mediaeval' as "medieval" (pointless, IMHO,
because it no longer suggests two vowels), aesthetic as esthetic, why
have I never seen aero- as ero-?

Also, does anyone know Webster's logic behind respelling 'colour' as
"color", but not 'source' as "sorce", which, being a stressed vowel,
would need it more, IMHO. >>

    The word "aero" isn't used enough to have its spelling changed.  I don't
even know what it means by itself (something to do with "air"), or what an
"aerodome" is.  Though no one would ever spell it "erodome".  Wouldn't make
sense.  Besides, the most popular use of the word "aero" is in "Aerosmith",
so that's the spelling most would be familiar with, I say.  As for
"aesthetic", I've never seen it "esthetic", but I have seen it "asthetic",
and heard it pronounced that way too.  As for "color" and "source", when I
pronounce "source" it seems like there's another sound there, but not with
"color", since there isn't: It's just /r=/.  Also, maybe he wanted "source"
to be pronounced /surs/ or /sawrs/, and not /sOrs/.  Or, then again, maybe he
was insane.

-David

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