Re: USAGE: WOMYN (was: RE: [CONLANG] Optimum numberofsymbols,though mostly talking about french now

> Actually, it comes from the original OE form _wifman_, in some MidEng
> dialects, the initial syllable went from /wi/ to /wu/.  For whatever
> reason, the singular used the /wu/ (now /wU/) pronunciation but the
> plural used the /wi/ (now /wI/) pronunciation.  Maybe even then the
> second syllable was already less distinctive.
Alright, that makes sense. :)

> Do people where you live also not distinguish between the suffixes -man
> and -men?
I can't think of any, unless you mean words like fireman/firemen. It depends
on the word, though.
fireman/firemen is /mIn/, but policeman/policemen is /mAn/ (or probably more
usually /m@n/ if speaking quickly) and /mIn/
two syllable ones like 'milkman' are usually /mAn/, and I want to say /mEn/
(I'm not even really sure sure if I have the right vowel there. Bah, vowels)
but I think most people would go with /mIn/. I'm not very good at speaking.

-Kendra
http://www.refrigeratedcake.com
http://www.refrigeratedcake.com/other/theatre -- Vade Mecum (comic)

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