Re: CHAT: Guessing games (was: Middle English question)

Nik Taylor wrote:

>Kristian Jensen wrote:
>> OK, I won't spoil the fun either. ;-) But my Danish name is
>> pronounced ['k_hR&s.tj&n 'jens@n] in Danish, where [R] is a
>> pharyngeal approximant.
>
>*pharyngeal*?  I had no idea that pharyngeal sounds even existed in
>European langs.
Doesn't Maltese have at least one pharyngeal sound? Afterall, its=20
a Semitic language and _within_ Europe.

>
>I can do pharyngeal sounds with little difficulty, but that cluster
>[k_hR] I find impossible.  Interesting ...
It used to be a uvular trill, for sure. But nowadays, colloquial=20
Danish <r> is a pharyngeal approximant. Something like a consonantal=20
version of the vowel [A], low back vowel. Its so far back, in fact,=20
that I suspect that's why the <i> in my name is pronounced [&], low
front vowel. But then I wouldn't be able to explain <pris> 'price',=20
which is pronounced [p_hRi:s]. Perhaps the long [i:].

Hey I'm babbling! Its a terrible sound anyways.

-kristian- 8)