Raymond Brown wrote:
> The anology with /T/ and /D/ is interesting. In fact many (probably most)
> of my fellow country do not realize they are two different phonemes until
> it's pointed out to them.
Most of *my* countrymen don't even realize they are two different sounds!
> But it has observed here when English spelling
> reforms have been discussed that one could well keep the same symbol for
> both sounds. Actually, there is one pair of words where the two sounds are
> clearly phonemic: _thy_ /Daj/ ~ _thigh_ /Taj/.
And others. This is what is meant by "low functional load": the distinction
doesn't matter very often, or very critically. The case of /u/ and /U/ is
essentially similar.
> ...and IIRC both land-lubbers & sailors pronounce _est_ (east) as /Est/, but
> only land-lubbers keep the final consonants in _nord-est_ which sailors
> pronounce /nOrE/.
We are assured that what a lookout used to utter when he said "Sail ho!"
(meaning "Another ship is visible") did not notably resemble /seilhou/,
either.
--
There is / one art || John Cowan <jcowan@...>
no more / no less || http://www.reutershealth.com
to do / all things || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
with art- / lessness \\ -- Piet Hein