Re: USAGE: German phonemically long vowels [was Re: Silent E]

> From: Thomas R. Wier
>
> Quoting Henrik Theiling <theiling@...>:
>
> > "Thomas R. Wier" <trwier@...> writes:
> > > German's orthography is fairly consistently phonemic, but there
> > > are a few exceptions.  Because Standard German does not have
> > > geminate consonants, a pair like "Nachttisch" (nightstand)
> > > and "nachtisch" (nightly) are homophonous, the second <t> in
> > > <Nachttisch> not being pronounced.
> >
> > Well, but these two are not, since the first a is short, the second
> > long:
> >
> >   Nachttisch  [naXtIS]
> >   Nachtisch   [na:XtIS]
> >
> > But your point is still correct.
Hmm.  Not sure enough about my German, but I don't believe I ever heard
"nachtisch" meaning "nightly".  I seem to recall only "naechtlich".  I will
have to check with my wife who is a native German speaker on that.

There is of course "Nachttisch" (nightstand) and "Nachtisch" (dessert), but
these are easily differentiated.

Stay curious,
David

David E. Bell
The Gray Wizard
www.graywizard.net

elivas en ishron ordelmar cotronian
Wisdom begins in wonder.