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

From:The Gray Wizard <dbell@...>
Date:Saturday, October 6, 2001, 13:19
> 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.