Re: Spelling pronunciations (was: rhotic miscellany)
| From: | Tristan Mc Leay <conlang@...> |
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| Date: | Tuesday, November 9, 2004, 12:54 |
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John Cowan wrote:
>I associate [wOr\S] and relatives with Western Pennsylvania; for
>whatever reason, PA is alone among the Eastern Seaboard states
>in having no non-rhotic area. Note that the [r\] appears only
>in words for which I have [wO] rather than [wA]: so "wash" has it
>but "watch" does not. (I have not heard it in "water" either,
>but my pronunciation of "water" is terminally confused.)
>
I have the same vowel in both 'wash' and 'watch' (but a different one in
'water'). What determines whether you [i.e. John Cowan] have a [A] or
[O]? (ISTR some American dialects also have /wVt/ for 'what'. Is yours
among these, and if so, how is this determined?) I fear you will provide
an answer revolving around phases of the moon...
[I still don't believe anyone puts an /r/ in 'wash'. Not that I don't
trust you [i.e. everyone who claims it exists], just that it seems so
bizarre and unbelievable and plainly _wrong_.]
--
Tristan.
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