Re: German and English (was Re: Losing languages ...)

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003, Joe wrote:

> From: "John Cowan" <jcowan@...>
>
> > BP Jonsson scripsit:
> >
> > > English: *stain  >  *sta:n  >  *stO:n  >  sto:n  >  stOun  >  st@Un
> >
> > Of course, the numerically largest dialect is conservative here and
> > doesn't make it through the last transition.
>
> But a sizeable minority's does - me, Michael Poxon, Ray Brown, Dan Jones,
Joe and a few others.

> Tristan McLeay( I think, not sure of the nuances of the Australian accent),
Nah, we got off a bit early. In normal speech, the first element is
rounded and central (except before /l/, when it's rounded and back); in
broad speech, the first bit is typically unrounded and low (which is safe
because we say [h&u n&u br&un k&u]). Using [@U] is one of the things that
make Brits seem like they were shown the rag that wiped American English
:)

> And Rosta(he's English, isn't he?).  And another sizable minority are bludy
> Forn'ers.  I'd say Americans make up maybe 30% of the List population.
I think John meant in the larger population :)

--
Tristan                  <kesuari@...>

Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still
be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement.
                -- Snoopy