USAGE: writ [was Re: Here, *Here*, and There, *Ther

Ray Brown wrote:

>Yes, [w_0] is not obsolete either side of the Atlantic. It's still >common enough
>in Scotland, where I've even encountered [hw] and, >I believe, some northern
>dialects.
You seem to be differentiating between [w_O] and [hw], whereas Thomas didn't. I
take it I'm right in understanding a difference between a voiceless W and an HW
cluster (a vl. aitch with a voiced w)?

> Don't get me wrong:  I'm not condemning your usage,
No, indeed - it would be nice to learn that old pronunciations still survive somewhere.

Well, here is one little  corner of elderenglishdom.

>I believe initial /kn/ persisted in odd places till the 19th cent.,
>but I suspect it's obsolete everywhere now.
Unhappily yes. Except in "Holy Grail". ;) I only use it facetiously, alas, on the odd occasion.

>> [kr] and [ny] are licit onset clusters, but *[pt], *[pn] and
>> *[nl] are not.
>Nor indeed is [kn] any more   :=(
Well, there _is_ knoodle (to hug and nuzzle). I've always said that one /k'nudl/; I
suspect it's Yiddish, and don't know if it's spelled or pronounced "right".


>> which is why I'm surprised that you would have it.
>Me too.  What sort of /r/ do you use?
I have what I consider the "usual American R". Not a trill, not a roll, not a
flap; it's [V] with the tongue pushed back and up, giving it that particular
arry sound. :)

Padraic.

>Ray.

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