Re: Alborgian/ Borgi

On 29/05/08 05:57:01, Ingmar Roerdinkholder wrote:
>
> Thanks Weeping Elf! eLf with a Lateral as weLL I guess?
> but, how are the different kinds of L called. The LL in Arabic aLLah
> or English
> aLL, and the L in English leap or Arabic Layl?
The "l" in RP "all" is called a dark or velarised l or in full a voiced
velarised alveolar lateral approximate. The "l" in RP "leap" is called
a clear l or in full a voiced alveolar lateral approximate. The LL in
Arabic "Allah" is an emphatic or pharyngealised l (i.e. a voiced
pharyngealised alveolar lateral approximate). The place of articulation
with "-ised" means that a central (i.e. non-lateral) approximate is
made in this area. It depends on the native language whether it begins
before, concurrently with, or after the lateral approximate.

Note also that the distribution of English "l" is particular to the
dialect. Many dialects of the British isles only use the clear l
(either because they always have, or because of influence from Celtic
languages, or because the dark l has been vocalised) whereas others and
Australian English only uses the dark l (either because of influence
from Celtic languages or because the velarising tendency that
apparently grew up in the 19th century spread to all tokens). American
English uses both, but the distribution is apparently different from
RP. I can't tell you exactly what it is; I expect it's only different
when it is has vowels on both sides.

--
Tristan.

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