Here's the gory story of the
term:
...
[4] Then Jephthah gathered together all the
men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim,
because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites,
and among the Manassites.
[5] And the Gileadites took the passages of
Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which
were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art
thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
[6] Then said they unto him, Say now
Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.
Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at
that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
... (Judges 12, the Authorised
Version)
Piotr
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: [tied] Re: -s -> -i
Interesting about glides - it is one of the most persistent problems with
learners of Welsh (who have English as a mother language). It is also one of the
main things that give away English speakers who have learnt Spanish. by the way,
what is 'shibboleth'?
Thanks
Guto