Re: [tied] -osyo 4 (was: Nominative Loss. A strengthened theory?)

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, enlil@... wrote:

> Miguel:
> > mettre /mEtr/ "to put"
> > mètre /mE:tr/ "meter"
> > maître /mE::tr/ "master"

> Again, I'd like to know what French dictionary would ever describe
> French has having a phonemic three-way length contrast. If you're
> talking about PHONETICS, then alright maybe (or rather, "maybe"
> with a big giant question mark next to it), but never phonemically.

If you accepted the phonetics as correct, why would you still not
accept this as a 3-way phonemic contrast?

I must admit I too am startled by the reported 3-way contrast - does
this mean that _elle appelle_ (from _appeler_ 'to call') and _elle
agnèle_ (from _agneler_ 'to lamb') do not rhyme?

The last issue (1970) of the IPA's old journal, 'Le Maître
Phonétique', spells its name [l&\ mE:tr&\ fOnetik] (transcribed in X-
SAMPA, with '&\' for schwa to avoid mangling by Yahoo to hide e-mail
addresses). No superlong vowel here!

Richard.