Marco Cimarosti scripsit:

> You probably also realize the "i" and "u" in "abugida" as [??] and
> [??], and the unstressed "a" as [??].

In fact I don't; the first two would violate the rules (such as they are)
of English spelling, unless the word were spelled "abugidda". The
third I might tend to produce if I'm not being careful.

> As an Italian, I of course cast the sounds in my own language's phonemes:
> [????b????d??] and [??bu??gi??d????].

Italian uses [A] rather than [a]? I'm surprised.

--
John Cowan jcowan@... http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
O beautiful for patriot's dream that sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!
-- one of the verses not usually taught in U.S. schools