Re: Re[2]: [tied] Re: Got to thinkin' about word order

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian M. Scott" <BMScott@...>
To: "Andy Howey" <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 7:49 PM
Subject: Re[2]: [tied] Re: Got to thinkin' about word order


> At 12:22:07 PM on Sunday, May 4, 2003, Andy Howey wrote:
>
> > Also, from what I understand, English is rated as one of
> > the most difficult languages to learn properly, at least
> > among major languages because of all the exceptions to
> > grammar rules and the rather unphonetic pronunciation. For
> > example, the cluster "ough" -- how many different sounds
> > does it have? At least three: "aw", long "u", and "uff"
> > (with a schwa).
>
> Also /ow/ (<though>) and /aw/ (<bough>). But this has
> nothing to do with the language; it's a function of the
> writing system and orthography.

No-one has mentioned /Of/ (rhyming with <scoff>) as in <cough> and <trough>. Exceptionally also /&p/ in <hiccough> if anyone prefers this folk-etymological fancy spelling to good plain <hiccup> :-)

Piotr