Re: Re[8]: ka and k^a [was: [tied] *kW- "?"]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian M. Scott" <BMScott@...>
To: "Patrick Ryan" <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 8:23 PM
Subject: Re[8]: ka and k^a [was: [tied] *kW- "?"]


> At 8:54:46 PM on Friday, September 23, 2005, Patrick Ryan
> wrote:
>
> > From: "Brian M. Scott" <BMScott@...>
>
> >> At 7:23:29 PM on Friday, September 23, 2005, Patrick Ryan
> >> wrote:
>
> >>> Well, according to the IPA, [a] is a front vowel more open
> >>> than [æ];
>
> >> No, according to the IPA [a] is an open front unrounded
> >> vowel, and [æ] is a near-open front unrounded vowel. There
> >> is no specification of relative frontness, only of relative
> >> openness.
>
> > I wrote "more open" not "more to the front".
>
> So you did. My apologies. The idea that anyone would think
> [æ] more open than [a] was so odd that it simply didn't
> register, especially when it *is* more front, but I should
> have read more carefully.
>
> Brian

***
Patrick:

Yes, you should.

Perhaps you are not aware of it, but many systems for phonetic rendition of
English have been used in the past besides IPA.

In those, <æ> was used for the openest English front vowel, as in <hat>; and
<a> was reserved for the central vowel of <father>.

***