--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Arnaud Fournet" <fournet.arnaud@...>
wrote:
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andrew Jarrette" <anjarrette@...>
>
> >> ========
> >>
> >> So bonne is nearly bun and botte nearly but in Quebecois !?
> >>
> >> I'm very deeply sceptical,
> >> A.
> >> ========
> >>
> >
> > I'm not an authority. It's just my impression, and I think Rick
> > agrees. But your <motte> sounds much more like our <mutt> than does
> > your <meute>, I would stake my life on it.
> >
> > Andrew
> >
> ======
>
> I have uploaded a file named motte_meute.wma
> une motte de terre
> une meute de loups
>
> I let you decide which sounds closest to English mutt.
>
> A.
>
I'll try to be as fair and honest as possible: they're probably both
equally similar to English <mutt>, in that recording. My first
impression was that <motte> was more similar, but then I thought that
could be because I'm biased. So to be fair I would say they are
equally similar. But when he says <meute> I still notice the
frontness, which is different from <mutt>, and also <meute> seems to
be very very slightly diphthongal (I think it has something like a
barely perceptible progression rounded > unrounded, but of course I
might easily be wrong), which <motte> and <mutt> aren't. But yes
<motte> definitely has a rounded vowel (basically <mutt> pronounced
with rounded lips), but it doesn't remind me of RP <Mort> (a name),
basically the latter has noticeable length which <motte> definitely
does not. <motte> reminds me of <mutt>, and <meute> does too, so I
will say they are equal, but if I have to decide between one or the
other, I will still choose <motte> as a better equivalent of <mutt>
(possibly bias, but I'm trying not to be biased).
Andrew