--- In
qalam@yahoogroups.com, "suzmccarth" <suzmccarth@...> wrote:
> the pure vowel, any vowel, as initial syllable is
> very common in written Tamil and Cree.
I am glad to say that I did specify in the *written* language. To
be honest I have to confess that in spoken Cree the initial vowel is
often preceded by an aspirate but it is not phonemic. Once again, to
me, that is just how it sounds in Cree. So by 'pure vowel' I meant,
represented by the symbol from the vowel row, nothing more.
Now, a very silly question, but don't certain dialects of English,
or English in certain contexts, also phonetically "disallow"
initial vowels? (Especially with a mouthful of ice cream or chewing
gum or whatever.) I am sure someone will have fun with this.
Suzanne