"'Plosive' is a relative term" means that there's no reason ... one time to another over a continuous range of values. It can't do that because if consonants were that loosely defined they'd be indistinguishable. It

Good point, "uh" doesn't really appear in traditional Englishwords, does ... it. "Uh-huh" isn't quite the same, being a nasal "unh-hunh." Now I'm confused. What does short-U have to do with it? Wasn't

Nonetheless, "uh" is the standard way in the US to ... it. "Uh-huh" isn't quite the same, being a nasal "unh-hunh." Now I'm confused. What does short-U have to do with it? Wasn't Athel talking about the

Are they related? Comments? Go do some work, Joe. Maria Conlon

^ (= How?) I watched a movie recently, I think that it was called "13 going on 30". It was dreadful but amused the kids. I paid close attention to the principal character talking to her mother. The pronunciation was clearly not British

Michael Nitabach wrote on 09 Aug 2004: I hope your president was not also the treasurer. I was a member during the bubble in the early '80s, so 30% was a small return on one's investments. He was rich and knew a great deal about making

I can half understand why we don't say Paree, but why shouldn't English speaking people be able to sort out ... ard' instead of 'Mare lind' (Ok, I can't do Fontanian symbols) and the 'normal' pronunciation of the

This was triggered by a radio programme on BBC radio 4 yesterday. In Kendall, in England's Lake District, three companies ... Mint Cake *is* a cake (just as my mother will sometimes refer to a bar of soap as a "cake"). Let them eat

I can half understand why we don't say Paree, but why shouldn't English speaking people be able to sort out ... ard' instead of 'Mare lind' (Ok, I can't do Fontanian symbols) and the 'normal' pronunciation of the

Until the kid is 12, they can travel under their ... doubt it raises to the level of "quite a nuisance". It involves visits to a US embassy. The way it's worded, as long as the kid can travel on your passport (up to age 12), it would