From: StephenP
Category: Amis
Date: 7/21/99
Time: 4:58:17 AM
Remote Name: 195.171.125.1
Enjoyed that one. Right up Pedant's Alley. May I oblige. Burgess is right. Take for example, the words 'pin' and 'spin'. The word 'pin' has three phonemes. The word 'spin' has five. The 'p' in 'spin' has, for some reason, an aspirate sound associated, which, in itself, is unpronouncable. Any phoneme is unpronouncable in itself, unless associated with another. Marty's repeated misuse of the word is touching in its filial solicitude, but smacks of overkill.
ps - whatever happened to my hero, Samuli- the MAD 'voice of reason'? William, what have you been up to?