Date: Thu, 14 Apr 1994 20:50:55 -0700
From: "Gerald W. Walton" vcgw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MAIL.BACKBONE.OLEMISS.EDU
Subject: Re: ink pen
At 08:38 PM 4/13/94 CDT, Donald M. Lance wrote:
... She distinctly said [pEn] and when I asked for a show of hands the
class was evenly divided on which vowel was spoken.
The E-speaker was visibly surprised and a little shocked to discover that
her colleagues really couldn't hear a distinction that was so clear.
I have had similar experiences.
And I think I might have mentioned on this list once before the case of
Southern student at U. of Minnesota. Following a class discussion of pen/pin
pronunciations, she agreed to go to a department store and and ask the
salesperson where one might find pens/pins. The clerk listened carefully and
then responded, "The pans are in the basement." GWW