Date:  Wed, 13 Apr 1994 17:02:56 -0500

From:  "Bethany Dumas, UTK" <DUMASB[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UTKVX.BITNET>

Subject: Ink Pen



Re "ink pen": I have no evidence about motivation (what a good research

question!), but my experience (in East Texas, Arkansas (all parts), Tennessee)

is that "ink pen" is used by a subset of speakers for whom "pen" and "pin" are

homophonous. I do not think I ever heard the term

homophonous. I do not think I ever heard the term "ink pen" before I moved to

Knoxville. The first time I recall hearing it here was memorable. I was in the

Computing Center, seeking the assistance of a student clerk on duty. I thought

it extremely ironic that she used the term "ink pen" in her reply to me

in the most technologically advanced building on the campus. I hear the

term frequently--it is in constant use on this campus.