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