Date: Tue, 8 Feb 1994 22:53:51 -0800

From: THOMAS L CLARK tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NEVADA.EDU

Subject: Re: Sluff/Slough



On Tue, 8 Feb 1994, Peter Trudgill wrote:



The British Rail announcer must have been joking - EVERYONE in

Britain knows it's pronounced /slau/ - witness the famous John Betjeman

poem



Come, friendly bombs and fall on Slough,

It's not much good for people now----



(Second line isn't right, but it does end in "now".)

Peter Trudgill



Peter, haven't seen you since that glorious week at METHODS whichever in

Victoria, B.C. (though my students are very familiar with your books).

But your remind me:



Though slew is sluff

and slough is /slau/

We're tough enough

(or is it /nau/)

To cough it 'ough.'

Enuff for nough?



Cheers,

tlc