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