Date:  Fri, 25 Jul 1997 13:56:43 -0700
From:  Peter McGraw <pmcgraw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]LINFIELD.EDU>
Subject: Re: ough (fwd)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 97 14:39:20 EDT
From: Larry Horn <LHORN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]YaleVM.CIS.Yale.Edu>
To: Peter McGraw <pmcgraw[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]linfield.edu>
Subject: Re: ough

One problem is that there a couple of different 'slough's. THe one meaning
'swamp', 'inlet' is evidently generally [slu:]; I don't have this one in my
active lexicon. The metaphorical transfer meaning (courtesy of Webster's)
'state of moral degradation or spirit dejection', as of course in 'slough of
despond', is (again according to Webster's, but confirming my own intution)
[slau]. And the verb (sometimes spelled 'sluff') denoting what you do with
your old skin if you're a snake, or with your unwanted cards if you're a bridge
player, is always [sl[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]f], where [AT SYMBOL GOES HERE] is schwa or wedge. But these three pro-
nunciations obviously rhyme with those of 'through', 'plough', and 'rough' re-
spectively, so 'slough' never presents a NEW prounciation: there remain just
[!] eight. And yes, this easterner does indeed pronounce "Scarborough" with
a final schwa, at least sometimes.   --Larry, wondering if the list-
                     author was thinking of falling into
                     cole slough...