Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 15:36:36 -0400

From: Allan Metcalf AAllan[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM

Subject: Bade, long and short



I've been asked -



Is the pronunciation of bade (past tense of bid) controversial? . . . . Is

it

a dialect issue, a class issue, or a thing indifferent? Is long a driving

out short a?



My answer is that

DARE is silent on this; has no entry for bid (v) or bade at all. Nor have I

heard of any such controversy. I suspect there's a modern spelling

pronunciation encroaching on a traditional one.



But have I missed something? Is there patterned variation, or controversy?



- Allan Metcalf