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...