Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 11:24:24 -0500

From: "M. Lynne Murphy" 104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MUSE.ARTS.WITS.AC.ZA

Subject: Re: Gnarly Gnews!



However, it is not surprising that even some native speakers of this

dialect (?) do not know its origin and therefore reanalyze it to have

either a different silent letter in spelling (k) or none at all. Both

Marilyn and I are sure we've seen 'Narly!' written before (where?).



but, i do think that (some) people pronounce it w/ a pretty velar

nasal at the front--almost with the 'g'. maybe it's just me--

something sound-symbolic about it. or maybe it's the gesture that

is symbolic--cramming the tongue up in the back of the mouth so as to

be gnarled.



lynne



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