Date:  Mon, 21 Nov 1994 13:31:53 -0500

From:  PPATRICK[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GUVAX.BITNET

Subject: Re: song lyrics



Yep. I think that's also the most mysterious thing about phonetics and

transcription. To wit: you can't transcribe it correctly unless you

already know what it means, ie, you can't HEAR it unless you know what

it means. But how do you know what it means except by hearing it?

    This is why I'm so suspicious of working in languages/varieties

I don't know well! and so respectful of linguists who faithfully

describe things they admit they don't understand...

    --plp