Re: TECHWR-L Digest - 16 Jan 1995 to 17 Jan 1995

[Richard Lippincott <rlippinc -at- BEV -dot- ETN -dot- COM>]

On the pronunciation of "skiing", I originally said:

>The sport we know as "skiing" was just starting to become popular in
>this country. The spelling has always been as we know it, but the
>original pronunciation was "scheeeing."

Richard Mateosian asked:

>Excuse me? How is that different from the current pronunciation? ...RM

I think my intent might have been more clear if I had said the original
pronunciation was "sheeing." But there was just a hint of a "ch" in there, and
I was trying to be as accurate as possible.

Of course, "ski" is pronounced with a hard "K", as in "skate," "sky,"
"skill," "skirt," "skunk," "skid," and "skewer." (At least, that's how it
is pronounced in the US. I don't have a clue about other countries, although
it wouldn't surprise me if it's closer to the original pronunciation.)

The original pronunciation had a softer "sch" sound. "School" is -not- a
pronunciation match, but"Schlep," "Schmaltz," "schnauzer," "schmuck," and
"schnapps" -are- pronunciation matches.

(BTW, I hope no one takes offense at the inclusion of the word "Schmuck." It's
tough finding words that have the proper "Sh" sound, but the same spelling
that I was trying to convey.)

Did I do better this time?

Rick Lippincott
Eaton Semiconductor
Beverly, MA
rlippinc -at- bev -dot- etn -dot- com