hardest to pronounce

[Jonathan Lighter]

You don't have to be a Civil War re-enactor to hear "calvary" for "cavalry."  It's the only off-campus pronunciation I've ever heard here in Tennessee, though admittedly the wotrd doesn't come up that often.

However, I have also seen the word spelled "calvary" in print. Possibly a proofreader's oversight, yes,  but in this case a revealing one.  I sent a 1919 ex. (in dialogue) to Jesse at the OED.

I once thought the error arose from excessive church attendance, but that explanation is too pat.  Jesse, is 1919 still the date to beat?

JL

FRITZ JUENGLING <juengling_fritz at SALKEIZ.K12.OR.US> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: FRITZ JUENGLING
Subject: Re: hardest to pronounce
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For some reason, that one has never caused me any problems. But as a civil war reenactor, I often deal with 'cavalry.' I think I hear 'CALvary' about 75% of the time. I don't know why this is so difficult for some people.
Fritz


>My first thought was along those lines; "strengths".
--
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Alice Faber faber at haskins.yale.edu
Haskins Laboratories tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
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