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<div>This is a little off-topic, but I think it raises an important
point that seems to have been misunderstood.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>"Elizabeth J. Pyatt" <ejp10@PSU.EDU>, apparently
quoting someone, wrote:</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><font color="#000000">> Furthermore, there is no reason
to contribute to the<br>
> general perception that Americans just can't handle<br>
> phonetic symbols, a perception that is reinforced by<br>
> the fact that American dictionary makers, and only<br>
> they, refuse to use IPA for pronunciation guides.<br>
> <br>
> I think this refers to the practice of Websters and<br>
> other American dictionaries of using "cheesy"
phonetic<br>
> spelling as in "long i" to represent the /ay/ or
/aj/<br>
> diphthong. I also consider this to be inane and very<br>
> irritating. I hope that's not what the publisher
wants.</font><br>
<font color="#000000"></font></div>
<div>Although I laud the use of the word "cheesy,"
dictionary publishers have a very good reason for<b> not</b> using
IPA: no one wants to buy a dictionary that tells them they "talk
wrong." If dictionaries were to use IPA, then they would have to
settle on one pronunciation, and all non-standard speakers would
therefore be "wrong"--according to the dictionary, which for
non-linguists is the de facto authority on "proper"
usage.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>On the other hand, if dictionary makers use a system in which
they define the pronunciation value of symbols with familiar words
(i.e., the system they use now), then users can figure out how to say
unfamiliar words, in a way that is appropriate for their
dialect.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I, for one, don't want to be told by my dictionary that I'm
"wrong" for not having a contrast between the vowels in
_cot_ and _caught_, or that I'm "wrong" for maintaining the
<wh>/<w> contrast. On the other hand, I wouldn't want a
dictionary that didn't represent these differently.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>So while there are excellent dialectal (and economic!) reasons
for not using IPA in dictionaries, and although it is important for
students to understand that there are several phonetic transcription
traditions, I, like just about everyone else commenting on this, think
that Lyle should stick with IPA in his book.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Best wishes,<br>
<br>
Blaine Erickson</div>
<div>erickson@kumagaku.ac.jp</div>
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