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James Crippen wrote:
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cite="midcaf8a68a0805231347m7112b5b1o718a6ddaa0c10f6@mail.gmail.com"
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<pre wrap="">On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 5:18 PM, William J Poser <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:wjposer@ldc.upenn.edu"><wjposer@ldc.upenn.edu></a> wrote:
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<pre wrap="">For those with no knowledge of Maori, the difference between <wh> and <w>
in "Wanganui" versus "Whanganui" is not a mere matter of spelling
as the Mayor seems to think. <w> represents the same sound as in English,
while <wh> represents a voiceless bilabial fricative, similar to English
/f/ but made with both lips rather than the lower lip and upper teeth.
</pre>
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<pre wrap=""><!---->
Also the same sound as in Japanese /f/ before /u/, such as the word "futon".
Can we presume that the Mayor lacks the w/wh distinction in his
English dialect? That may be why he feels it's a mere spelling
problem, since he doesn't hear the difference between "which" and
"witch".</pre>
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Of course we can presume that. NZ English doesn't have the
distinction. <br>
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cite="midcaf8a68a0805231347m7112b5b1o718a6ddaa0c10f6@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""> As a speaker of English retaining the w/wh distinction, the
difference in spelling would seem to be fairly important, even if I
weren't linguistically inclined.
</pre>
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A significant percentage of NZers, even those that don't speak any
Maori, would know what <whanga> means in place names, so for them
the change would be of significant importance. Others might realise
that it's significant to Maoris without knowing the reason, so would be
inclined to support the change out of simple respect for them. But
others, probably the vast majority, would be like the mayor and would
think of the change as simply an annoying and pointless spelling change.<br>
<br>
John.<br>
<br>
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