LL-L "Phonology" 2004.09.12 (15) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 12.SEP.2004 (15) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: john feather <johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Phonology

Michael wrote:

>The vowel in "varsity" etc. is the older one. The "change" is from, not to
that vowel.  Until the 18th century, forms like "marcy" and "sarmon" were
commonly in variation with "mercy" and "sarmon."<

There is a back story -- see Gary's posting in particular. "Person",
"university" and "vermin" are from Latin and presumably the "er" spelling
reflects the erliest E pronunciation. "Mercy" is from OFr "merci" and
cognate with a whole bunch of words like Span "merced".

John Feather johnfeather at sceptic1.freeserve.co.uk

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