[l at C]

[Beverly Flanigan]

Not hardly--[ri-l at -t@r] is innocently (i.e., unconsciously) used all the
time.  It's also not just dialectal (we shouldn't assume that everything is
dialectal!).  I suspect it is a natural extension of the perception of
'real' as one syllable rather than two.  The epenthetic schwa could operate
in either case, of course, and does in the case of "reality."



At 09:56 AM 10/7/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Realtor used to be a trademark--and, perhaps still is.  Calling yourself a
>"realator" might be a way around getting charged with a violation--not
>particularly effective.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Victoria Neufeldt <vneufeldt at m-w.com>
>To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 8:36 AM
>Subject: Re: [l at C]
>
>
>> The pron. [ri-l at -ter] for realtor is very common, among realtors
>themselves
>> and MANY other people.  I heard this first in Cleveland in the mid 80s
>(or,
>> I should say, I became aware of it first then) and I hear it a lot here in
>> Springfield, Mass as well.  I venture to say that it is the predominant
>> pron. for the word. The M-W Collegiate recognizes it, but marks it as a
>> controversial usage (although I don't recall ever hearing or reading
>> anything about it, either pro or con).
>>
>> Victoria
>>
>> Victoria Neufeldt, Merriam-Webster, Inc.
>> 47 Federal Street, P.O. Box 281
>> Springfield, MA  01102
>> Tel. (413) 734-3134 ext 124
>> Fax  (413) 827-7262
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf
>> > Of D. Ezra Johnson
>> > Sent: Monday, October 04, 1999 10:15 PM
>> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>> > Subject: Re: [l at C]
>> >
>> >
>> > >From: Andrea Vine <avine at NETSCAPE.COM>
>> > >
>> > >For some dialects it seems there is a need for a transition from /l/
>>to
>> > >another consonant and vice versa.
>> >
>> > I was on the phone with two people from Watertown, NY today and they
>both
>> > said [ril at tiy] in referring to the United Realty Management Co.
>> > One was the
>> > receptionist of said firm.
>> >
>> > DEJ
>> >
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>