POOT-yin/POOCH-in

[Thomas Paikeday]

I find Steve's comment very comforting. After using a diacritical system in my
earliest dictionaries and a modified IPA in the 70's (to the acclamation of
linguists like Marckwardt), I abandoned both in the 80's and started using a
spelling-based system (and it IS a system as explained elsewhere). It's
comforting to see professionals resorting to it whey they want to communicate
with non-captive, extra-mural audiences (I'm trying not to overload. I could
have added audiences that take everything from Oxford as Heaven-sent).

And yes, the first syllable of "Putin" should be shown as (POO-) because it is a
stressed long-vowel syllable, but my question is, should a symbol be used "to
represent the oo of poo" because in English speech, as used by everyone except
those just starting ESL, you don't ever end an open syllable (long or short,
stressed or unstressed) with a short "oo." (Correct me if I am wrong). This is
one of the premises on which my system is based.

Isn't this is a good question?

THOMAS M. PAIKEDAY, lexicographer since 1964
Latest work: "The User's™ Webster," Lexicography, Inc., 2000
ISBN 0-920865-03-8
utpbooks at utpress.utoronto.ca


"Steve K." wrote:

> On Mon, 7 Aug 2000
>
> Most dictionaries leave stressed long-vowel syllables open, so actually
> the first syllable would probably be shown as POO (with the macron or
> connector or whatever symbol is used to represent the oo of poo) and the t
> would be placed in the second syllable. I should have represented it above
> that way.
>
> --- Steve K.