silent letters (was broadcasters)

[Mark_Mandel at DRAGONSYS.COM]

Rima McKinzey asks:

>>>>>
The"o" in "iron" is silent??
<<<<<

and Robert Kelly <kelly at BARD.EDU> reacts:

>>>>>
I've heard speakers (south midlands?) say 'iron' as a monosyllable, though
a 'long' one, something like /aHrn/.  In that sense, o is not
pronounced...but I think the original posting meant to say 'o is not
pronounced in the ways we usually associate with o'
<<<<<

Yes, Robert, that latter is what I meant. Thank you.

-- Mark