reservoir.

[Beverly Flanigan]

The compromise pronunciation I learned in physics (or whatever) was
'a-vor-du-poy'.  Note the intrusive /r/ but the lack of final /z/, in a
semi-Frenchy way.  What WAS the "old anglicized pron. dating back to Middle
English," by the way?

At 12:47 PM 4/18/01 -0400, you wrote:
>In a message dated 04/18/2001 12:39:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>markodegard at HOTMAIL.COM writes:
>
>
>> >From: Benjamin Barrett
>>
>> >(I left avoidupois out of the list because I've never heard it
>> >pronounced so that it didn't sound a bit snobbish.)
>>
>>I don't think I've ever used it, but if I did, I'd have pro'ly given it a
>>Frenchified pronunciation. I see it really is averred duh poise. My eyes
>>woulda raised had I ever heard it done the correct M-W way.
>I did a brief investigation of avoirdupois a while back by going to the
>people who might use it most... I called the state capitol of 7 diffrerent
>states and asked to speak to the Supervisor of Weights and Measures, or
>whatever the title might be.  Of the 7 only one used the old anglicized
>pronunciation dating back to Middle Eng. if memory serves.  The other 6 had a
>variety of Frenchy pronunciations.
>
>D


_____________________________________________
Beverly Olson Flanigan         Department of Linguistics
Ohio University                     Athens, OH  45701
Ph.: (740) 593-4568              Fax: (740) 593-2967
http://www.cats.ohiou.edu/linguistics/dept/flanigan.htm