CLIK/CLEEK & NATIVE SPEAKER

[Laurence Horn]

At 1:46 PM -0500 3/15/01, Simon,Beth wrote:
>Central Iowa (Des Moines) -- The word _clique_ /klIk/ "click" was not
>infrequent in my high school. We were all in clicks, talked about
>clicks, were or weren't in so-n-so's click, etc. But then, we all said
>"nitch" _niche_.
>
>I've since learned "neesh" -- but I usu forget. I've probably said
>"cleek" out loud, maybe twice, but when I see _clique_ in print, I
>hear/read "click".
>
>beth
>
I've always said "nitch" but "cleek" (and "cleekish").  And "sheek"
for CHIC.  (I've never had occasion to refer to the jeans.)

larry