pleonasms

[Thom Harrison]

In most Southern dialects "pen" and "pin" are pronounced with the same
vowel, so "ink pen" is a necessary addition to distinguish the item from
straight pins, safety pins, cotter pins, and the like.

Does that make it not a pleonasm?

Thom


-----Original Message-----
From: Bethany K. Dumas [mailto:dumasb at UTKUX.UTCC.UTK.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 2:33 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: pleonasms


On Wed, 13 Feb 2002, ANNE V. GILBERT wrote:

>"Ink pen" is another one. I hear a lot.

I'm not sure "ink pen" qualifies. My credit union now requires
[electronic] signatures with an "inkless pen."

I had never heard "ink pen" until I moved to Knoxville in 1974 - the first
place I heard it was in the Computer Center.

Bethany