In a message dated 8/23/02 11:18:34 AM, GordonMJ at MISSOURI.EDU writes: << Such comments (and justifications) are never added about other lexical variables (e.g., sack v. bag, seesaw v. teeter-totter). >> I do hear such comments about the variant pronunciations of AUNT--those who distinguish AUNT from ANT say stupid things like "My mother's sister is not a bug."