Will that be pop, soda or a soft drink?

[Laurence Horn]

>In a message dated 3/15/03 10:57:17 AM, vidamorkunas at telus.net writes:
>
>
>>  Mr. Boberg says. Americans, he notes, keep female cattle in their living
>>  room furniture, pronouncing the word "cow-itch," where we rhyme the word
>>  with the shout you make when stubbing a toe -- ouch!
>>
>Huh? Does anyone really pronounce couch "cow-itch"?
>
This must be an instance of that famous Canadian raising.  For me,
"couch" and "ouch" are perfect rhymes, and both pretty monosyllabic
as syllables go.  Evidently for Canadians, the two vowels are
distinct, without even getting into the one syllable vs. two claim.

L