stridden

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Mar 16, 2004, at 5:46 PM, A. Murie wrote:

> "Strode" has a certain poetic consonance -- a kind of vigor -- with the
> image of striding that "stridden" totally lacks.
> I don't think the authority of the /ride/ & /hide/ models can overcome
> the
> inappropriate _feeling_ of "stridden."  "Stridden" suggests tripping
> along,
> altogether the wrong image.


ah, that would be the tense back /o/ of "strode" vs. the lax front /I/
of "stridden", plus the one syllable of "strode" vs. the two of
"stridden".  vowel quality and number of syllables together make
"strode" connotatively stronger, tougher, more masculine, as against
the weaker, sweeter, more feminine "stridden".

arnold (zwicky at csli.stanford.edu)