Coup de grace

[David Bowie]

From:    FRITZ JUENGLING <juengling_fritz at SALKEIZ.K12.OR.US>

: I wasn't really suggesting that 'porsch' was the same phenomenon as
: *coup de grâce* --your question just remeinded me of it.  I think you
: are suggesting that 'porsch' is a spelling pronunciation.  I agree
: with that.  But why should a spelling pronunciation take over?

'Cause they sometimes do. (For a very different example, AFAICT pronouncing
'talk/walk/chalk' with actual sometimes-even-bright Ls can only have come
into existence as a spelling pronunciation, but i pronounce the Ls pretty
consistently, and i'm definitely not alone in that.)

<snip>

:: BTW, I have never heard *coup de grâce* pronounced as anything other
:: than [ku duh gra].

I've heard [ku d* gres]--and then there's the (presumably self-conscious)
Bugs Bunny pronunciation, [ku d* gresi].

David Bowie                                         http://pmpkn.net/lx
    Jeanne's Two Laws of Chocolate: If there is no chocolate in the
    house, there is too little; some must be purchased. If there is
    chocolate in the house, there is too much; it must be consumed.