"Chinaman's chance" in the news

[Dennis R. Preston]

I doubt it with you.

dInIs

>>Well, somewhat similar. To avoid theoretical squabbling, just let "S"
>>= strong and "W" = weak, OK?
>>
>>cat in hell's chance
>>  S   W   S      S
>>
>>Chinaman's chance
>>   S  W  W     S
>>
>>The resulting rhythms are quite different.
>
>That's how I see it. I assume "Chinaman" was stressed like "Englishman".
>
>But one might assume that "Chinaman" was stressed like "Java Man" ... with
>at least strong secondary stress on "man" ... giving SWSS for "Chinaman's
>chance". I doubt this myself but ....
>
>-- Doug Wilson


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
15-C Morrill Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1036
Phone: (517) 353-4736
Fax: (517) 453-3755
preston at msu.edu