Spelling pronunciation spot-check

[Alice Faber]

Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> CNN anchor Carol Lin clearly pronounces the "L" in "calm."

Do you mean she has a "clear L"? If so, that *would* be weird. An
ordinary, post-vocalic dark L, now that sounds normal to me.
>
>   The pitchwoman for Red Lobster in a current commercial does the same for "salmon." (Like "salmonella." Folk etymology?)
>

I have a vague recollection of this being regional, but what region it's
found in, I couldn't say. Sometime in the past 30 years, though, I saw a
PEAS-like map of where consonantal L in "salmon" is attested.

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Alice Faber                                    faber at haskins.yale.edu
Haskins Laboratories                           tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
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