Spelling pronunciation spot-check

[Laurence Horn]

>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.
>
On the latter, it might be relevant that a number of people with the
last name of Salmon (one who's a grad student here and of course a
subscriber to the list, and another who's a well-known philosopher of
language) pronounce the "l" as in "salmonella".  Although I wouldn't
imagine for that reason.  (I think it's safe to assume that Will
doesn't have a sister named Ella...)

LH

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