the n word: on its way out?

[Paul Johnston]

In Scots, all three words would have IPA /i/ as the stressed vowel.
This is what usually happens with words with ME or OF /i~I/ in an
open syllable, and in later French loans or words of Romance origin
influenced by a French cognate.  Tiger would have /i/ for the last-
named reason.  The n-word would then have the same vowel as "Negro".

On Mar 8, 2007, at 3:18 PM, Charles Doyle wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Charles Doyle <cdoyle at UGA.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: the n word: on its way out?
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>
> OK, I'll ask:  What does it mean to rhyme with "vigour, rigour,
> tiger"??  Is the reference to Winnie the Poo's (fake)feline companion?
>
> --Charlie
> ___________________________________________________
>
>
> ---- Original message ----
>> Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 11:34:42 -0500
>> From: Jesse Sheidlower <jester at PANIX.COM>
>> Subject: Re: the n word: on its way out?
>
>>
>> No, Joel does; he cited from OED2. The OED3 draft entry, up
>> since September 2003, correctly specifies "niger", and further
>> notes that it rhymes with "vigour, rigour, tiger".
>>
>> Jesse Sheidlower
>> OED
>
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