George Washeengton's Spich empeedeemint

[Dennis Preston]

Although the pin-pen merger appears to be old (as is also perhaps the
[ej] in "bring"), there is little evidence that the major features of
the Southern Vowel Shift would have been in place at Washington's
time. That said, Ron's sarcasm is well-put. Even my grampaw (the
hillbilly one, not the Hungarian) had many of my speech impediments.

dInIs

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>Subject:      George Washeengton's Spich empeedeemint
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>Probably he could not even say his own name properly or even pronounce the
>condition that afflicted him; doubtless also he said "pin" for "pen" and
>"breeng" for "bring." All people from Virginia have speech
>"impediments," and the
>natives have had them for centuries.
>
>In a message dated 2/22/08 10:13:19 AM, AAllan at AOL.COM writes:
>
>
>>  In the Writer's Almanac this morning, Garrison Keillor said that George
>>  Washington had a speech impediment. In particular, he mixed i's and e's,
>>  both in
>>  speaking and in writing.
>>
>>  I hadn't heard about this before. Anyone know about it?
>>
>>  - Allan Metcalf
>>
>
>
>
>
>**************
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>
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>2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
>
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--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
Morrill Hall 15-C
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48864 USA

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