Why we should ignore Tom Zurinskas

[Mark Mandel]

Gordon's link to the SIL glossary's definition came through (to me at
least) with a line break and an inserted character that invalidated
the link. Here's a short link to the same page:
    http://tinyurl.com/6r5l6f

m a m

On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 12:03 AM, Gordon, Matthew J.
<GordonMJ at missouri.edu> wrote:
> Yes, I'm with BB here. All of the vowels Tom produced in his slide show =
>  are clearly diphthongal, even the high vowels (at least when he said =
>  them slowly the first time through). So, either Tom has the tinnest ear =
>  ever or, as Ron suggested earlier, he has a definition of diphthong that =
>  strays from any used in phonetics. I really don't think he has a tin ear =
>  so why don't you, Tom, explain what you mean by diphthong again. Or, =
>  better yet, look at the definitions in Wikipedia =
>  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphthong) or at SIL =
>  (http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/WhatIsADiphthon=
>  g.htm) and square them with your (mis)understanding.
>
>  Unlike the merits of the Truespel system, this is really not something =
>  that is a matter of debate. So, Tom, you're not being attacked for your =
>  opinions, but rather for your apparent refusal to remedy your ignorance =
>  of a pretty basic phonetic fact.
>
>  Matt Gordon
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Benjamin Barrett
>  Sent: Sun 5/4/2008 10:27 PM
>  To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>
> Subject:      Re: Why we should ignore Tom Zurinskas
>
>
> =20
>  Which of the vowels that you offered proof for aren't diphthongs (or
>  daiphthongs as you call them)?
>
>  "I can't possibly believe that anybody believes" you. BB
>
>  On May 4, 2008, at 6:23 PM, Tom Zurinskas wrote:
>
>  > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>  > -----------------------
>  > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>  > Poster:       Tom Zurinskas <truespel at HOTMAIL.COM>
>  > Subject:      Re: Why we should ignore Tom Zurinskas
>  > =
>  -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>  ------
>  >
>  > Basically, I offered vocal proof that all long vowels are not
>  > diphthongs as Mark Mandel claims.  I can't possibly believe that
>  > anyone believes him.  And now we get this unabashed personal
>  > trashing.  For shame. shame shame.
>  >
>  > Someone teach this guy how to send us voice files so we can hear
>  > examples of his long vowels as diphthongs.
>  >
>  > Tom Zurinskas, USA - CT20, TN3, NJ33, FL5+
>  > See truespel.com - and the 4 truespel books plus "Occasional Poems"
>  > at authorhouse.com.
>  >
>  >> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 15:24:24 -0400
>  >> From: thnidu at GMAIL.COM
>  >> Subject: Why we should ignore Tom Zurinskas
>  >> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>  >>
>  >> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>  >> -----------------------
>  >> Sender: American Dialect Society
>  >> Poster: Mark Mandel
>  >> Subject: Why we should ignore Tom Zurinskas
>  >> =
>  -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>  ------
>  >>
>  >> (This is a slightly expanded repost of a message I sent in the thread
>  >> on "the long vowels as monophthongs". I think it will be of value to
>  >> those listmembers who still believe that Mr. Z. can be educated.)
>  >>
>  >> Mr. Zurinskas has been peddling his wacko ideas for at least twenty
>  >> years and is proud of his ignorance -- or, as I suppose he thinks of
>  >> it, his refusal to compromise his God-given instinct by listening to
>  >> anyone who knows anything about the subject. This includes not taking
>  >> classes, not reading books or articles, and, of course, brushing off
>  >> anything said to him here that conflicts with his notions. Nothing we
>  >> can say will sway such deep-rooted obtuseness. Save your breath, save
>  >> your fingertips, save your electrons, time, and energy and put him on
>  >> your kill list.
>  >>
>  >> Of course, that won't help if you get the digest version. That was my
>  >> single most compelling reason for switching my subscription.
>  >>
>  >> Mark A. Mandel
>  >>
>  >> ------------------------------------------------------------
>  >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>  >
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--
Mark Mandel

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