[Ads-l] The pronunciation of the surname, _Spann_

[Paul A Johnston, Jr]

Blues pianist Otis Spann (one of my favorites) was [spaen], like span, wasn't he?

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Wilson Gray" <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Sent: Friday, September 9, 2016 1:07:34 AM
> Subject: The pronunciation of the surname, _Spann_
> 
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      The pronunciation of the surname, _Spann_
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> John Spann, a childhood friend back in Saint Louis, pronounced
> "Spann" with
> the same vowel as "John," so that his name sounded like, roughly,
> "Jawn
> Spawn." However, since then, away from StL, "Spann" falling together
> with
> "span" is the only pronunciation that I've heard.
> 
> I'm just wondering what other people's opinions/expereience, if any,
> may be.
> 
> --Wilson
> -----
> All say, "How hard it is that we have to die!"---a strange complaint
> to
> come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
> -Mark Twain
> 
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