Return of the minimal pairs

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>So, what we need is for the Greeks to come up with a prince of
>a dish which we English-speakers will delightedly take up -- and which has
>a name starting with [D].  Sadly, Greek chefs have not so far obliged us on
>this matter -- at least as far as I can think.  C'mon, Greek chefs: we need
>you! ;-)

Isn't that stuffed grape leaf called "dolmos"? Unfortunately, always with
/d/ in my experience.

A true story: I saw a local restaurant had put up a big sign advertising
its new specialty: "GYROS". So I went in and asked for /Giros/ ['G' = IPA
gamma] or so. Blank stare. I tried /jiros/, /giros/. Blank stare. "What is
it that you are advertising on the big new sign by the door?" I asked.
Answer: /dZairouz/. I would never have thought of that except as a joke --
and this is from the restaurateur advertising the item.

-- Doug Wilson