[Lexicog] Sort Order for Lakota language

[Mike Maxwell]

Jan F. Ullrich wrote:
> By listing the pairs of Lakota words with phonemic contrasts I was trying to
> illustrate what I don't like about the type of sort order, not the opposite. 
> I wanted to explain the reasons why some of my co-worker prefer that sort
> order option.
> They simply like the fact that words that sound similarly are found near
> each other...

I have to agree with you.  Under the "sound alike" criterion, we ought 
to modify the sort order in English dictionaries so that 'p' comes 
immediately after 'b' and 'm', so that words like

	bill
         mill
         pill

that sound similar can be adjacent in the dictionary.  Our 'b' and 'p' 
are no further apart than 'p' and 'ph' are in a language which has 
phonemic aspiration.

(The argument about native speakers who are not used to marking 
aspiration is a different one, but as you say, maybe this will get them 
to start spelling better...  Hopefully they'll never get to the point 
where spelling bees are considered to be tests of intelligence, though.)
-- 

    Mike Maxwell
    CASL/ University of Maryland


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