LL-L: "Phonology" LOWLANDS-L, 24.OCT.1999 (03) [E/S]

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From: Andrew Eagle [K27 at compuserve.com]
Subject: Phonology [S/E)

Ron wrat:

>Andy wrote:

>> Any ideas as to how this works?

>Andy, how about simply this: "They are underlyingly (phonemically)
distinct as
>/z/ and /s/?"
>Could it be a case of an inconsistent orthographic system (Hi, Sandy!)
>clouding the issue?

>E.g.,
> _moose_ = /muus/
>_brouse_ = /bruz/

>Or is there something I'm missing?

I wis winnerin gin thare's wis a wey tae expoun thae twa differin
pronunciations tae fowk that's lairnin Scots.

A thocht it micht cuid be seemilar tae the 'rules' ahint the pronunciation
/s/ or /z/ for final <s> in plurals, cuttie an  genitive forms wi <'s> or
<s'>.
The pronunciation /s/ for ordinar kythes efter /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /THETA/
an /x/.
eg. laifs, wifes, wife's, lochs an threaps etc.
The pronunciation /z/ for ordinar kythes in plurals endin wi <es> an efter
a vouel soond or /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /r/, /v/, /ETH/ an /ENG/.
eg. dous, haunds, steams, gie's, his, hers an thairs etc.

A haed a leuk at a wheen wirds but cuidna finnd onie paitren. Streenge as
it micht seem, wi wirds A hinna seen afore A aye seem tae ken gin it shuid
be /s/ or /z/ but A dinna ken hou.

_moose_ haes a short vouel /mus/
_brouse_ haes a lang ane /bru:z/ Akis o the SVLR (Scots Vouel Lenth Rule)

The spellin o the vouel haes nocht tae dae wi't. Gin ye spelt baith <oo> or
<ou> it widna maiter.
The final <se> spellin micht be inconseestant, but it's aye been <se> nae
monie fowk haes iver uised <z> or <ze> here.

Dis the final lexical <e> that's uised for tae sinder verbs fae plural
noons hae ocht tae dae wi this?
eg. brouse - brous, please - pleas, tease - teas.

A howp tae pit a bit licht on the maiter. A'm no in wi the thocht o writin
TAK A KEEK AT A DICTIONAR as a wey o reddin thon.

ENGLISH

I was wondering if there was a way to explain those two differing
pronunciations to people who are learning Scots.

A thought it could be similar to the 'rules'governing the pronunciation /s/
or /z/ for final <s> in plurals, elided and  genitive forms with <'s> or
<s'>.
The pronunciation /s/ is usual after /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /THETA/ and /x/.
eg. laifs, wifes, wife's, lochs an threaps etc.
The pronunciation /z/ is usual in plurals ending with <es> and after a
vowel sound or /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /r/, /v/, /ETH/ and /ENG/.
eg. dous, haunds, steams, gie's, his, hers and thairs etc.

A had a look at a number o words but couldn't determine a pattern. Strange
as it may seem, in words which I have never seen before I always seem to
know whether it should be /s/ or /z/ but I don't know why.

_moose_ has a short vowel /mus/
_brouse_ has a long vowel /bru:z/ Because of the SVLR (Scots Vowel Length
Rule)

The spelling of the vowel has nothing to do with it. If  you spelled both
of them <oo> or <ou> it wouldn't make any difference.
The final <se> spelling may be inconsistant, but it's always been <se> not
many people have ever used <z> or <ze> here.

Does the final lexical <e> which is used in order to separate verbs from
plural nouns have anything to do with this?
eg. brouse - brous, please - pleas, tease - teas.

I'd like to shed some light on the matter. I'm not fond of the thought of
using CONSULT A DICTIONARY by way of an explanation.

Andy

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