Re[2]: Let's see some examples, Virginia.

[Virginia Krenn <asdxvlk -at- OKWAY -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>]

     I tried to send this message yesterday. But, apparently it didn't make
     it to the list. So, I'm reposting it this morning. Hope that you don't
     get it twice.

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     Sorry that my message wasn't clear!

     The "general rule" that I was referring to was the one that states
     that a vowel at the end of a syllable gives the other vowel in the
     syllable the long sound and that a consonant at the end of a syllable
     gives the other vowel in the syllable the short sound.

     I didn't intend to imply that this would also always continue to be
     true when a suffix (like "ing") is added to the word. I was merely
     using this as a background explanation of why I preferred the word
     "scaleable" as opposed to "scalable".

     While we're on the subject of "general rule in Oklahoma", there is
     something that I have been wondering for quite some time.

     Most of the people I know pronouce the letter "o" in words like corn
     and orange with the long o sound. The dictionaries indicate that the
     short o sound should be used for these types of words. I've wondered
     which parts of the country use which pronunciation.

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________


>Virginia Krenn (asdxvlk -at- OKWAY -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU) writes:

>     Because the e at the end of a syllable determines the pronunciation
>     of the other vowel in the syllable, I would opt for scaleable (sounds
>     like pale as opposed to scalable (sounds like pal). There may be
>     exceptions to this rule. But, this is generally true.

>Not to flame, Virginia, but I'd like some examples of this
>thing you say is 'generally true.' I suppose everything has
>exceptions (with exceptions, of course) but just off the top
>of my head:

>page    --> paging
>skate   --> skating
>drape   --> draping
>gape    --> gaping
>brake   --> braking
>stage   --> staging
>rage    --> raging
>forage  --> foraging
>storage --> storing
>bore    --> boring
>snore   --> snoring
>deplore --> deploring

>Or maybe it's just a general rule in Oklahoma. I've
>never been there. I know these don't all exactly match
>your point, but I think I found a more general rule
>than yours.

>David Oberstadt               Santa Teresa Lab
>daveo -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com            San Jose, California