Re: Orthography supporting sound changes?

In article <dpl987$gin$01$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Joachim Pense <spam-collector@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> In principle, It appears not to be impossible to me that reversals of lossy
> sound changes could happen if the old pronounciation is preserved by
> writing. I'm thinking of a reversal of a sound merger, or re-appearance of
> a lost sound.
>
> Are there any reported examples of such sound change reversals having
> happened, where it can be demonstrated (or at least is strongly believed by
> many) that the orthography was the only preserver of the old situation (so
> it was not also preserved by maybe regional or social variants of spoken
> language)?
>
> Or are there strong arguments that this is impossible?
>
> Joachim

Well, there are _after_ and _often_. Both othe these had lost the [t] in
pronunciation. _after_ now has it again; _often_ is getting it. (I had a
student say once, when asked which she said and which was "right", "Well
I say [OfIn], but I know it's wrong"!)

Barbara

Barbara Need
UChicago
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Orthography supporting sound changes?
    ... >> Joachim Pense wrote: ... It appears not to be impossible to me that reversals of lossy ... >>> sound changes could happen if the old pronounciation is preserved by ... >>> many) that the orthography was the only preserver of the old situation (so ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Orthography supporting sound changes?
    ... > lossy sound changes could happen if the old pronounciation is preserved ... fell back to one that better reflected its orthography. ... > Are there any reported examples of such sound change reversals having ... > many) that the orthography was the only preserver of the old situation (so ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Orthography supporting sound changes?
    ... It appears not to be impossible to me that reversals of lossy ... sound changes could happen if the old pronounciation is preserved by ... writing. ... many) that the orthography was the only preserver of the old situation (so ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Orthography supporting sound changes?
    ... > Joachim Pense wrote: ... It appears not to be impossible to me that reversals of lossy ... >> sound changes could happen if the old pronounciation is preserved by ... >> many) that the orthography was the only preserver of the old situation (so ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Orthography supporting sound changes?
    ... Joachim Pense wrote: ... It appears not to be impossible to me that reversals of lossy ... > sound changes could happen if the old pronounciation is preserved by ... All of these, I think, involve single words and the re-insertion of lost ...
    (sci.lang)