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Shavian-info / readlex

The Read Lexicon: a spelling dictionary for the Shavian alphabet following the rhotic Received Pronunciation standard.
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Clarification on the readlex methodology regarding yods #29

Closed trosel closed 1 year ago

trosel commented 1 year ago

I was thinking of the word DUNE and how there are roughly three different pronunciations for this word:

𐑛𐑿𐑯, 𐑛𐑡𐑯, and 𐑑𐑡𐑯 (see this video for more haha)

Now, theoretically if we just said that the canonical spelling is 𐑛𐑿𐑯, then people that drop the yod would still drop the yod, and people that say 𐑑 would still say it like that.

Basically, the combination of consonant+yod would be an indicator for many different accents of how to say it.

In fact, 𐑿 being a compound letter seems to indicate that Read thought you would always keep the yod, right?

I believe that this is a different subject from something like 𐑀𐑭𐑕𐑑 vs 𐑀𐑨𐑕𐑑.

Thoughts?

Shavian-info commented 1 year ago

I'm not sure what you'd like to change. Are you asking to remove the General American variation from the ReadLex? On this issue I've been following Read who recognised the yodless pronunciations as alternatives. See point 10 in Read's Guide to Shavian Spelling.

Shavian-info commented 1 year ago

If I understand correctly, in choosing the spelling to list first in the Readlex, I'm basically doing what you suggest. See principle 9 of the ReadLex Spelling Principles.

trosel commented 1 year ago

Are you asking to remove the General American variation from the ReadLex?

I want to discuss the possibility of this, yes. However I think it depends upon the logic of the underlying principles.

For a trans-atlantic compromise, I think keeping both final Rs and yods is a good idea, orthographically speaking. Shavian keeps final R in the form of compound letters and keeps yod in the form of a compound too.

Such a thing is placing more emphasis however on the value of a consistent writing system and less importance on accurately representing sound above all else.

Americans would be taught that they should feel free to pronounce 𐑿 however they see fit given the word. Dune (dropped), cute (kept), dew (dropped) etc. It would just be emphasized to them the value of keeping this compound letter in the spelling for etymological and other purposes.

Shavian-info commented 1 year ago

I wonder if we could move this issue to Discussions (if you want to continue talking about it) and close the issue. I see no harm in having the yod-less alternative spellings in the ReadLex for now. Read recognised the alternatives and I already favour the spelling you prefer as the suggested spelling for similar reasons to those you outline.