We Hear Hundredths of Seconds

rogersgeorge on April 26th, 2024

That short amount of time is the only difference between some words. Here’s an example:

“IV” has a couple hundredths of a second more between the I and V than “ivy” does. Another example: “beer” and “beard.” The only difference is that the “d” chops off about two hundredths of a second off the “r” sound.

If memory serves, this is called truncation.

Got any examples to share? put them in the comments.

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Why are these plurals different?

rogersgeorge on April 24th, 2024

I’m sure there’s a linguistic or etymological reason, but I don’t happen to know it. Do you? Think Chief and Leaf. If you do know why, put it in the comments.

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Good Tech Writing Joke

rogersgeorge on April 22nd, 2024

I do not do this! No deliberate goofs. But I suppose he has a point… What do you call a deliberate mistake?

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A Good Discussion About Linguistic Change

rogersgeorge on April 20th, 2024

Pretty good trick to talk while playing a flute.  What’s your favorite example of semantic shifting?

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Well, the Text is Mostly Correct

rogersgeorge on April 18th, 2024

—but it doesn’t mention the need for a pun in the last panel, even though it’s there. Of course, the “unexpected” pun is what makes the strip funny, (the first panel calls it “stupid”), but you have to figure that out yourself.

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