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``Free Variation"

Some variation may be totally ``free". I see no difference in [e]konomics vs. [i]konomics; but [i]ther vs. [ai]-ther I see as social ([ai]-ther sounds more `refined' to me). French drops l's: il faut [il fo] becomes [ifo], etc. Spanish drops -d- in -ado (las vacas del pueblo se han escapao), etc. If you hear variation, ask the speaker which s/he prefers, and they will probably tell you that one is ``better". This may be an elicitation form, found nowhere else.

English city, pretty, etc. Speakers in slow careful speech will say [sIti] but in rapid [siDi]. [hw] vs. [w] (the supposed difference between `which' and `witch') was inculcated in my day but nobody learned it. The variation in language usually indicates that some CHANGE IS IN PROGRESS in the language; but we have a hard time making a static description of a dynamic process. However, change will usually only be found in one area; the whole system is usually not in a state of flux.



Harold Schiffman
Fri Jan 17 09:48:04 EST 1997