> One outgrowth of the rich palate is incredible redundancy in the sounds > (phonemes) that we use. Most phonemes carry multiple characterists > that don't overlap significantly with other phonemes. Thus if any > significant parts of the phoneme come thru, we recognise the word in > spite of background noise, physical disability, etc. My very limited > exposure to AMSLAN doesn't show as much redundancy. I am reminded by this of the various "tribes" of the Sunami<sp> in Africa, whose language consists less of "words" (as we would use the term) and more of sounds, clicks of the tongue, and phonemes, combined with words as well. Just reminded me, sorry...:) Chris