i just listened to myself say fairy and ferry... fairy i say with no tonal empasis, on ferry i drop somewhat at the end of the word... dunno.. i'm just a stinkin midwesterner. we talk funny anyway. andy > On Tue, 28 Oct 2003, Mark A Mandel wrote: > > @> Let's take a poll. > @> > @> 1. Do you pronounce "Don" and "dawn" the same? > > I actually had a similar discussion with a friend recently about 'fairy' > and 'ferry'. This was particularly disconcerting because: > > a) I couldn't notice a difference when he pronounced them or played a > sound file of someone else doing so. > b) He claimed I pronounced them differently despite not being aware of any > difference. > > Damned association cortex.