Date:  Wed, 23 Mar 1994 13:12:48 -0500

From:  Martha Howard <UN106005[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]WVNVAXA.WVNET.EDU>

Subject: Bounced messaged



I too have joined the elite group of "those who have been bounced." Glad

to know it is not just my own stupidity. Her goes again. In working a

crossword recently, I came across the following clue "homophone for 'air'."

A three letter word was indicated. It worked out to be "ire." Any educated

guesses as to the dialect region to which the puzzle maker belongs? I have

heard 'ire' pronounced to rhyme with 'far'. but I don' recall hearing it

asrhyming with 'hay'. In my dialect, air rhymes with where, hair, there,

etc. Of course, my dialect is *not* homogenous. Marckwardt once described

it as polyglot: playground terms from Chicago (lived there from birth to

seven years of age), farm terms from the Ozarks (lived on a farm in

or outside of Hollister, Mo--2 miles south of Branson--from nine to

thirteen), everything else Michigan (13-28). Now, after 44 years in

northern West Virginia, who knows what I sound Like! Not Walter

Brennan, I assusre you!