Date:  Sat, 22 Nov 1997 19:39:15 -0500
From:  Larry Rosenwald <LROSENWALD[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]WELLESLEY.EDU>
Subject: Re: pragmatic change in progress?

    I note (though I couldn't have identified it on my own) the
same distinction Dennis Preston notes), with one addition, namely,
that as I hear my voice saying, "why, yes" or something similar, I'm
aware that in that construction not only do I not sound hw, I don't
sound the full vowel of "why," but instead something more closely
resembling a schwa. Best, Larry Rosenwald