Date:  Wed, 20 Sep 1995 04:31:12 -0400

From:  "M. Lynne Murphy" <104LYN[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MUSE.ARTS.WITS.AC.ZA>

Subject: Re: Mouse/Mice=House/Hice



> My question is, has anyone heard of "house" being pluralised as "hice"?



no, but i've heard a couple of times (in u.s. and south africa)

"spouse" being pluralized as "spice." i believe the use is self-

conscious, but the last time i heard it (sunday), it was said as if

everyone would automatically understand it--no special intonation

around it or anything. (friend telling his wife that getting their

kids spice should be a higher priority than becoming grandparents.)

the other time was on an invitation to a potluck "bring your spice",

so it was a bit more confusing (especially since none of the guests

were polygamists, as far as i know).



lynne

---------------------------------------------------------------------

M. Lynne Murphy              104lyn[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]muse.arts.wits.ac.za

Department of Linguistics            phone: 27(11)716-2340

University of the Witwatersrand          fax: 27(11)716-4199

Johannesburg 2050

SOUTH AFRICA