"y"

["61510::GILSON" <cbmvax!uunet!cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu!gilson!61510.decnet>]

Chris Handley <CHandley%GANDALF.OTAGO.AC.NZ@CUVMB.COLUMBIA.EDU> writes:

>Hi
>Now I am really confused!
>
>>>For the sake of us linguistic weenies, could somebody cite some
>>>common English (or French maybe) words that demonstrate this
>>>sound? >(It isn't French "deux" or German Goe"te is it?)
>
>>No, it's the sound in French "tu" or "vu" (as in "dej'a vu").  I
>>haven't found it to exist in American English, except in borrowings
>>(I think it (or a sound much like it) is used in South African
>>English).  It's sort of like putting your lips in position of "u"
>>and the rest of your mouth in position for "i".

>As an English speaking ex South African, I find no difference
>between how I say (and am used to hearing) the "vu" in "dej'a vu"
>and the 'oo' sound in "boo" or "boon" or "suit". This may well mean
>that I am mis-pronouncing the French but it does not tell me what
>sound we are discussing as a buffer!

Well, Chris, what languages do you know, so I can give an example? It's
close to the Scots vowel in "guid," and it is also the German in "ueber,"
the French in "vu," the Dutch in "U" (as in "Dank U wel!"), perhaps also
used in Afrikaans, but I've never heard that language spoken. It is not
found in English at all, but if you put yout tongue as if you were going
to say "ee" as in "feet", but purse your lips as if to say "oo," you'll make
it.

                                                Bruce