Re: Goran on phonology

[Jorge Llambias <jorge@PHYAST.PITT.EDU>]

Goran & And:
> > There is nothing in lojban phonology that would imply that aspiration
> > has distinctive function.
> True, but I'm not sure that that's what was originally intended. I suspect
> James Brown, or whoever it was, believed that English p/t/k b/d/g differ
> in voicing. Was this design feature really introduced in the knowledge
> that it is foreign and very difficult to english ears? I doubt it.

Spanish distinguishes them by fricating (or whatever) b/d/g rather than by
aspirating p/t/k. If voicedness is not enough I don't see why the English
method should be the preferred one. :)

Jorge