OUR QUEER LANGUAGE
When the English tongue we speak Why is “ break " not rhymed with “ freak " ? Will you tell me why it’s true We may say “ sew,” but likewise “ few ”; And the maker of a verse Cannot cap his “horse” with “worse.” “ Beard ” sounds not the same aS “ beard ”; “ Cord ”is different from “ word ”; . “ Cow ” is cow, but “ low ” is low; “Shoe” is never rhymed with “foe.” Think of “hose’’and “dose” and “lose”; And of “goose”—and yet of “choose.” Think of “ comb ” and “ tomb ” and “ bomb ”; “ Doll ” and “ roll,” and “ home ” and “ some,” And since “pay” is rhymed with “say,” Why not “ paid ” with “ said,” I pray ? We have “ blood ” and “ food ” and “ good ”; “ Mould ” is not pronounced like “ could.” Wherefore “ done/’ but “ gone ” and “ lone ” ? Is there eny reason known? And, in short, it seems to me Sounds and letters disagree. —Edwin L. Sabin, in February ‘St. Nicholas.’
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19020617.2.94
Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 11606, 17 June 1902, Page 8
Word Count
149OUR QUEER LANGUAGE Evening Star, Issue 11606, 17 June 1902, Page 8
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