[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Thicknesse: Question on Pronunciation

[Janette]

On 8/24/07, Random832 <random832 at fastmail.us> wrote:
>
> >>> Geoff:
>
>
> Despite the comparatively narrow range of dialectal variation in the US
> as compared to the UK (I rather doubt that ALL "native UK speakers"
> distinguish them), there are at least some US dialects that keep the
> distinction. (for me, "serious" has a slightly longer sound for the
> first vowel). It is close enough for a pun, though.


montims:
speaking as a native UK speaker, I cannot think of any part of the UK that
would not distinguish easily between Sirius and serious.  It is not that
close.  As always, I am ready to be corrected, but IME where the
pronunciation would differ from county to county would be in the r, NOT in
the vowel...  Pit and peat, bit and beat, Sirius and serious - the vowels
are discrete.


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