Herb - Now Aluminum

[Mike]

> > montims:
> > while we're ranting...
> > How on earth did "chaise longue" become "chaise lounge" in 
> > America?
> >
> > but I've heard it pronounced as lounge in tv
> > programmes and furniture commercials.  It doesn't even make 
> > sense that way...

Mike:
This American has never seen it spelled "longue". I didn't know it 
wasn't supposed to be pronounced the same as "lounge". Hmm, a 
Midwesterner's ignorance perhaps? Or was I programmed by American 
TV "programs"? ;)


 
> Geoff:
> That explains why I met "lounge" in an item by a US writer recently 
> and wondered whether it was a printer's error.

Mike:
Now a question for any of our British compratriots. I served in the 
US "Mili TARRY". However, I've noticed that British Armed Forces 
serve in the "Mili TREE". I haven't noticed a difference in spelling, 
both of us use "military", right? 

So why the silent "a"? And are there any other words that have a 
silent vowel sandwiched between two consonants?