Show of deat J W asks tins this question quest iolli la Is the pronunciation of deaf d e a f as def due to any other cause than hau forty years ngo ago aud and even less les le s the common pronunciation in this country was deef websters Webb tera dictionary of 1655 coli confirms films this statement and mentions that def is common iu in england edgland the banie tam e dictionary defers lebers to the rhymes of chaucer and watts to show that the ill 0 early pronunciation was deef in england also the new Ell english glish dictionary edited by J A H murray thus treats of the pronunciation of deaf def the original diphthong remains in northern dialects ju in standard EDg english lih the vowel was long until the modern modem period and bo be late aa 1717 8 it N n as rhymed with I 1 relief by prior and watts the pro dif with it i long is is kaill widely diffused dialectically and in tho the united states in ill mally english Engl isih dialects directs the ea is ia thill diphthongal decal decaf bafton journal |