A Word With Equal Accents

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#916 - 03/24/00 04:36 PM A Word With Equal Accents
Shi2p2e stranger Registered: 03/24/00 Posts: 1 Loc: Colorado	About twenty years ago, on his night time talk show, Dick Cavett mused that there was only one two-syllable word in the English language that had an equal accent on both syllables. He went on to say that he couldn't remember what it was. Does anyone else know? _________________________ David.
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#917 - 03/24/00 09:49 PM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 6511 Loc: lower upstate New York	?
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#918 - 03/24/00 09:52 PM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 6511 Loc: lower upstate New York	hmmm... I think I know, but my word didn't come through, probably because it is profane.
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#919 - 03/25/00 02:31 AM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
lusy member Registered: 03/16/00 Posts: 140 Loc: Melbourne, Australia	How about "Sushi"? Well, it must be English by now, surely?
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#920 - 04/03/00 08:24 AM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
Philip Davis journeyman Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 81	The droppings of the male bovine animal fits the bill
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#921 - 04/03/00 05:38 PM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 6511 Loc: lower upstate New York	Thank you, Philip! That was the word that came to my mind, but I didn't think to euphemize it. :-)
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#922 - 04/03/00 06:32 PM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
Philip Davis journeyman Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 81	I loathe a great many euphemisms, partly because they are often silly and partly because they are closely linked with class in the UK, with the none euphemistic, straight forward and honest terms being associated with the working classes. (ie Loo; toilet; shithouse). Since the none euphemistic terms are usually germanic and the euphemisms french it can be seen this class differentiation goes book to the Norman conquest. However if you are compelled to use euphemisms it is important to do so with some wit. By the way, where I live, in Birmingham UK, all words are pronounced with equal emphasis on all syllables!
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#923 - 04/04/00 07:53 AM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
wsieber old hand Registered: 03/15/00 Posts: 1010 Loc: Switzerland	Well, I am not a native English speaker, but what about "aardvark" and "moonlight"?
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#924 - 04/04/00 08:07 AM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
jmh Pooh-Bah Registered: 03/22/00 Posts: 1981	On the other hand I love euphemisms. I'm particularly fascinated by words that really are very far off the mark. I was asked by a desperate American for a bathroom and spent ages trying to think where she could go for a bath in Central London. In the end she only wanted to find a place to go for a rest (rest-room), so I suggested she lie down on the chairs in the railway station. If she had have only said she wanted to "powder her nose" I'm sure I could have helped her much quicker!
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#925 - 04/04/00 08:09 AM Re: A Word With Equal Accents
jmh Pooh-Bah Registered: 03/22/00 Posts: 1981	Phillip I see what you mean - the word Birmingham has three syllables with equal emphasis.
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