>>but also pronounces it "mute"<<
Tsuwm, are you sure that's not just the Yankee in him/her?
Some of you northerners shoo-uhr say thangs funny! I had a
friend from northern Ohio who said 'roof' with the same vowel sound as book. Everybody else I know says it w/ an
"oo" sound, as in shoe. And some from up that-a-way say
"house" almost as two quick syllables: ha-oose.
But, I do realize that it is a different matter when changing the pronunciation makes another actual word.
I don't think I'd care to try learning Chinese, for ex.,
or any language where voice inflection alone changes the
meaning completely. A-ack!