Since English is the evolved product of the assimilation of many languages, it is impossible to provide prescriptive and immutable rules for its spellings.

For instance, here I show “ch” demonstrating three sound values: ch (like tj) – chin/chop, k – chasm/chaos, sh – champagne.

I require:
1. The identification of a letter cluster group which can represent 7 different sounds (5 are pure vowel sounds).
2. At least one word to demonstrate the use of each of these sounds. [If a given word may not be in my solution, I will accept a rhyming word that uses the letter cluster].

Note: That my spelling orientation is generally based upon Oxford English, this challenge should present more effort for a phonetic speller than one who uses American spellings.

[This was presented to me in my primary school years, many years ago, as a demonstration that while native English users may have difficulty, how much harder for those using it as a second language. I have also been careful that the cluster is not in the body of this text]

I acknowledge the contributions offered that may legitimately be beyond my solution set.

My Oxford acknowledges the link between "lough" and "loch" but offers no pronunciation.  The family name of a former student was "Loughborough", the first syllable being pronounced as 'loff'.

I have an uncertain distant memory of once being told to consider "hiccough" to be said as "hiccup".

Recognising the diversity of British Isle accents/dialects, one could understand how poorly the English alphabet attempts to emulate guttural sounds that may be legitimate additions to this set.

Then too, could "hiccough/hiccup" be likened to words such as:
boatswain = bosun, forecastle = focsle, halfpenny = ha' penny (hay penny) ?

Edited on August 27, 2005, 1:30 am

Posted by brianjn on 2005-08-27 01:28:53