I think there must be a genetic component involved. There is variation
in the ability to roll the tongue, capability of making back of the
tongue vs. front of the tongue "r" sounds, and differences on the sound
that is heard.
An interesting story might help to clarify what I mean. Years ago I
worked in the area of Rehabilitation. We had a client (in Michigan)
that we sent to speech therapy for over a year to correct his speech,
which, at least for that part of the world was lacking in correct speech
patterns and difficult to understand. It cost the Department of
Rehabilitation over $30,000. Later while traveling, I stopped in a
restaurant where a local mine owner, complete with diamond ring studded
fingers, and a Mercedes in the parking lot spoke just like him.
To us in the rehab. department, he had a problem that needed fixing. It
would have been cheaper to buy him a bus ticket, and would have allowed
him to feel he was an equal at the same time!
My experiences from teaching in various parts of the US suggest that
each region uses speech patterns that are easiest for them to form, and
that spelling follows from what is heard.
Gregg
Matt Bachofen wrote:
>
> Volkhart wrote:
> >>. . . most or all languages tend to develop towards more simplicity, with
> the simplifications
> usually first being regarded as wrong until more and more common usage
> finally leads to their acceptance.<<
>
> This is, of course, nonsense. Just because grammatical or spelling forms,
> which seem complex, become simplified, certainly doesn't mean that
> complexities elsewhere don't arise. How could German have evolved so many
> various dialects if it is "moving towards simplicity"?
> Perhaps there is some equivocation on this word simplicity.
> m.e. bachofen
>
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