On Wed, 27 Aug 1997 12:13:56 -0700 Greg Camfield <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
>I don't think I'd rely on the OED for American pronunciations.
>Otherwise
>we'll be smOOching strange things in England, like "his name and style
>being the Honourable Kirkcudbright Llanover Marjoribanks Sellers
>Viscount
>Berkeley, of Cholmondeley Castle, Warwickshire (Pronounced K'koobry
>Thlanover Marshbanks Sellers Vycount Barkly, of Chumly Castle,
>Warrikshr)," as Twain explains in chapter 1 of _The American
>Claimant_.
>Such smouching would be the kiss of death to what Twain called the
>American
>language.
>
>                                        Gregg Camfield
>

As I sit on my couch and crouch over dictionaries, I realize I cannot
vouch for the fact that "smouch" rhymed with "ouch" in Mark Twain's
America.  But, as implied in my recent note via e-mail pouch, I accept
the OED pronunciation until smOOch can be legitimately documented.

Sorry to be such a grOOch!

                        Mary Boewe