Yes, we'd pronounce "spider" more or less like "speeder", but since it was supposed to be an English word, it's pronounced like Englishmen are supposed to.
Not sure if I'be been able to explain.
I don't know the strange reason for thinking "spider" to be the English word for a light convertible car.
Maybe:
1) Someone said it's called "speeder".
2) Someone else wrote it as "spider" (which is the Italian spelling for pronouncing it as English people do with "speeder")
3) Then someone else "knew" that spider has to be pronounced "spy-der" or the like.
So the speeder became a spider? Just my guess.
Bye,
Dario
----- Original Message ----- From: "frank theriault" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <pentax-discuss@pdml.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 2:40 PM
Subject: Re: Where's Cotty?
On 4/19/05, Keith Whaley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: <snip>>No, a "spider" is a body style. A lightweight convertible sporting vehicle.
See Pinin Farina who designed the first one for Alfa in the Guilietta
series startiing in 1955.
Many others make one today, not the least of which is Ferrari...
Yes. You're right. I was talking of the pronunciation and etymology of the word, not the meaning, which I've always taken to be a two seat topless sports car (but maybe they don't have to be two-seaters).
cheers, frank
-- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
