[net.nlang] Pronunciation of Woman/Women

srm@pyuxnn.UUCP (10/27/83)

Can anyone explain or give similar examples of why the pronunciation
of only the first syllable of the word WOMAN (woo-min; 'oo' as in
'book') changes when pluralized to WOMEN (wi-min)? Note that the
second syllable, the one modified, does not change in pronunciation.