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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

This is one of my favorite stories about what I was talking about, hearing 
sounds you are not used to and pigeon holing them in the slot where they most 
closely fit.


At the last non-cottage industry gig I had, one of the scientists was from 
Scotland.  Our supervisor was a rank hielandmon, but Stewart was from the 
lowlands and had a much softer accent.  The supervisor was unintelligible 
until you 
got to know him.  Many a time Denise answered the phone and said, 'It's 
Allan."  "What does he want?"  "I haven't a clue, I just know it's Allan."

But one dropped one's linguistic guard around Stewart.  One day he came into 
the room where I was sorting various and sundry cables and said,

"James, can you tell me how I can get a phone card."
"Well, Stewart, contact your phone carrier and after they check your credit 
and account, they will issue you a phone card in a few days."
"It's as much trouble (troooble) as that, is it?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I was hoping you'd have one in here somewhere and I could just use it."
"A phone card?"
"Yes."
"They don't trust me with such."
"Ah, well, I'm not used to the way of things here yet.  I wanted to move me 
desk just a wee, but I canny plug in the phone when I do.  I just needed a 
new 
phone card, maybe six feet or so."

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