It sounds (ho, ho) as though the spelling EI represents a sound (very roughly) like that of "day" in the north, like that of "die" in the south; while AI is as in "die" everywhere. If so, why are English loans with the "die" sound invariably(?) spelt EI (teigr, beisicl, etc. etc.) when *taigr, *baisicl would presumably give more general satisfaction? ************************ Nigel Love Linguistics Cape Town NLOVE@BEATTIE.UCT.AC.ZA ************************