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From: polard@fortune.UUCP (Henry Polard)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Words without vowels?
Message-ID: <3875@fortune.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Jul-84 17:01:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: fortune.3875
Posted: Thu Jul 26 17:01:06 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Jul-84 07:15:50 EDT
References: <3009@rabbit.UUCP>, <3871@fortune.UUCP>
Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA
Lines: 17

In general and simplistically: 

The word "vowel" refers to:
 
1. A class of letters, such as aeiou.  Each writing system defines what a vowel is.  In Polish, "y" is a wowel.  In Czech and Croatian, "r" is both a consonant and a vowel. In English, "y" is both a vowel (he said slyly) and a consonant.
Sometimes new words violate the old rules: I wonder how the English spelling system will finally deal with the word "nth".  When a foreign word is incorporated into English its spelling is also incorporated.   "Crwth" and "cwm" are still recognized as being Welsh, so "w" may not yet be a vowel in English.

2. A class of sounds, generally a sound that can be "held" as long as there is breath going out.  Each language defines what constitutes a wowel in its sound system.  Sometimes a word may consist of only consonants from a abstract point of view, but will have a vowel when spoken.  For example, the word for "I" in Cayuga is just "k" (according to one analysis) but is pronounced like the English word "eek".

What constitutes a word can be a matter of debate.  As with sound, the writing system of a language is not necessarily a reliable guide, so "v" and "z" in Polish may be followed by a space in writing, but according to some linguists become part of the following word (like the plural ending "s" in English becomes part of the word it follows).

About "down":  "ow" is a way to spell a vowel.  Whether you want to consider  the letter "w" as a vowel in such words seems to be a matter of taste.

For details, take a look at an introductory linguistics textbook or other relevant books.  A good one for finding out about vowels is PHONETICS by Hefner.  Be sure to verify what these books say by your own experience.  I don't have refernces on me now, but if you want a brief bibliography on introductions to phonetics, phonology & linguistics I will send you one on request.  
-- 
Henry Polard (You bring the flames; I'll bring the marshmallows.)
{ihnp4,cbosgd,amd}!fortune!polard