query writing phonology many languages contrastive vowel length dont represent vowel length writing system happen someone poor understanding language devises writing system outside vowel length language adopts writing system nonvowel length language would interested hear cases indigenous writing systems ignore important aspect phonology reason interest korean often said contrastive vowel length least certain wordpairs yet show script fact doesnt coupled fact native speakers difficulty picking word long vowel seems like argument treating distinction one accent stress rather vowel length argument depends common writing systems ignore vowel length people think reply make summary responses several thanks helen _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ hfraser metz une edu au 129 180 4 1 helen fraser dr dept linguistics university new england armidale nsw 2351 australia phone 067 73 2128 3189 fax 067 73 3735