clarion

A word to wake the attention. It blares clearly, with a hint of clarinet but as much of claxon. Many cannot hear this word without thinking “call” next. It starts without voice, and the aspiration on the [k] spreads onto the l, taking away some of its voice, too (giving it the sound of Welsh ll, which many will swear we never make in English). But then the air of ar rings like a trumpet, with the far walls resonating ion in reply. It could announce the wedding of Claire and Ian, but it might as readily be the charge to their respective lawyers marching to the dissolution of same. Is that clear? In Latin it was – clarus, which has birthed a family of bright, loud words.