''I think we can conclude, then, that older speakers in California do indeed
speak English very close to the GenAm standard. ''
yes, they are CCmerged but w/o theCVS.
:)
''The c/c vowels are similar, but not identical; the sound in "caught" is dropped somewhat. ''
Try remembering CC merger is a phonological merger, rather than the strictly defined pronunciation. CAUGHT can be either [kAt, KQt, kOt] depending on person, mood, position in the sentence; COT can be either [kAt, KQt, kOt]. This variation is very common in California and Canada.
A person can pronounce CAUGHT as [kAt] in one sentence, and COT as [kQt] in the next sentence...DOLLAR, CALLER and COLLAR can have both [Q] or [A]...SMALL can rhyme w/DALL...(it can be either [A] or [Q] )
you need to listen carefully...
[kAt] can be
1. an NCVS shifted pronunciation of caught [kQt] (cot is [kat or kaet] for that person)
2. CCmerged pronunciation of caught/cot[kAt]
[kQt] can be
1. traditional GA pronunciation of caught [kQt]
2. CVS pronunciation of both caught/cot [kQt]
When a Canadian/Californian person hears [dQn], s/he could write it as either DAWN or DON. (my cousin's name's [dQn]).
When a Canadian/Californian person hears [dAn], s/he could write it as either DAWN or DON. (my cousin's name's [dAn]).
speak English very close to the GenAm standard. ''
yes, they are CCmerged but w/o theCVS.
:)
''The c/c vowels are similar, but not identical; the sound in "caught" is dropped somewhat. ''
Try remembering CC merger is a phonological merger, rather than the strictly defined pronunciation. CAUGHT can be either [kAt, KQt, kOt] depending on person, mood, position in the sentence; COT can be either [kAt, KQt, kOt]. This variation is very common in California and Canada.
A person can pronounce CAUGHT as [kAt] in one sentence, and COT as [kQt] in the next sentence...DOLLAR, CALLER and COLLAR can have both [Q] or [A]...SMALL can rhyme w/DALL...(it can be either [A] or [Q] )
you need to listen carefully...
[kAt] can be
1. an NCVS shifted pronunciation of caught [kQt] (cot is [kat or kaet] for that person)
2. CCmerged pronunciation of caught/cot[kAt]
[kQt] can be
1. traditional GA pronunciation of caught [kQt]
2. CVS pronunciation of both caught/cot [kQt]
When a Canadian/Californian person hears [dQn], s/he could write it as either DAWN or DON. (my cousin's name's [dQn]).
When a Canadian/Californian person hears [dAn], s/he could write it as either DAWN or DON. (my cousin's name's [dAn]).