Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 15:00:49 -0500

From: Benjamin Barrett Gogaku[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GNN.COM

Subject: Re: can/can't



Date: Thu, 7 Dec 1995 12:00:42 -0700

From: POLSKY ELLEN S Ellen.Polsky[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]COLORADO.EDU



I know that Labov has done some studies on this, but what about the

pronunciation between (unreduced) "can" and "can't"? I pronounce "can"

as /kaen/ - (the vowel is an "ash") and "can't" as /ke:nt/. (I come from

Phila.) I think Labov described this as being only a Phila. phenomenon.

Any comments? (I think some Philadelphians even pronounce "can't" as

something more like /kint/, with a short schwa sound after the /i/.)



I've always pronounced "can" as "k(u)n" with almost no vowel at all. "can't"

comes out more like "kaen" with the final "t" almost totally dropped off.

I'm from Seattle



yoroshiku

Benjamin Barrett