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

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

Subject: can/can't



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/.)



Ellen S. Polsky (Ellen.Polsky[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]Colorado.EDU)