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