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Questions and Answers
What happens to the /l/ sound in General American when it appears before vowels?
What happens to the /l/ sound in General American when it appears before vowels?
- It is completely neutralized.
- It is clear.
- It is velarized. (correct)
- It is vocalised.
Which phenomenon refers to the realization of [t̠] as [ʔ] in certain words?
Which phenomenon refers to the realization of [t̠] as [ʔ] in certain words?
- Glottal reinforcement
- T-glottalization
- T-dropping (correct)
- Medial reduction
What is the quality of the GOAT vowel in General American compared to General British?
What is the quality of the GOAT vowel in General American compared to General British?
- Not distinguishable from the FOOT vowel
- More back and rounded (correct)
- More front and rounded
- Less rounded and centralized
Which of the following is true regarding the medial [n̠t̠] sequence in General American?
Which of the following is true regarding the medial [n̠t̠] sequence in General American?
How is the GB pronunciation [aɹ] in 'necessary' pronounced in General American?
How is the GB pronunciation [aɹ] in 'necessary' pronounced in General American?
The [d̠] sound in General American is tapped or flapped primarily in the same context as which sound?
The [d̠] sound in General American is tapped or flapped primarily in the same context as which sound?
Which of the following BATH words demonstrates the use of the TRAP vowel in General American?
Which of the following BATH words demonstrates the use of the TRAP vowel in General American?
When the STRUT vowel occurs before /ɹ/ in General American as in 'hurricane', what sound(s) is (are) used?
When the STRUT vowel occurs before /ɹ/ in General American as in 'hurricane', what sound(s) is (are) used?
What is one characteristic of the sequence [t̠ⁿn̠̩] , as in 'cotton', in the accent of General American?
What is one characteristic of the sequence [t̠ⁿn̠̩] , as in 'cotton', in the accent of General American?
What does the term 'degree of darkness' refer to in relation to the /l/ sound?
What does the term 'degree of darkness' refer to in relation to the /l/ sound?
In which word [t̠] is NOT tapped in General American?
In which word [t̠] is NOT tapped in General American?
Flashcards
Rhotic Accent (GA)
Rhotic Accent (GA)
In General American (GA) accents, the /r/ sound is pronounced between vowels or after /ɹ/ in unstressed syllables.
Tap /t/ and /d/ in GA
Tap /t/ and /d/ in GA
In General American, the sounds /t/ and /d/ are often realized as a tap or flap ([ɾ]) between vowels or after /ɹ/ in unstressed syllables.
Reduced /nt/ in GA
Reduced /nt/ in GA
General American often reduces the cluster /nt/ to /n/ in certain positions, like the middle of a word.
Yod Dropping (GA)
Yod Dropping (GA)
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Velarized /l/
Velarized /l/
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T-Glottalization (GA)
T-Glottalization (GA)
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Yod Coalescence (GA)
Yod Coalescence (GA)
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GOAT vowel (GA)
GOAT vowel (GA)
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TRAP vowel in GA
TRAP vowel in GA
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STRUT vowel and /r/
STRUT vowel and /r/
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Study Notes
General American Accent
- Considered a range of accents, not a single one
- Lacks marked social, ethnic, and regional features (e.g., north, northeast, south)
- Also known as Broadcast or Network English
Consonant Sounds
- Similar consonant system to General British English (GB)
- Few distributional and realizational differences
- Rhotic accent: /r/ is pronounced as [ɹ] or a retroflex [r]
- /t/ is voiced [t] or tapped [ɾ] between vowels or after unstressed vowels
- /d/ is tapped [ɾ] in the same contexts as /t/
- Examples of homophones:
needandkidding;riderandwriter;metalandmedal
Reduced Sounds
- Medial [nt] is reduced to [n] (e.g.,
internet) - Yod is dropped after voiceless dental [θ] and alveolar consonants [t, d, s, z, n] (e.g.,
studio)
/l/ Sound
- Mostly velarized [ɫ]
- Dark /l/ before vowels, but very dark elsewhere
- After aspirated stops, /l/ may be realized as [!]
Vowel Sounds
-
R-colored vowels (also called "rhotacized" vowels):
- Articulated while curling the tongue to a post-alveolar or retroflex position.
- /r/ sound merges with the vowel.
-
Examples of r-colouring: [ɝ], [ɚ], [ɔr], [ɑr], [ʊr], [ɔr]
-
Example words:
first,fever,fear,fair,far,for,fire -
Distinction between vowel sounds may not always be noticed in speech
-
Vowel sounds in words like
merry,marry,Mary, vary, they are pronounced as ['mɛri]
Other Relevant Features
- Yod coalescence at word boundaries (e.g.,
don't you,did you) - H-dropping in weak forms that are not utterance-initial (e.g., 'him', 'he', 'her')
- The GOAT vowel is more back and rounded than in GB English (e.g.,
boat,ago) - The TRAP vowel is used in all BATH words instead of PALM in GB English (e.g.,
bath,laugh,chance,ask) - Some speakers merge sounds
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Description
Test your knowledge on the features of the General American accent, including its consonant and vowel sounds. Explore how reduced sounds function within this accent and understand the nuances that differentiate it from other English accents. This quiz is essential for linguistics enthusiasts and students alike.
