Рижак Т.

СОа22-18

General American

Vowels

1. There is no strict division of vowels into long and short in GA, though
some American phoneticians suggest that certain GA vowels are tense and likely to
be accompanied by relative length: [i:] in seat, [u:] in pool.

2. Classification of vowels according to the stability of articulation is a very

controversial subject in GA. Some diphthongs are treated as biphonernic
combinations. The inventory of GA diphthongs varies from three to twelve
phonemes. Following D. Shakhbagova we distinguish here five diphthongs in GA:
[eɪ], [aɪ], [ɔɪ], [aʊ], [əʊ].

3. Another important feature that causes different interpretations of

diphthongs and vowel length in GA is the pronunciation of [r] between a vowel
and a consonant or between a vowel and a silence: turn [tɜːn], star [sta:].

It has been estimated that 2/3 of American population pronounce [r] and 1/3
omit it. Thus GA is rhotic. In words like far, core, when [r] follows the vowels and
ends the word this sound is consonantal and non-syllabic. The sound [r] in far
closes the syllable more definitely than in British Received Pronunciation of the
word [fa:]. On the other hand, there is a vocalic or vowel-like and syllabic [r] that
occurs in words like bird, murmur, after a vowel and before a consonant.

4. One more peculiar feature of pronunciation of vowels in American

English is their nasalization, when they are preceded or followed by a nasal
consonant (in such words as take, small, name, etc. ). Nasalization is often called
an American twang. It is incidental and need not be marked in phonemic
transcription.

5. GA front vowels are somewhat different from RP.

In words like very, pity GA has [i:] rather than [ɪ]. In word final position it is
often even diphthongized.

The vowel [e] is more open in GA. It also may be diphthongized before [p],
[t], [k].

6. The three RP vowels [ɒ], [æ], [a:] correspond to only two vowels in GA-
[ʌ] and [æ]. This combined with the articulatory differences between RP [ɒ] and
GA [ʌ] and a difference in vowel distribution in many sets of words makes it very
complicated. The following chart vividly shows it:

RP GA
dad æ æ
dog ɒ ʌ
path ɑː æ
chance ɑː æ
half ɑː æ

Consonants

1. The RP allophonic differentiation of [l] does not exist in GA. In all

positions [l] is fairly dark.

2. Intervocalic [t] as in pity is most normally voiced. The result is

neutralization of the distribution between [t] and [d] in this position, i. e. latter,
ladder. The original distinction is preserved through vowel length with the vowel
before [t] being shorter.

3. The «wh» spelling is represented in GA by [hw]. So most American

speakers make a clear distinction between «wh» and "w" words: where - ware,
which - witch.

4. The consonant «j» is usually weakened or omitted altogether in GA

between a consonant (especially a forelingual one) and [tt] as in the words: news
[nu:z], suit [su:t], tube [tu:b].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=SbrCgfHE8i8&t=30s&ab_channel=WilliamFulton
0:11 – 0:41
One night after dinner at Lord Radley's the Baron began talking about success in
modern life as something that one could reduce to an absolute definite science.
With that wonderfully fascinating quiet voice of his he expounded to us the most
terrible of all philosophies, the philosophy of power, preached to us the most
marvelous of all gospels, the gospel of gold. I think he saw the effect he had
produced on me, for some days afterward he wrote and asked me to come to see
him.
BrE AmE
after /ˈɑːftə/ /ˈæftər/
modern /ˈmɒdən/ /ˈmɑdərn/
definite /ˈdɛfɪnɪt/ /ˈdɛfənət/
wonderfully /ˈwʌndəfʊli/ /ˈwʌndərfəli/
fascinating /ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ/ /ˈfæsəˌneɪtɪŋ/
expounded /ɪksˈpaʊndɪd/ /ɪkˈspaʊndəd/
philosophy /fɪˈlɒsəfi/ /fəˈlɑsəfi/
marvelous /ˈmɑːvələs/ /ˈmɑrvələs/
gospel /ˈgɒspəl/ /ˈgɑspəl/
produced /prəˈdjuːst/ /prəˈdust/
afterward /ˈɑːftəwəd/ /ˈæftərwərd/
asked /ɑːskt/ /æskt/
reduce /rɪˈdjuːs/ /rɪˈdus/