JNW's English

The pronunciation of words, as per Jonathan North Washington

[ʌ]

• strawberry - [ˈstʰɻʌbÆɹij]
• wash - [wʌʃ]
• Washington - [ˈwʌʃɪŋtɩn]
• squash - [skwʌʃ]

[wɔ]

• quarter - [ˈkʰɔɻɾɻ] (but quarry - ['kwɔɻij])
• quartz, quarts, courts - [kʰɔɹts] (is there a difference in aspiration?)

[ɛ]

• catch - [kʰɛʧ]
• that (conj) - [ðɛt]
• antenna - [ɛnˈtɛnə]
• any
• many
• marshmallow

[ʌj]

• /ɑj/ before voiced consonants is [ɑj]
  • 'eyes' [ɑjz]
  • 'bide' [bɑjd]
• /ɑj/ before unvoiced consonants is [ʌj]
  • 'ice' [ʌjs]
  • 'bite' [bʌjt]
• there are "exceptions" (they could be rule-based, having something to do with what counts as syllable-coda, or maybe part-of-speech?)
  • Idaho [ʌj], Ida [ʌj]
  • cider [ʌj], spider [ʌj]
  • icon [ɑj], nikon [ʌj], daikon [ɑj]
  • cyclops [ʌj / ?ɑj], but psycho [ʌj / *ɑj]
  • irregular plurals:
    • life [ləi̯f] → lives [ləi̯vz], *[lai̯vz]
• interesting contrasts:
  • high [ɑj], high school [ʌj]
  • 'I scream' [ɑj], 'ice cream' [ʌj]

[Æ]

See Æ for phonetic information on this vowel.

• /ej/ before /l,r/ is [Æ]
  • ail/ale - [Æl]
    • Al - [æl] (shows /æ/Æ/ contrast)
    • trailer (before a movie) - [ˈtˢɻʰÆlɻ]
    • trailer (behind a truck) - [ˈtˢɻʰejlɻ]
    • mailing / Maling (/Æ/ej/)
    • Beowulf (/Æ/)
      • tractor-trailer (the way I said it as a kid) - [ˈtˢɻʰæktɻ ˌtˢɻʰÆlɻ]
      • those two 'trailer's have recently merged to [ˈtˢɻʰejlɻ], but trail+er is still [ˈtˢɻʰÆlɻ]
    • nightmare - [ˈnʌjtmejɻ]
    • "night mare" - [ˈnʌjtmÆɻ]
  • air - [Ær]
• /æ/ before /m,n/ is [Æ]
  • an, hand - [Æn], [hÆnd]
    • Hannah - [ˈhænə]
• /æ/ before /ŋ,g/ is [æj]
  • wagon, hang - [wæjgɩn], [hæjŋ]

/ɩ/ (vs. /ə/ & /ɪ/)

• Reduced vowels are typically realised as [ə] in English:
  • about — [ə ˈbau̯t]
  • beneath — [bə ˈniːθ]
  • Winnepesauki — [wɪ nə pə ˈsɒ ki]
  • onomatopœia — [ɑ nə mɑ ɾə ˈpiː ə]

• In closed syllalbes, reduced vowels are realised as [ɩ]:
  • This is visible in the application of several morphemes.
    • rose-s — /ˈɻɤo̯ zɩz/
    • test-ed — /ˈtʰɛ stɩd/
    • ox-en — /ˈɑk sɩn/
  • This can be seen in many other words.
    • Jonathan — /ˈʤɑ nə θɩn/
    • happen(ed) — /ˈhæ pɩn(d)/
  • This can also be demonstrated derivationally.
    • religion — /ɻə ˈlɪ ʤɩn/
    • religionise — /ɻə ˈlɪ ʤə nɑi̯z/ (some less morphemic parsings lend to /ɻə ˈlɪ ʤɩ nɑi̯z/, with an almost syllabic [ʤ̩] often

• In a closed syllable with a labial coda, reduced vowels are realised as [ə]:
  • This is visible in the application of several (clitical) morphemes.
    • he'll've — [ˈhɪl əv]
    • get 'em — [ˈgɛ ɾəm]
  • This is visible in some other words, though I can mostly only think of names and made-up words.
    • item — [ˈʌi̯ ɾəm], victim — [ˈvɪk(t) təm]
    • Jacob — [ˈʤe kəp]
    • Caleb — [ˈkʰei̯ ləb]
    • *soroft — [ˈsɔɻ əft]
  • I take that back; I seem to've found some good examples
    • turnip — [ˈtɻnəp]
    • victim — [ˈvɪkt təm]
    • system — [ˈsɪs stəm]
    • bottom — [ˈbɑ ɾəm]
    • custom — [ˈkʌs stəm]
    • olive — [ˈɑləv]
    • exclusive — [ɛkˈsklusəv]
    • sheriff ­— [ˈʃᴁɻəf]
    • Phillip — [ˈfɪləp]
    • gossip — [ˈgɑsəp]
    • atom — [ˈæɾəm]
    • pilgrim — [ˈpɪlgɻɪm]
    • bottom — [ˈbɑɾəm]
    • interim — [ˈɪn.ɻ.əm]
    • tulip — [ˈtʉ.ləp]
    • Purim

• Words with "normal" reduced /ɪ/
  • culprit — ['kəlprɪt]

• Data that still need to be considered:
  • words like:
    • confuse
    • condition
  • other words like:
    • civil, civilisation
    • get 'im vs. get 'em
      • get 'im [ˈkɛɾɪm] (unexpected}
      • get 'em [ˈkɛɾəm] (expected, but contrast unexpected)
    • presumably (how do I syllabify this??)
  • the pair mistake [mɨ(s)ʼstejk] / mistook [mɪs'tʊk]

• • -tion /ʃɪn/ (expected)
  • -ive /ɪv/ (unexpected)
  • -ic /ɪk/ (unexpected)

[ɒ] as an allophone of /ɑ/

• /ɑ/ → [ɒ] / _ {ɻ,l}
• Except before /l/ it seems to be only at the end of syllables (or morpheme boundaries):
  • collar / caller = [kɑlɻ̩] / [kɒlɻ̩]
  • holler / hauler = [hɑlɻ̩] / [hɒlɻ̩]
  • similar to Maling / mailing = [mei̯lɪŋ] / [mᴁlɪŋ] above
  • collie [kɑli]
  • cauliflower [kɑləflawɻ̩]
  • also similar to /ə/ and /ʌ/ merging and then splitting again to [ə] and [ɨ] (the latter of which's merged with /ɪ/ now).

voicing

Some consonants are [un]voiced in a way that's unexpected:

• Jacob — [ˈʤe kəp]
• Virginia — [ˈfɻʤɪnjə]
• ostrich, sandwich — [ˈɒstɻɪdʒ], [ˈsÆndwɪdʒ]
• congratulations — [kn̩gɻæʤəˈlei̯ʃɪndz]

Also, it's interesting to look at stuff across syllable boundaries. Not sure what the phonetics are like, should investigate some time.

• substitute — [ˈsʌpstətʉt]
• hubcap — [ˈhʌpkæp] (?)
• Presbyterian

other

• comfortable - [ˈkʰʌ̃ftʰɻb(ə)ɫ]
• Wednesday - [ˈwɛn(d)zdej]
• February - [ˈfɛbjʉwÆɻij]
• Adirondecks - [ædɻ̩ˈɑndæks]
• helicopter - [ˈhɪləkɑptɻ]
• architecture - [ˈɒɻkəˌtɛkʃɻ] (maybe sometimes [ˈɒɻkəˌtɛkʧɻ]?)

Deletion

/ə/ in first syllable

• p(o)tato
• p(a)thetic
• k(a)tana
• t(o)mato
• v(a)riety
• p(o)litical [plɪ.ɾə.kɨl]

/ə/ elsewhere

The generalisation here seems to be that after a stressed syllable, /ə/ is deleted when /ɻ̯/ or /l/ (or /n/) that can start a syllable follows. These are also all formerly penultimate /ə/s, making the stressed syllable now penultimate.

As a table

	V	j	w	r	l	m	n	ŋ	vcd fric	vcless fric	vcd stop	vcless stop
V			Be(o)wulf [ˈbei.wʊlf]	the(o)ry [ˈθiɻ.i]	vi(o)let [ˈvɑɪ̯lɪʔ] vi(o)lent [ˈvɑɪ̯lɪ̃ʔ] vi(o)lence [ˈvɑɪ̯.lɪns] alve(o)lar [ælˈvi.lɻ] Samuel [ˈsᴁm.jʊl] / [ˈsᴁm.jəl] cas(u)alty [ˈkæʒ.əl.ti] jew(e)lry [ˈʤul.ɻi](~[ʤu.lɻ.i]) jew(e)ler [ˈʤu.lɻ] Joel [ʤol]	di(a)mond [ˈdɑi̯.mɪnd]	may(o)nnaise [ˈmᴁn.ei̯z] Li(o)nel [ˈlɑi.nəl] Ro(a)noke [ˈɻo.nok]				valu(a)ble [ˈvæl.jʉ.bʊl](jʉ~jɨ~jə)	di(a)per [ˈdəi̯.pɻ] le(o)pard [ˈlɛ.pɻd] je(o)pardy [ˈʤɛ.pɻ.ɾi]
j
w
r						temper(a)mental [ˌtɛmp.ɻˈmɛn.l]	or(a)nge [ˈoɻnʤ] veter(i)narian [vɛɾ.ɻˈnᴁɻ.i.ɪn] col(o)nel [ˈkɻ.nəl]		Dor(o)thy [ˈdɔɻ.θi]		miser(a)ble [ˈmɪz.ɻ.bʊl] or(a)nges [ˈɔɻn.ʤɨz] (→ or(a)nge, morphological levelling)
l
m				adm(i)ral [ˈædˌmɻɨl] cam(e)ra [ˈkᴁm.ɻə] num(e)ral [ˈnʉm.ɻəl] em(e)rald [ˈɛm.ɻəld] Cam(e)ron [ˈkᴁm.ɻɪn] hem(o)rrhage [ˈhɛm.ɻɪʤ] hem(o)rrhoid [ˈhɛm.ɻɔɪ̯d] adm(i)rable [ˈæd.mɻə.bɨl] cam(a)raderie [kɑmˈɻɑ.ɾɻ.i]	fam(i)ly om(e)lette [ˈɑm.lɪʔ]		nom(i)native [ˈnɑm.nə.ɾɪv]
n				gen(e)ral gen(e)ralise gen(e)ralisation fun(e)ral [ˈfɪu̯n.ɻʊl] min(e)ral [ˈmɪn.ɻəl] (cf. mineralogy [mɪn.ɻˈɑl.ə.ʤi])
ŋ
vcd fric				fav(ou)rite sev(e)ral ev(e)ry [ˈɛvɻi] Ev(e)rette [ˈɛvrɪʔ] rev(e)rence [ˈɻɛv.ɻɪns] rev(e)rend [ˈɻɛv.ɻɪnd] sov(e)reign [ˈsɑv.ɻɪn] bev(e)rage [ˈbɛv.ɻɪʤ] av(e)rage [ˈæv.ɻɪʤ] Ev(e)rest [ˈɛv.ɻɪst] cov(e)rage [ˈkəv.ɻɪʤ] lev(e)rage [ˈlɛv.ɻɪʤ] mis(e)rable [ˈmɪz.ɻə.bʊl] Canav(e)ral [kəˈnæv.ɻəl]	priv(i)lege trav(e)ller [ˈtɻæv.lɻ]	unfath(o)mable [ənˈfæð.mə.bʊl] (cf. fathom [ˈfæðəm])	ev(e)ning [ˈiv.nɪŋ] reas(o)nable [ˈɻiz.nə.bʊl] bus(i)ness [ˈbɪz.nɪs] ~pris(o)ner [ˈpɻɪzn̩ɻ̩] / [ˈprɪznɻ̩] artis(a)nal [ɒɻˈtɪznəl]
vcless fric	? naus(e)ous [ˈnɒ.ʃɪs] (deletion of /i/??)			diff(e)rent [ˈdɪf.ɻɪ̃ʔ] diff(e)rence [ˈdɪf.ɻɪns] ref(e)rence [ˈɻɛf.ɻɪns] diff(e)rent [ˈdɪf.ɻɪ̃ʔ] conf(e)rence [ˈkɑn.fɻɪns]	couns(e)lor [ˈkæu̯ns.lɻ] Cath(o)lic	math(e)maticians [mæθ.məˈtɪ.ʃɪns]
vcd stop	? outrag(e)ous [au̯ʔˈɻei̯.ʤɪs] (deletion of /i/??)			lib(e)ral [ˈlɪb.ɻəl] callab(o)rative [kəˈlæ.bɻə.ɾɪv] Barb(a)ra [ˈbɒɻˌbɻə] delib(e)rate [dəˈlɪ.bɻɨʔ] (cf. deliberate (v.) [dəˈlɪ.bɻ.eiʔ]) lab(o)ratory fed(e)ral Fred(e)rick [ˈfɻɛ.dɻɪk] bound(a)ry [ˈbau̯n.dɻi] considerable [kənˈsɪ.ɾɻ.ə.bɨl] (*consid(e)rable) collab(o)rative [kəˈlæ.bɻə.ɾɨv] (cf. collaborate [kəˈlæ.bɻ.eiʔ]	resemblance [ɻəˈzɛm.blɪns] (cf. resemble [ɻəˈzɛm.bʊl] assembly [əˈsɛm.bli] (cf. assemble [əˈsɛm.bʊl], others' assembly [əˈsɛm.bʊl.i]		cabinet */kʰæbənɪʔ/, */kʰæbnɪʔ/, √/kʰæbn̩ɪt/ gard(e)ner [ˈgɒɻd.nɻ] (cf. garden [ˈgɒɻ.ɾɪn]) card(i)nal [ˈkɒɻd.nəl] (cf. cardinality [ˌkɒɻ.ɾəˈnæl.ə.ɾi] ord(i)nance [ˈɔrd.nɪns] (cf. ordinality [ˌɔɻ.ɾəˈnæl.ə.ɾi]					veg(e)table [ˈvɛʧtəbl̩] (not tʰ!)
vcless stop				asp(i)rin /ˈæs.pɻɪn/ prep(a)ratory? resp(i)ratory temp(e)rature sep(a)rate (adj.) desp(e)rate [ˈdɛs.pɻɪʔ] amp(e)rage [ˈᴁmpɻɪʤ] (syllabification?) temp(o)ral [ˈtɛmp.ɻəl] (syllabicity? but compare temporary [ˈtɛmp.ɻ.ᴁɻ.i] desp(e)rate [ˈdɛs.pɻɪʔ] op(e)rative [ˈɑp.ɻə.ɾɪv] (cf. operate [ˈɑ.pɻ.ei̯ʔ] corp(o)rate [ˈkɔɻ.pɻɪʔ] op(e)ra [ˈɑp.ɻə] laˈp(a)roscopy / ˌlap(a)roˈscopic diasp(o)ra [dɑɪ̯ˈæ.spɻə] corp(o)ra [ˈkɔɻ.pɻə] ast(e)roid int(e)rest [ˈɪn.tɻɪst] element(a)ry [ɛl.əˈmɛn.tɻi] dext(e)rous [ˈdɛks.tɻɪs] complement(a)ry [kɑmp.ləˈmɛn.tɻi] / ??[kɑmp.ləˈmɛ.nɻ.i] entrance [ˈɛn.tɻɪns] (cf. enter [ˈɛnɻ]) mackerel [ˈmæk.ɻəl]	Zepp(e)lin [ˈzɛp.lɪn]		short(e)ning (noun) [ˈʃɔɻʔnɪŋ] plat(i)num [ˈplæʔ.nəm] fright(e)ning [ˈfɻəɪ̯ʔ.nɪŋ] light(e)ning [ˈləɪ̯ʔnɪŋ] Nitt(a)ny [ˈnɪʔni] Britt(a)ny [ˈbɻɪʔni] tet(a)nus [ˈtɛʔnɪs] ret(i)na [ˈɻɛʔnə]
affricate				imag(e)ry [ˈɪ.mɪ.ʤɻi]/[ˈɪ.mɪʤ.ɻi]	bach(e)lor [ˈbæʧ.lɻ]

As a table (2)

	V	j	w	r	l	m	n	ŋ	vcd fric	vcless fric	vcd stop	vcless stop
V			Be(o)wulf [ˈbei.wʊlf]	the(o)ry [ˈθiɻ.i]	vi(o)let [ˈvɑɪ̯lɪʔ] vi(o)lent [ˈvɑɪ̯lɪ̃ʔ] vi(o)lence [ˈvɑɪ̯.lɪns] alve(o)lar [ælˈvi.lɻ] Samuel [ˈsᴁm.jʊl] / [ˈsᴁm.jəl] cas(u)alty [ˈkæʒ.əl.ti] jew(e)lry [ˈʤul.ɻi](~[ʤu.lɻ.i]) jew(e)ler [ˈʤu.lɻ]	di(a)mond [ˈdɑi̯.mɪnd]	may(o)nnaise [ˈmᴁn.ei̯z] Li(o)nel [ˈlɑi.nəl] Ro(a)noke [ˈɻo.nok]				valu(a)ble [ˈvæl.jʉ.bʊl](jʉ~jɨ~jə) diadem [ˈdɑɪ.əˌdɛm]	di(a)per [ˈdəi̯.pɻ] le(o)pard [ˈlɛ.pɻd] je(o)pardy [ˈʤɛ.pɻ.ɾi]
r						temper(a)mental [ˌtɛmp.ɻˈmɛn.l] Jeremey [ˈʤᴁɻ.ə.mi]	or(a)nge [ˈoɻnʤ] veter(i)narian [vɛɾ.ɻˈnᴁɻ.i.ɪn] col(o)nel [ˈkɻ.nəl]		Dor(o)thy [ˈdɔɻ.θi]		miser(a)ble [ˈmɪz.ɻ.bʊl]
l			celery [ˈsɛl.ɻ.i] calorie [ˈkæl.ɻ.i]		colony [ˈkɑl.ə.ni]	filament [ˈfɪl.ə.mɪ̃ʔ]				qualify [ˈkwɒl.ə.fɑɪ] elephant [ˈɛl.ə.fɪ̃ʔ]	haplology [hæpˈlɑl.ə.ʤi] elegant [ˈɛl.ə.gɪ̃ʔ]	soliloquy [səˈlɪl.ə.kwi] quality [ˈkwɒl.ə.ɾi]
m				adm(i)ral [ˈædˌmɻɨl] cam(e)ra [ˈkᴁm.ɻə] num(e)ral [ˈnʉm.ɻəl] em(e)rald [ˈɛm.ɻəld] Cam(e)ron [ˈkᴁm.ɻɪn] hem(o)rrhage [ˈhɛm.ɻɪʤ] hem(o)rrhoid [ˈhɛm.ɻɔɪ̯d] adm(i)rable [ˈæd.mɻə.bɨl] cam(a)raderie [kɑmˈɻɑ.ɾɻ.i] limerick [ˈlɪm.ɻ.ɪk] enumerate [əˈnʉ.mɻ.ei̯ʔ] summary [ˈsəm.ɻ.i] Emory [ˈɛm.ɻ.i]	fam(i)ly om(e)lette [ˈɑm.lɪʔ] Pamela [ˈpᴁmələ] Emily [ˈɛm.ə.li]		nom(i)native [ˈnɑm.nə.ɾɪv]
n				gen(e)ral gen(e)ralise gen(e)ralisation fun(e)ral [ˈfɪu̯n.ɻʊl] min(e)ral [ˈmɪn.ɻəl] (cf. mineralogy [mɪn.ɻˈɑl.ə.ʤi]) generous [ˈʤɛn.ɻ.ɪs] generate [ˈʤɛn.ɻ.eiʔ]	finalize analyse [ˈᴁn.ə.lɑɪz]	dynamite [ˈdɑɪ.nə.məɪʔ] cinema [ˈsɪnəmə]			Jonathan [ˈʤɑn.ə.θɪn]	vinegar [ˈvɪn.ə.gɻ]	genitive [ˈʤɛn.ə.ɾɪv] quanity [ˈkwɑn.ə.ɾi]
ŋ
vcd fric				fav(ou)rite sev(e)ral ev(e)ry [ˈɛvɻi] Ev(e)rette [ˈɛvrɪʔ] rev(e)rence [ˈɻɛv.ɻɪns] rev(e)rend [ˈɻɛv.ɻɪnd] sov(e)reign [ˈsɑv.ɻɪn] bev(e)rage [ˈbɛv.ɻɪʤ] av(e)rage [ˈæv.ɻɪʤ] Ev(e)rest [ˈɛv.ɻɪst] cov(e)rage [ˈkəv.ɻɪʤ] lev(e)rage [ˈlɛv.ɻɪʤ] mis(e)rable [ˈmɪz.ɻə.bʊl] Canav(e)ral [kəˈnæv.ɻəl]	priv(i)lege trav(e)ller [ˈtɻæv.lɻ]	unfath(o)mable [ənˈfæð.mə.bʊl] (cf. fathom [ˈfæðəm])	ev(e)ning [ˈiv.nɪŋ] reas(o)nable [ˈɻiz.nə.bʊl] bus(i)ness [ˈbɪz.nɪs] ~pris(o)ner [ˈpɻɪzn̩ɻ̩] / ?[ˈprɪznɻ̩]
vcless fric	? naus(e)ous [ˈnɒ.ʃɪs]			diff(e)rent [ˈdɪf.ɻɪ̃ʔ] diff(e)rence [ˈdɪf.ɻɪns] ref(e)rence [ˈɻɛf.ɻɪns] diff(e)rent [ˈdɪf.ɻɪ̃ʔ] conf(e)rence [ˈkɑn.fɻɪns]	couns(e)lor [ˈkæu̯ns.lɻ] Cath(o)lic	math(e)maticians [mæθ.məˈtɪ.ʃɪns]	Bethany [ˈbɛθ.ə.ni]
vcd stop	? outrag(e)ous [au̯ʔˈɻei̯.ʤɪs]			lib(e)ral [ˈlɪb.ɻəl] Barb(a)ra [ˈbɒɻˌbɻə] delib(e)rate [dəˈlɪ.bɻɨʔ] (cf. deliberate (v.) [dəˈlɪ.bɻ.eiʔ]) lab(o)ratory fed(e)ral Fred(e)rick [ˈfɻɛ.dɻɪk] bound(a)ry [ˈbau̯n.dɻi] collab(o)rative [kəˈlæ.bɻə.ɾɨv] Niag(a)ra collaborate [kəˈlæ.bɻˌei̯ʔ] considerable [kənˈsɪ.ɾɻ.ə.bɨl]	resemblance [ɻəˈzɛm.blɪns] (cf. resemble [ɻəˈzɛm.bʊl] assembly [əˈsɛm.bli] (cf. assemble [əˈsɛm.bʊl], others' assembly [əˈsɛm.bʊl.i]		cabinet */kʰæbənɪʔ/, */kʰæbnɪʔ/, √/kʰæbn̩ɪt/ gard(e)ner [ˈgɒɻd.nɻ] (cf. garden [ˈgɒɻ.ɾɪn]) card(i)nal [ˈkɒɻd.nəl] (cf. cardinality [ˌkɒɻ.ɾəˈnæl.ə.ɾi] ord(i)nance [ˈɔrd.nɪns] (cf. ordinality [ˌɔɻ.ɾəˈnæl.ə.ɾi]					veg(e)table [ˈvɛʧtəbl̩] (not tʰ!)
vcless stop				asp(i)rin /ˈæs.pɻɪn/ prep(a)ratory? resp(i)ratory temp(e)rature sep(a)rate (adj.) desp(e)rate [ˈdɛs.pɻɪʔ] amp(e)rage [ˈᴁmpɻɪʤ] (syllabification?) temp(o)ral [ˈtɛmp.ɻəl] (syllabicity? but compare temporary [ˈtɛmp.ɻ.ᴁɻ.i] desp(e)rate [ˈdɛs.pɻɪʔ] op(e)rative [ˈɑp.ɻə.ɾɪv] (cf. operate [ˈɑ.pɻ.ei̯ʔ] corp(o)rate [ˈkɔɻ.pɻɪʔ] op(e)ra [ˈɑp.ɻə] laˈp(a)roscopy / ˌlap(a)roˈscopic diasp(o)ra [dɑɪ̯ˈæ.spɻə] corp(o)ra [ˈkɔɻ.pɻə] ast(e)roid int(e)rest [ˈɪn.tɻɪst] element(a)ry [ɛl.əˈmɛn.tɻi] dext(e)rous [ˈdɛks.tɻɪs] complement(a)ry [kɑmp.ləˈmɛn.tɻi] / ??[kɑmp.ləˈmɛ.nɻ.i] entrance [ˈɛn.tɻɪns] (cf. enter [ˈɛnɻ]) mackerel [ˈmæk.ɻəl] separate (v.t.) licorice [ˈlɪk.ɻ.ɪs]/[ˈlɪk.ɻ.ɪʃ] decorate [ˈdɛk.ɻ.eiʔ] interim [ˈɪn.ɻ.əm] ?*[ˈɪn.(t)ɻəm] victory [ˈvɪk.tɻ.i]	Zepp(e)lin [ˈzɛp.lɪn] Nicholas [ˈnɪk.ə.lɪs]		short(e)ning (noun) [ˈʃɔɻʔnɪŋ] plat(i)num [ˈplæʔ.nəm] fright(e)ning [ˈfɻəɪ̯ʔ.nɪŋ] light(e)ning [ˈləɪ̯ʔnɪŋ] Nitt(a)ny [ˈnɪʔni] Britt(a)ny [ˈbɻɪʔni] tet(a)nus [ˈtɛʔnɪs] ret(i)na [ˈɻɛʔnə] shortening (verb) maintenance [ˈmẽi̯ʔ.n̩.ɪns]
affricate				imag(e)ry [ˈɪ.mɪ.ʤɻi]/[ˈɪ.mɪʤ.ɻi]	bach(e)lor [ˈbæʧ.lɻ]

Immediately following a stressed vowel

• vi(o)let [ˈvɑɪ̯lɪʔ]
• vi(o)lent [ˈvɑɪ̯lɪ̃ʔ]
• vi(o)lence [ˈvɑɪ̯.lɪns]
• the(o)ry [ˈθiɻ.i]
• alve(o)lar [ælˈvi.lɻ]
• valu(a)ble [ˈvæl.jʉ.bʊl](jʉ~jɨ~jə)
• di(a)mond [ˈdɑi̯.mɪnd]
• di(a)per [ˈdəi̯.pɻ]
• Samuel [ˈsᴁm.jʊl] / [ˈsᴁm.jəl]
• may(o)nnaise [ˈmᴁn.ei̯z]
• cas(u)alty [ˈkæʒ.əl.ti]
• Be(o)wulf [ˈbei.wʊlf]
• le(o)pard [ˈlɛ.pɻd]
• je(o)pardy [ˈʤɛ.pɻ.ɾi]
• Ro(a)noke [ˈɻo.nok]

V́C[labial]_C[liquid]

V́v_r

• fav(ou)rite
• sev(e)ral
• ev(e)ry [ˈɛvɻi]
• Ev(e)rette [ˈɛvrɪʔ]
• rev(e)rence [ˈɻɛv.ɻɪns]
• rev(e)rend [ˈɻɛv.ɻɪnd]
• sov(e)reign [ˈsɑv.ɻɪn]
• bev(e)rage [ˈbɛv.ɻɪʤ]
• av(e)rage [ˈæv.ɻɪʤ]
• Ev(e)rest [ˈɛv.ɻɪst]
• cov(e)rage [ˈkəv.ɻɪʤ]
• lev(e)rage [ˈlɛv.ɻɪʤ]
• Canav(e)ral [kəˈnæv.ɻəl]

V́v_l

• priv(i)lege
• trav(e)ller [ˈtɻæv.lɻ]

V́m_r

• adm(i)ral [ˈædˌmɻɨl]
• cam(e)ra [ˈkᴁm.ɻə]
• num(e)ral [ˈnʉm.ɻəl]
• em(e)rald [ˈɛm.ɻəld]
• Cam(e)ron [ˈkᴁm.ɻɪn]
• hem(o)rrhage [ˈhɛm.ɻɪʤ]
• hem(o)rrhoid [ˈhɛm.ɻɔɪ̯d]
• adm(i)rable [ˈæd.mɻə.bɨl]

V́m_l

• fam(i)ly
• om(e)lette [ˈɑm.lɪʔ]

V́p_r

• asp(i)rin /ˈæs.pɻɪn/
• prep(a)ratory?
• resp(i)ratory
• temp(e)rature
• sep(a)rate (adj.)
• desp(e)rate [ˈdɛs.pɻɪʔ]
• amp(e)rage [ˈᴁmpɻɪʤ] (syllabification?)
• temp(o)ral [ˈtɛmp.ɻəl] (syllabicity? but compare temporary [ˈtɛmp.ɻ.ᴁɻ.i]
• desp(e)rate [ˈdɛs.pɻɪʔ]
• op(e)rative [ˈɑp.ɻə.ɾɪv] (cf. operate [ˈɑ.pɻ.ei̯ʔ]
• corp(o)rate [ˈkɔɻ.pɻɪʔ]
• op(e)ra [ˈɑp.ɻə]
•  ? naus(e)ous [ˈnɒ.ʃɪs] (deletion of /i/??)
•  ? outrag(e)ous [au̯ʔˈɻei̯.ʤɪs] (deletion of /i/??)
• laˈp(a)roscopy / ˌlap(a)roˈscopic
• diasp(o)ra [dɑɪ̯ˈæ.spɻə]
• corp(o)ra [ˈkɔɻ.pɻə]

V́p_l

• Zepp(e)lin [ˈzɛp.lɪn]

V́b_r

• lib(e)ral [ˈlɪb.ɻəl]
• callab(o)rative [kəˈlæ.bɻə.ɾɪv]
• Barb(a)ra [ˈbɒɻˌbɻə]
• delib(e)rate [dəˈlɪ.bɻɨʔ] (cf. deliberate (v.) [dəˈlɪ.bɻ.eiʔ])
• lab(o)ratory
• collab(o)rative [kəˈlæ.bɻə.ɾɨv] (cf. collaborate [kəˈlæ.bɻ.eiʔ]

V́b_l

• resemblance [ɻəˈzɛm.blɪns] (cf. resemble [ɻəˈzɛm.bʊl]
• assembly [əˈsɛm.bli] (cf. assemble [əˈsɛm.bʊl], others' assembly [əˈsɛm.bʊl.i]

V́f_r

• diff(e)rent [ˈdɪf.ɻɪ̃ʔ]
• diff(e)rence [ˈdɪf.ɻɪns]
• ref(e)rence [ˈɻɛf.ɻɪns]
• diff(e)rent [ˈdɪf.ɻɪ̃ʔ]
• conf(e)rence [ˈkɑn.fɻɪns]

other

V́t_r

• ast(e)roid
• int(e)rest [ˈɪn.tɻɪst]
• element(a)ry [ɛl.əˈmɛn.tɻi]
• dext(e)rous [ˈdɛks.tɻɪs]
• complement(a)ry [kɑmp.ləˈmɛn.tɻi] / ??[kɑmp.ləˈmɛ.nɻ.i]

V́n_r

• gen(e)ral
• gen(e)ralise
• gen(e)ralisation
• fun(e)ral [ˈfɪu̯n.ɻʊl]
• min(e)ral [ˈmɪn.ɻəl] (cf. mineralogy [mɪn.ɻˈɑl.ə.ʤi])

V́s_l

• couns(e)lor [ˈkæu̯ns.lɻ]

V́d_r

• fed(e)ral
• Fred(e)rick [ˈfɻɛ.dɻɪk]
• bound(a)ry [ˈbau̯n.dɻi]

V́θ_l

• Cath(o)lic

V́ʧ_l

• bach(e)lor [ˈbæʧ.lɻ]

V́..ʤ_r

• imag(e)ry [ˈɪ.mɪ.ʤɻi]/[ˈɪ.mɪʤ.ɻi]

V́C[dorsal]_C[liquid]

V́k_l

• choc(o)late [ˈʧɒk.lɪʔ]
• -ic(a)lly words:
  • basic(a)lly [ˈbei̯sɪkli]
  • technic(a)lly [ˈtɛknɪkli]
  • etc.
• Berk(e)ley [ˈbɻk.li]
• Jacq(ue)line [ˈʤæklɪn]

V́k_r

• dec(o)rative [ˈdɛkɻərɪv] -[tʰɪv]?
• mack(e)rel [ˈmæk.ɻəl]

V́g_l

V́g_r

• Marg(a)ret [ˈmɒɻ.gɻɪʔ]
• Niag(a)ra [nɑi̯ˈæi̯.gɻə]

n

V́v_n

• ev(e)ning [ˈiv.nɪŋ] (otherwise expected, but newscasters have been saying [ˈiv.ə.nɪŋ] recently)

V́b_n

• cabinet */kʰæbənɪʔ/, */kʰæbnɪʔ/, √/kʰæbn̩ɪt/

V́t_n

• short(e)ning (noun) [ˈʃɔɻʔnɪŋ]
• plat(i)num [ˈplæʔ.nəm]
• fright(e)ning [ˈfɻəɪ̯ʔ.nɪŋ]
• light(e)ning [ˈləɪ̯ʔnɪŋ]
• Nitt(a)ny [ˈnɪʔni]
• Britt(a)ny [ˈbɻɪʔni]
• tet(a)nus [ˈtɛʔnɪs]
• ret(i)na [ˈɻɛʔnə]

V́d_n

• gard(e)ner [ˈgɒɻd.nɻ] (cf. garden [ˈgɒɻ.ɾɪn])
• card(i)nal [ˈkɒɻd.nəl] (cf. cardinality [ˌkɒɻ.ɾəˈnæl.ə.ɾi]
• ord(i)nance [ˈɔrd.nɪns] (cf. ordinality [ˌɔɻ.ɾəˈnæl.ə.ɾi]

V́z_n

• reas(o)nable [ˈɻiz.nə.bʊl]
• bus(i)ness [ˈbɪz.nɪs]

other n

• or(a)nge [ˈoɻnʤ]
• nom(i)native [ˈnɑm.nə.ɾɪv]

variation

• miser(a)ble [ˈmɪz.ɻ.bʊl] / mis(e)rable [ˈmɪz.ɻə.bʊl]
• veter(i)narian [vɛɾ.ɻˈnᴁɻ.i.ɪn] / ?vet(e)rinarian ??[ˌvɛ.tɻəˈnᴁɻ.i.ɪn]
• ?Li(o)nel [ˈlɑi.nəl] / Lionel [ˈlɑi.ə.nʊl]

other

• col(o)nel [ˈkɻ.nəl]
• math(e)maticians [mæθ.məˈtɪ.ʃɪns]
• Dor(o)thy [ˈdɔɻ.θi]
• veg(e)table [ˈvɛʧtəbl̩] (not tʰ!)
• entrance [ˈɛn.tɻɪns] (cf. enter [ˈɛnɻ])
• unfathomable [ənˈfæð.mə.bʊl] (cf. fathom [ˈfæðəm])
• jew(e)lry [ˈʤul.ɻi](~[ʤu.lɻ.i])
• jew(e)ler [ˈʤu.lɻ]
• temper(a)mental [ˌtɛmp.ɻˈmɛn.l]
• Zor(o)astrian
• cam(a)raderie [kɑmˈɻɑ.ɾɻ.i]

But no deletion:

• finalize
• separate (v.t.)
• shortening (verb)
• celery [ˈsɛl.ɻ.i]
• colony [ˈkɑl.ə.ni]
• dynamite [ˈdɑɪ.nə.məɪʔ]
• analyse [ˈᴁn.ə.lɑɪz]
• Nicholas [ˈnɪk.ə.lɪs]
• vinegar [ˈvɪn.ə.gɻ]
• calorie [ˈkæl.ɻ.i]
• limerick [ˈlɪm.ɻ.ɪk]
• operation [̩ɑp.ɻˈei̯.ʃɪn]
• filament [ˈfɪl.ə.mɪ̃ʔ]
• licorice [ˈlɪk.ɻ.ɪs]/[ˈlɪk.ɻ.ɪʃ]
• decorate [ˈdɛk.ɻ.eiʔ]
• interim [ˈɪn.ɻ.əm] ?*[ˈɪn.(t)ɻəm]
• generous [ˈʤɛn.ɻ.ɪs]
• generate [ˈʤɛn.ɻ.eiʔ]
• maintenance [ˈmẽi̯ʔ.n̩.ɪns]
• enumerate [əˈnʉ.mɻ.ei̯ʔ]
• summary [ˈsəm.ɻ.i]
• collaborate [kəˈlæ.bɻˌei̯ʔ]
• corporation [ˌkɔɻp.ɻˈei.ʃɪn]
• genitive [ˈʤɛn.ə.ɾɪv]
• Jonathan [ˈʤɑn.ə.θɪn]
• Bethany [ˈbɛθ.ɨ.ni]
• quality [ˈkwɒl.ə.ɾi]
• qualify [ˈkwɒl.ə.fɑɪ]
• quanity [ˈkwɑn.ə.ɾi]
• diadem [ˈdɑɪ.əˌdɛm]
• Jeremey [ˈʤᴁɻ.ə.mi]
• victory [ˈvɪk.tɻ.i]
• Emory [ˈɛm.ɻ.i]
• considerable [kənˈsɪ.ɾɻ.ə.bɨl]
• cinema [ˈsɪnəmə]
• Pamela [ˈpᴁmələ]
• prosecutor
• Emily [ˈɛm.ə.li]
• elephant [ˈɛl.ə.fɪ̃ʔ]
• elegant [ˈɛl.ə.gɪ̃ʔ]

Acceptable variation?

• veteran/vet(e)ran
• sal(a)ry?
• mem(o)ry/mem(o)ries? (latter dialectal?)
• interested/int(e)rested [ˈɪn.tɻə.stɪd]/[ˈɪn.ɻˌɛs.tɪd]
• mystery/myst(e)ry?
• warran(t)y [ˈwɒɻ.ə.ni] / warr(a)n(t)y [ˈwɒɻ.ni]
• literature/lit(e)rature/liter(a)ture (second British, third American?)
• sentence/sent(e)nce [ˈsɛnɪns]/[ˈsɛ̃ʔ.n̩s]/?[ˈsɛn.tn̩s]
• severance/sev(e)rance [ˈsɛv.ɻ.ɪns]/[ˈsɛv.ɻɪns]
• math(e)matics/mathematics [mæθˈmæ.ɾɪks]/[mæθ.əˈmæ.ɾɪks]

/ɻ/, apparently

Nancy Hall seems to've made a career out of this:

• phonoloblog
• linguist list post
• full-blown paper

Never pronounced:

• Feb(r)uary — [ˈfɛbjʉwᴁɻ̯i]
• tu(r)meric — [ˈtʰʉmɻɪk]
• Swa(r)thmore — [ˈswɑθmɔɻ̯]
• bomba(r)dier
• Dei(r)dre?

In Delco:

• o(r)der

Many of these /ɻ/s are pronounced in cases hyperarticulation or careful speech, but even then not always.

• su(r)prise — [səˈpɻɑi̯z]
• rese(r)voir — [ˈɻ̯ɛzəvwɒɻ̯]
• kinde(r)garten — [ˈkʰɪndəgɒɻ̯dn̩]
• cate(r)piller — [ˈkʰæɾəpɪlɻ]
• adve(r)sary — [ˈædvəsᴁɻ̯i]
• vet(er)inarian — [vɛdn̩ˈᴁɻiɪn]~[vɛɾəˈnᴁɻiɪn]
• be(r)serk
• paraphe(r)nalia — [̩pᴁɻ.ə.fəˈnɛl.jə]
• repe(r)toir
• p(r)erogative
• Pache(l)bel
• defrib(r)ulator — [dəfɻɪbjəlei̯ɾɻ̩]
• inf(r)ared
• gove(r)nor

Kind of [not] pronounced, or unsure:

• fo(r)ward — ['fɔ(ɻ̯)wɻd]
• inf(r)astructure
• ap(er)ture
• pa(r)ticular
• southe(r)ner
• pe(r)turbed
• fo(r)lorn
• Be(r)nard
• No(r)thrup
• Cante(r)bury
• the(r)mometer
• cereb(r)al palsy
• elde(r)berry

Seems natural not to pronounce /r/, but I do anyway [most of the time]:

• spect(r)ogram
• ve(r)nacular
• Wate(r)bury
• Otte(r)burn
• ente(r)prise
• comfo(r)ter

Always pronounced:

• laboratory
• preparatory
• respiratory
• temperature
• literature
• photographer
• stenographer
• secretary
• proprietress
• fratricide
• entrepreneur
• proliferate
• Labrador
• interpret
• frustration
• celebratory
• professor
• impropriety
• northerner
• afterwards
• hamburger
• offertory
• forward?
• formerly
• perform
• perfumery
• corporation
• dormitory
• formerly
• incorporate
• corner
• extraordinary
• Forster's turn
• order
• ordinary
• ornery
• orthography
• portrait
• quarter
• warrior
• farmer
• farther
• Girard
• parliamentary
• parlor
• further
• murder(er)
• itinerary
• furniture

Insertion

• perse(r)vere
• inte(r)gral
• fa(r)miliar
• cate(r)gorise
• sherbe(r)t
• barbe(r)cue
• Albu(r)querque

Unsure

• pho(r)tographer
• lava(r)tory
• au(r)thor

No insertion

• pe(r)jorative
• ce(r)lebrity
• ele(r)vator
• benefici(r)ary
• contractu(r)al
• ferv(r)ent
• heart-rend(r)ing
• f(r)uneral

Long /r/:

• error
• juror
• mirror
• terror
• sufferer
• there're
• for her

Syllabic /r/s:

• deteriorate
• interior

Clitics

Object pronouns

• Notes:
  • vowels in cliticised forms are shorter than in full forms (e.g. mi, jʉu̯, etc are shortened)

Object pronouns

	example	me	you	him	her	it	us	them
full forms	—	[mi]	[jʉu̯]	[hɪm]	[hɻ]	[ɪʔ] (/ɪt/)	[əs]	[ðɛm]
i_	see	[simi]	[si.ʉu̯]	[si.ɪm]	[si.ɻ]	[si.ɪʔ]	[si.əs]	[si.əm]
u_	sue	[sʉmi]	[sʉjʉu̯]	[sʉ.ɪm]/[sʉwɪm]	[sʉ.ɻ]/[sʉwɻ]	[sʉ.ɪʔ]/[sʉwɪʔ]	[sʉ.əs]/[sʉwəs]	[sʉ.əm]/[sʉwəm]
t_	hate	[heʔmi]/[hei̯mmi]	[heʔjʉu̯]/[hei̯ʧə]	[hei̯ɾɪm]	[hei̯ɾɻ]	[hei̯ɾɪʔ]	[hei̯ɾəs]	[hei̯ɾəm]

Other

• I don't [ai̯ə̃u̯ʔ]

Subject pronouns

This page illustrates some (synchronic) irregularities in English pronoun+clitic combinations. This focusses mainly on cliticised forms of "to be" and "to have" in JNW English.

An E in the Actual column means the Expected forms are also found, but only in hypercorrect speech.

Orthography	Pronoun	Clitic	Expected	Actual	Reduced
I'll	ɑi̯	l		(E) ɑl	ɑl
he'll	hi(i̯)	l		(E) hɪl	hlˌ
she'll	ʃi(i̯)	l		(E) ʃɪl	ʃlˌ
we're	wi(i̯)	ɻ	'wijɻ	(E) wᴁɻ̯	wɻ
we've	wi(i̯)	əv	'wi(jə)v	wi(i̯)v	wɨv¹
we'll	wi(i̯)	l		wɪl	wʊl
you're	jʉ(u̯)	ɻ	'jʉwɻ	(E) jɔɻ̯	jɻ
you've	jʉ(u̯)	əv	'jʉ(wə)v	jʉ(u̯)v	jɨv¹
you'll	jʉ(u̯)	l		jʊl	jɪl [jɯl]
they're	ðe(i̯)	ɻ	ˈðejɻ	ðᴁɻ̯	ðɻ
they've	ðe(i̯)	əv		ðe(i̯)v	ðev?
they'll	ðe(i̯)	l		ðɪl [ðɯl]

• ¹ Note that /ɨ/ is not otherwise permitted before a closed syllable ending in a labial

Words I never got

Because of the loss of sarcasm in fixed expressions using these words (or something like that), I never could tell what they meant—the general idea was there, but as far as I could tell, their antonyms seemed as correct as they did, if not more.

• immaculate
• impeccable
• trivial
• vicariously

Family-specific vocabulary

• glurpy
• heffle
• zitis
• scrumfle
• ring-ding
• mitcher

Other People

My Family

Some family members have "weird" pronunciations:

• [ˈdɑjəpɹ] for [ˈdʌjpɹ] ("diaper")
• [ˈdɑjəmənd] for [ˈdɑjmɩnd] ("diamond")
• [hɒp] for [hɑp] ("hop")
• [ˈrɛs.stɻ.ənt] for [ˈrɛs.stɻ.ɑnt] ("restaurant")
• [wɪð] for [wɪθ]
• [bə ˈkʌs] for [bə ˈkʌz]
• [ə sow ʃij ˈej ʃɩn] for [ə sow sij ˈej ʃɩn] ("association")
• [mə ˈtɻ jəl] for [mə ˈtijɻ ij əl] ("material")

Media

Some media (music, commercials) have objectionable rhymes:

• pauper/copper/whopper
• choclate/pocket
• ‘ooh and aah’ where ‘aah’ == ‘aww’
• see also: Other People's English

Overall vowel system

JNW's Vowels

location	tense	lax	diphthong	ɻ diphthong	examples
front
high	i(i̯)¹	ɪ/ɨ	ɪu̯	iɻ̯, jɻ	heed, hid, hued, hear, pure
mid	e(i̯)¹	ɛ	—	ᴁɻ, —	hayed, head, hair
low	ᴁ	æ¹	au̯	—, awɻ/aɯ̯ɻ̯/aɻ̯	hand/hail, had, how, —, hour/how're
back
low	ɒ³	ɑ	ɑi̯	ɒɻ̯, ai̯ɻ̯	hawed, odd, high, hard, hire/higher
mid	ɤ(u̯)¹³	ə	əi̯	ɔɻ̯, —	hoed, hut, height, hoard/horde/whore
high	ʉ(u̯)¹³	ʊ³	ɔi̯	ɔɻ̯, ɔjɻ	hoot, hood, Hoyt, tour, lawyer

Notes:

• ¹ Long or diphthongal
• ² Can be nucleus of heavy syllable
• ³ Rounding optional
• Maybe /o/ is the the dipthongal mid-front vowel, and /ɻ/ is tense mid-back vowel.. but then there'd be two before-/ɻ/ versions for mid-front... hm.
• Maybe the mid-front gap is because /əu̯/ from GVS merged with /au̯/. And maybe this gap is the cause for Valley Girl o → /ɛu̯/.

Generalisations:

• Back vowels rounded before /ɻ/, front vowels not; back vowels generally more likely to be rounded
• All back tense vowels have optional rounding. Yiddish /ɔ/ borrowed as JNWE /ə/.
• Non-low tense vowels are optionally long or diphthong
• Front vowels diphthongise to back high point; back vowels to front high point. The tense vowels are opposite. Hmm...

JNW's vowel system

	Front				Back
	peripheral	base	diphthong	with ɻ	base	peripheral	diphthong	with ɻ
High	i	ɪ	ɪu̯	iɻ̯	ʊ	ʉ	ɔi̯	ɔɻ̯
Mid	e	ɛ	—	ᴁɻ̯	ə	o	əi̯	ɻ
Low	ᴁ	æ	æu̯		a	ɒ	ai̯	ɒɻ̯

Another attempt

Phonetic data to back this up is being analysed at Jonathan and Tristan's Big Phonetic Project.

JNW's vowel system, take 2/3/whatever

	Front		Back
	peripheral	base	base	peripheral
High	i	ɪ	ʊ	ʉ
	iɻ̯	ɪu̯	ɔi̯	ɔɻ̯
Mid	e	ɛ	ə	ɻ
		əu̯	əi̯
Low	ᴁ	æ	a	ɒ
	ᴁɻ̯	æu̯	ai̯	ɒɻ̯

Notes:

1. Back peripheral vowels are optionally rounded.
2. Front peripheral vowels are optionally diphthongised.
3. All non-high non-back vowels + /ɻ̯/ are realised as /ᴁ/; low-back as /ɒ/, high-back as /ɔ/, high-front as ~/i/
4. Mid-back vowels don't occur with /ɻ̯/.

And an orthography for it:

JNW's vowel system, take 2/3/whatever

	Front		Back
	peripheral	base	base	peripheral
High	ee	i	oo	uu
	ir	iu	oi	or
Mid	ei	e	u	r
		ou	ui
Low	ae/ea?	a	aa	oa/ao?
	er	au	ai	ar

Consonant system

JNW's vowel system

	bilabial	labio-dental	interdental	dental/alveolar	retroflex	dento/alveo-palatal	velar	glottal
stop	p b			t d		ʧ ʤ	k g	ʔ
fricative		f v	θ ð	s z		ʃ ʒ		h
nasal	m			n			ŋ
lateral				l
glide	w				ɻ	j

Child phonology

• [ˈnɑʔni] / [ˈnɑʔnɪn] — /ˈʤɑnəθɪn/
• [məˈnəmʔtɻək]? — /ˈdəm(p)tʰɻək/

True stress minimal pairs

• import
• upset

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