Consonants T

Mathisen (1999: 110) identifies [t] as the standard realization, with T-glottalling frequent for younger speakers but infrequent for the elderly. Tap  is considered mainly a male variant.

The BCDP data do indicate that many speakers have such a T-to-R rule (tapping of /t/ in intervocalic position), while T-glottalling occurs especially among younger speakers.

As Wells (1982: 261) notes, T-glottalling is widespread in most of the British Isles. Hughes and Trudgill (1996: 62) certify that this is indeed prevalent among younger urban working-class speakers in the UK. It is therefore not surprising to find this feature in the West Midlands. There is written evidence for word-final T-glottalling (or deletion) in Bm <wha’> what, <doan> don’t, <las’night> , <in’arf> isn’ t half, <ackidock> aqueduct.

However, Chinn and Thorne (2001: 23) maintain that there are “relatively few glottal stops [replacing /t/] in Birmingham speech”, whether occurring medially (e.g. daughter, cutlery, butter) or finally (e.g. feet, that).

There is considerable written evidence for the T-to-R rule (noted also by Biddulph 1986: 12), e.g. in Bm <gerra/gerron/a-gerrin’/gerrout/gerraway> get a/get on/getting/get out/get away, <gorra/gurra/gorrin/gorrall> got a/in/all, <irrin/irrup> it in/up <marrer/marra> , matter, <birra> bit of, <purron> put on; BC <gerroff> get off, <bur’e> but he, <bur at> but at, <ger’undred> get hundred.

There is also written evidence for anticipatory realization of /t/ as [k] between /I/ and syllabic /l/, as in Bm/BC <lickle> little or Bm <orsepickle> hospital. Note apparent hypercorrection in BC <pittle> pickle, <tittle> tickle. Furthermore, there is audio and written evidence for yod-coalescence to /tʃ/ before high front segments, e.g. in Bm <ackchullay> actually.

مواضيع ذات صلة

Spelling and Pronunciation SUMMARY

American English vs. British English

Morphological Basis of English Spelling

Phoneme–Grapheme Correspondences in English Vowels

Phoneme–Grapheme Correspondences in English Consonants

Spelling and Pronunciation Irregularity of English Spelling

Structural Factors in Second Language Phonology SUMMARY

Perception

Optimality Theory (OT)

Ontogeny Phylogeny Model (OPM)

Markedness

Hypercontrast