Re: More ...

[Christopher Reid Palmer <reid@pconline.com>]

C.D.Wright@solipsys.compulink.co.uk wrote:

> Try as I might, I can't imagine (or remember - but my
> memory is non-aural) any vowel sound that I can put
> into both "top" and "father".

Well, it's clear that we're speaking different dialects of English. :)

Try putting your 'father' sound in place of the vowel for 'top', and
you'll have an idea of what I sound like. And I think I know what you
sound like...

> crp> Any chance your 'top' is a lax 'o', similar to
> crp> 'father' 'a' but a bit rounded ('off', ...
> 
> Hmm.  My "top" is as in
> 
>     "octet", "October", "off", "on", "conscious"
>       "ostensibly", "long", "monster" ...

Yep -- for me, 'off' and 'on' have rounded low-mid back vowels, while
the others you list have /a/, a low, mid-back vowel. Your having a
single vowel for all (presumably the lax /O/, my 'off') is what I hear
as a big part of RP.



-- Chris

_____________________________________________________________________________
Christopher Reid Palmer : reid@pconline.com : http://innerfire.visi.com/