Re: ka and k^a [was: [tied] *kW- "?"]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob" <magwich78@...>
To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 10:20 AM
Subject: Re: ka and k^a [was: [tied] *kW- "?"]


> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
> wrote:
>
> > ***
> > Patrick:
> >
> > "how not"? Whatever do you mean?
> >
> > There is no "how" involved.
> >
> > Nor 'why'.
> >
> > It just is.
> >
> > Transforming /t/ into a glottal stop (/?/) in English is strictly a
> > low register Briticism. Whether it happens or not in Canadian
> > English in any register, I do not know, but I doubt it. I certainly
> > have never heard it.
> >
> > ***
>
> Many (if not most) American English dialects tend to reduce word-
> final /t/ to /?/. However, I also notice that when I reflexively
> pronounce a word with final /t/, I move my tongue to the alveolar
> position but still pronounce a /?/.
>
> Changing *intervocalic* /t/ to /?/ is British.
>
> - Rob

***
Patrick:

No American English dialects reduce final /t/ to /?/.

If you pronounce final /t/ as /?/, then you do not speak American English.

***