1.7.4. Divergent Patterns of Phoneme Use in Sets of Words

Intervocalic combination –si- plus unstressed syllable is pronounced as /Z/ in General American English. In Received Pronunciation only the first group has /Z/, the second /Z/ and /S/, the third /S/:

RP AmE

/Z/ vision, confusion,measure /Z/

/Z/, /S/ Asia, impression

/S/ version /Z/

At least some areas of America especially the South have /l/ in words with such combinations of letters as -alm, e.g. Received Pronunciation calm, palm /kRm/, /pRm/, General and South American English /kOlm/, /pOlm/.

There are four important sets of words in which Received Pronunciation and General American English generally differ in vowel selected. The largest and better known is the set called "bath words". In spelling these words have

a+f (after)

a-th (path)

a+ss (pass)

a+m+consonant (example)

a+n+consonant (dance)

The second set of words that vary comprises those in which an intervocalic /r/ follows midcentral vowel, e.g.:

courage

RP /'kArIdZ/

GenAm /'kWrIdZ/

The third set includes words derived from Latin which end in -ile, e.g.:

missile textile

RP /mI'sQIl/ RP /'tekstQIl/

GenAm /mIsIl/ GenAm /'tekstIl/

The final set includes the names of some countries, e.g.:

Nicaragua

RP /nIkq'rxgjuq/

GenAm /nIkq'rRguq/

Individual words differ in pronunciation: