Can some native USA English speakers say "awe" or not

[David Bergdahl]

Tom Zurinskas wrote:
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> > Poster:       Tom Zurinskas <truespel at HOTMAIL.COM>
> >
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> >
> > I believe awe-droppers as native born American English speakers can hear
> the
> > sound "awe" and they can say the sound "awe".  They just don't like the
> > sound "awe" nor forming it in their mouths when they talk.  They may
> llive
> > in an area were "awe" is dropped and they don't use it much.
>

There's no problem in production--people in the area of the merger can hear
the "far/for" difference and can produce "for" which contains the "aw"
vowel; many do--however--tell me that it's a "long o" although to my ears
"foe" and "for" are distinct.
-db

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