Sociological Linguistics

[petegray]

>> So can /kaen/ & can't /kaen?/ have to be distinguished by a combination of

>.....  I've always perceived the difference more as
> /k at n/ vs. /k&n(t)/,

Some of us (I say in a superior tone) speak a different dialect, in which
can is /k&n/ and can't is /ka:nt/.   The /t/ can be dropped without any fear
of ambiguity - not, of course, that we would think of doing such a thing!

Peter