"quarter"

[Prof. Roly Sussex]

I am trying to determine the variation in the pronunciation of
"quarter". Most dictionaries specify [kw-]; some allow no [w]
but it seems to me that there may be generational, and perhaps
areal, factors at work. Some Americaphone speakers here in
Australia report [kw-], others [k-]. One local speaker claims
that in expressions of time it is without [w], but in expressions
like "quarter horse" it is with [w].

Comments, please?

Roly Sussex
The Universit of Queensland