tour/tore

[TERRY IRONS]

I know we've discussed this before: I heard it again this morning on
Morning Edition.  The female correspondent was talking about something
and I completely lost track of the the topic, for she consistently
pronounced "tour" and "touring" with the mid back vowel of "tore."  There
has been considerable work delimiting the extent of the near mergers of
back vowels before /l/.  How extensive is the merger of these vowels
before /r/?




Virtually, Terry
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Terry Lynn Irons        t.irons at morehead-st.edu
Voice Mail:             (606) 783-5164
Snail Mail:             UPO 604 Morehead, KY 40351
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