free variation in pronunciation

[Dennis R. Preston]

A very good example of the sort I was referring to before, in which
report of free variation disappears when the data are examined. In
this case (with "wake") I can offer some data and statistical
analysis from Michigan. It's in Dennis R. Preston. 1996.
(a)w{o,a}ke(en)(ed) (up). J. Klemola, M. Kytö, and M. Rissanen (eds),
Speech past and present: Studies in English dialectology in memory of
Ossi Ihalainen. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, pp.  343-84. The
variation found in this study was very far from 'free' (and
completely below the conscious awareness of the speakers).

dInIs


>A. Murie <sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM> writes:
>
>>>>>>
>Roof and root are both examples where it seems to me that whether the
>double o is pronounced as in /good/ or as in /food/ is pretty free.  At
>least I might say either at any time without noticing that I was making a
>choice. Whether this is also true for hoof, I'm less sure, though I know
>both pronunciations are used, but perhaps by different people.
><<<<<
>
>Which brings to mind a different kind of potential free variation to look
>for: strong vs. weak forms. Hooves/hoofs, leaped/leapt, dove/dived.
>
>-- Mark

--
Dennis R. Preston
Department of Linguistics and Languages
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1027 USA
preston at pilot.msu.edu
Office: (517)353-0740
Fax: (517)432-2736
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