California research

[Your Name]

I hear /i/ in words like "fish" in older Californians.  My father, who is 78,
does it.  Similarly, that /e/ in "fresh" and "measure" is heard in the speech
of older Californians.  My great aunt does that.  I'd say that the first is
more common.
I have not heard /I/ in that second group; /e/ only.

Although I didn't test for /E/ before the velar nasal, I can say with
confidence that "strIngth" and "lIngth" are common in all age groups around
here.

Allyn