back to the dialects of NJ

[Dale Coye]

ARnold wrote: some sort of glottal(ized) variant of /t/ before syllabic /n/ is all
over the u.s.  now we're starting to collect impressions that in some
localities there's something unique about the particular variant used
in that locality.  (or possibly about the syllable with the /n/.  or
something.)  facts, i want facts!

To be more specific about what I was referring to in the Trenton area--I have only my impressions from asking students who do this where they're from--in words like "written, Trenton" is a "real" glottal stop--like the Cockney in "letter" with no tongue contact anywhere.  The more usual US reflex of this /t/ before syllabic /n/ has a nasal release, with the tongue tip in its usual alveolar position--someone please correct me if I'm wrong.  There may be an accompanying glottal stop.

Dale Coye
The College of NJ outside /'trE ? n/