>I wonder where the isogloss is. Coming from SE Michigan, I have /O/ only >before /r,/ and /I/, that is, only in diphthongs. And I don't have /o/ >before either. I'm from SE Michigan too. "Oral" sounds the same as "aural". "Coral" sounds the same as "choral". "Horse" sounds the same as "hoarse". All have what I'd call /O/. -- Doug Wilson