For words ending in "-ity" is it ~t or ~d

Mon Jun 11 19:41:56 UTC 2007

Quoting Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>:

> Further, whether people use the tongue
> flap or "t" is variable depending on
> social and linguistic factors.

Right. and with such small numbers as these...

> >
> >        words   male    female
> > ~t      9       6       3
> > ~d      11      2       9
> >         20      8       12
> >

I can't imagine any meaningful conclusion is likely.

> I don't believe AmE speakers use a
> "d" sound in any of these words. They
> use a tongue flap, represented by an
> upside down "r" in IPA.

It's the rounded 'r' for the tap/flap isn't it? The upside down 'r' being the
alveolar approximant.

michael

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