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

[Paul Johnston]

Yes, we American English speakers do use tongue flaps, Tom.  A [d]
would have longer duration, for one--there's no way you can make a
consonant of such short duration without a ballistic movement of the
tongue--and that is a tap/flap.  I correct my students on this all
the time.

Paul Johnston
On Jun 12, 2007, at 10:09 AM, Tom Zurinskas wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Tom Zurinskas <truespel at HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: For words ending in "-ity" is it ~t or ~d
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> ---------
>
> M-w.com lets us use our own ears.  In m-w.com “pretty” and “city” are
> pronounced (as I hear them) ~pridee ~sidee.  I believe that is very
> typical.
>   But m-w.com says they are pronounced in their notation 'pri-tE
> 'si-tE.
> There is a disconnect.  I would say the speaker has it right in
> terms of
> usual USA dialect.  (Not to find fault with m-w.com, which is an
> awesome
> free resource).
>
> So is it really a ~d or something else?  Try listening to “steady
> city”,
> “muddy city”.  Both are ~d as I hear them.  The tongue is making
> the same
> moves for the “d” as the “t”.  No tongue flaps.  Just a ~d.
> English-only-speaking Americans don't even use tongue flaps, and
> this is an
> American speaker.
>
> Tom Zurinskas, USA - CT20, TN3, NJ33, FL5+
> See truespel.com - and the 4  truespel books plus "Occasional
> Poems" at
> authorhouse.com.
>
>
>> From: Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
>> Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>> Subject: Re: For words ending in "-ity" is it ~t or ~d
>> Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:27:38 -0700
>>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
>> Subject:      Re: For words ending in "-ity" is it ~t or ~d
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------
>>
>> It is NOT a "Spanish flap kind of d". It is an AmE sound, which
>> untrained Americans often hear as a "d" sound. Earlier,
>> suggestions were
>> made that you take some basic courses in linguistics. Here is another
>> great case where such classes would be of service. BB
>>
>> Tom Zurinskas wrote:
>>> Note: I hear a true ~d and not a "Spanish r flap kind of d".
>>>
>>
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>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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