Michelle Obama's anticipatory retroflexion

[Michael Covarrubias]

David Durian has looked at the spread of this feature in Columbus OH.


http://repository.upenn.edu/pwpl/vol13/iss2/6/

Herb Stahlke wrote:
> I noticed stronger and more consistent anticipatory retroflex
> assimilation in Michelle Obama's speech tonight that I've heard
> anywhere before.  All cases I noticed of initial /str/ clusters
> retroflexed the /s/.  In at least one case I heard "was strengthened"
> with retroflexion extending to the lenis alveolar fricative of "was."
> ...
> Herb
>

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