'popline' was Re: boom

[Gordon, Matthew J.]

Assuming what you're referring to is monophthongal [a] for diphthongal /ai/, which would make 'pipe' sound like 'pop,' then yes, this is typical for that part of Texas. Glide deletion before voiceless segments (like /p/) is less widespread than before voiced segments, which is common across the South, but Labov's Atlas of North American English found it in north central and west Texas (fr. DFW to Odessa and Lubbock).

Matt Gordon


On 6/8/10 9:20 AM, "Bill Palmer" <w_a_palmer at BELLSOUTH.NET> wrote:

...
On an oil-related note, the fire chief in Cleburne TX, being interviewed on
CNN yesterday concerning the well fire there, referred many times to the gas
that was coming from the "popline"...typical of W Tx?


Bill P

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