Keywords

per-lateral mergers, MARY–MERRY–MARRY merger variation, high-back vowel merger patterns

Abstract

MARY-MERRY-MARRY historically variable, but likely merged today

Status of pre-lateral mergers is unknown, though impressionistically less clear cut

Hypothesis 1: complete MARY-MERRY-MARRY merger

Not only distinct, but unusual pattern of MARY being the different one

Hypothesis 2: separation of POOL, PULL, POLE, and PULP

PULL-POLE most merged, and POOL becoming less distinct in apparent time

Vowel mergers are indeed v[ɛ]ry v[e]ried in the Pacific Northwest

Not all of the Pacific Northwest is the same (urban/rural divide)
Don’t make assumptions about a community’s speech

Original Publication Citation

Joseph A. Stanley. “V[ɛ]ry v[e]ried vowel mergers in the Pacific Northwest.” Diversity and Variation in Language (DiVar 1). Atlanta, GA. February 10–11, 2017.