Consonants L

According to BCDP, L typically appears to be dark. Mathisen (1999: 111) notes that L is frequently dark in all positions for males, but usually clear for females, with some L-vocalisation among younger speakers. Note Mathisen’s (1999: 108) datum for Sandwell:  fold.

There is written evidence for medial preconsonantal L-vocalisation or loss in Bm <mawkin> malkin ‘scarecrow’ (from pet-name for Matilda); Bm/BC <fode> fold ‘backyard’, <ode> old; BC <tode> told, <code> cold, <sode> sold, <onny> any, <bawk> ba(u)lk.