Vowels

While the phonological inventory of standard NfldE displays the same number of phonemes as do standard North American varieties, their phonetic realization is by no means identical, particularly with respect to vowels. The NfldE low vowel associated with the LOT/CLOTH/THOUGHT classes is typically articulated in the low central area of vowel space, that is, as considerably more fronted than the usual mainland Canadian realizations of [ɑ] or [ɒ] . The low-mid /æ/ vowel, as in TRAP, is also usually more fronted in NfldE than in the Canadian norm; the same fronted /æ/ may occur in the START set. The phenomenon of “Canadian Raising - that is, the use of a mid rather than low vowel onset in the diphthongs /aɪ/ and /aɪ/ before a tautosyllabic voiceless obstruent – is often not in evidence among speakers of NfldE; this is particularly true for the MOUTH set. Rather, many Newfoundlanders use a somewhat raised mid-open vowel, in the range of [ɐ/ə/Λ​], in all items of the PRICE/PRIZE and MOUTH/LOUD classes - that is, irrespective of following linguistic environment. Many speakers, as well, display a reduced system of vowel contrasts before /r/ in their casual styles, the result of a tendency towards merger of the NEAR/SQUARE sets, as well as of the NORTH/FORCE/CURE sets. Table 1 provides a summary of principal variants.