Regional characteristics of Australian English: phonology Conclusion

On the whole, the regional differences in Australian English phonology are small, but growing. Some have started to come to the notice of more language-aware members of the speech community, but curiously continue to be denied by most Australian linguists. As is usual in many varieties of English, these differences reside mainly in the vowel system. Like many other non-rhotic varieties of English, some changes involve the vowels affected by that deconstriction and the rear-rangements of the system which result, as in the case of TRAP/PALM and so on. Some current changes in progress revolve around the next wave of vowel shifts found in many varieties of English, those associated with postvocalic laterals: vocalization and/or changes in preceding vowels.