Phonotactic features

Gradation

In RP unaccented words show reductions of length of sounds and obscurations of vowels – e.g. do has the strong form [du:] and the weak equivalent [də]; but has [bΛt] and [bət]. In MalE such gradation is not common. The definite and indefinite articles the and a, as well as the preposition of and the conjunction and, are sometimes reduced in connected informal speech, although the frequency of such gradation is considerably low.