“Short” vowels

STRUT

Realizations of the STRUT vowel are highly variable. In North American dialects (but also Baj), it is typically a relatively back, unrounded and slightly raised [Λ] (exclusively in NEngE, CanE and CajE) or a more central [ɐ] or [ə] (predominantly in SAmE). A backed realization of this vowel, roughly as [ɔ], characterizes the Caribbean (SurC, JamE/C, TobC, BahE, Eastern Caribbean islands, also T&TC) and Gullah and can also be found in NEngE and, as part of the “Northern Cities Shift”, InlNE. Except for traces in ChcE and possibly as a recent innovation in PhilE, raising of this vowel to [ʊ] (or [u] in PhilE) is not normally heard in America. A rounded realization,  , is a regional variant within NfldE.