Date: Fri, 4 Mar 1994 23:15:16 -0700 From: Rudy Troike Subject: Re: local locality pronunciation Re the first vowel in : since there is no phonemic contrast in this position, one expects the exact position/tenseness (whatever you hear) in the vowel to vary, much as with /or/ for varieties that lack a hoarse: horse distinction. This is what phonemic theory (the old, maligned, taxo- nomic kind) predicts. Rudy Troike rtroike[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ccit.arizona.edu