Vowels.

1. since SE is rhotic, i.e. it preserves post – vocalic [r], vowels such as RP [I], [з:], [e], [u] do not occur: beer [bi] – [bir]; bird [bз:d] – [bird]; bard [ba:d] – [ba:rd];

2. length is not a distinctive feature of Scottish vowels. Vowels are longer in final stressed syllables than elsewhere;

3. monophthongs are pure, there is no trace of diphthongization with the exception of [ai – ei], [au – eu] and [oi];

4. the RP [ æ - a: (a)] distinction doesn’t exist: hat [hat], dance [da:ns];

5. [I, u, Λ, ∂] may be central;

6. in non – standard SE accent [u:] often occurs when RP has [au]: house [haus – hu:s];

7. [o] and [ou] nay be not contrasted: socks, soaks [soks], not, note [not];

8. in very many regional accents “do, to” are pronounced as [d∂, t∂];

9. in some accents words like “arm, after, grass” may have [e] rather than [a:]: after [‘eft∂].

CONSONANTS.

1. SE consistently preserves a distinction between [м] and [w]: which [мit∫], witch [wit∫];

2. initial [p, t, k] are usually non – aspirated;

3. [r] is most usually a flap;

4. non – initial [t] is often realized as glottal stop;

5. [l] is dark in all positions;

6. the velar [x] occurs in a number of words: loch [lox];

7. –ing is [in];

8. [h] is present;

9. a specific Scottish feature is the pronunciation of [Θr] as [∫r]: through [∫ru:].

NORTHERN IRELAND ENGLISH.

Eng. pronunciation standards in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Eire are different. The explanation lies in history. In the Middle Ages almost the whole of Ireland was Irish speaking. Nowadays native speakers of Irish are few in number and are confined to rural areas even though Irish is the official lge of Ireland and is taught in schools. The Eng. lge in Southern Ireland was originally introduced from the West and West Midlands of England and still shows signs of this today. This kind of Eng. has spread to cover most of the Irish Republic. Naturally the pronunciation of these areas retains features of western parts of England. The Eng. of northern parts of the island with its centre in Belfast has its roots in Scotland, as large numbers of settlers came to this part from the south – west of Scotland from the 16^th c. onwards. Eng. in Northern Ireland is not homogeneous. Areas of the far north are heavily Scots – influenced. Other parts are marked by less heavily Scots – influenced varieties of Eng. It is obvious that the lge distinction is not coterminous with the political division of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as some areas of the Republic (Donegal) speak NIE, while some of the northern provinces speak Southern IE.

Vowels.

The vowel system is similar to that of Scottish accents, postvocalic retroflex frictionless sonorant [r] being used as in Scotland: [I] – pit [pit], bird [bird], city [‘siti], fern [fern], fur [fir]; [I:] – bee [bi:], beer [bi:r], seedy [‘si:di:]; [e] – pet [pet]; [ei] – bay [be], bear [ber], plate [plet]; [Λ] – but [bΛt]; [a] – pat [pat], bard [bard],hat [hat], dance [dans]; [u] – put [put], boot [but], pool [pul], poor [pur]; [o] – boat [bot], board [bord], pole [pol], pour [por]; [o:] – paw [po:], doll [do:l], pause [po:z]; [o] – cot [kot]; [ai] – buy [bai], tide [taid]; [au] – bout [baut]; [oi] – boy [boi].

The actual realization of a vowel may vary considerably acc. to the following phoneme:

1. in words like “bay, say” the vowel is a monophthong [e]. pre – consonontally it hthong of the type [e∂-I∂]: gate [gi∂t];

2. [I, u] are frequently central;

3. [o:] and [o] contrast only before [p, t, k];

4. [ai, au] are very variable;

5. realization of [a:] may vary considerably.

CONSONANTS.

1. [l] is mainly clear;

2. intervocalic [t] is often a voiced flap [d]: city [‘sidi];

3. between vowels [δ] may be lost: mother [‘mo:∂r];

4. [h] is present.

AMERICAN ENGLISH.