try /trai/,
drink /drink/,
shry /Jrai/,
three /0n:/,
misery /mizri/ etc.
The retroflex GA consonant is usually indicated by the
symbol /з7. The degree of retroflexion varies. In some cases the
tongue for /г/ is merely raised towards the teethridge, in others it
is merely retracted and laterally contacted but the acoustic effect
is strikingly similar. If the tongue position is fixed in the starting
position for the /г/ in rate and voice uttered, the vowel /3/ in
hurt /hr3t/ is made. Hence, combinations of r - any vowel form rising
diphthongs exactly as do /w/ and /j/1.
Many speakers of GA use the slightly dark /1/ before vow
els and darker one in the other positions, while in the Southern
1 J. S. Kenyon. American Pronunciation. Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1962, p. 161. - 6 4-
type o f A m erican English a soft /1/ is used in nearly all positions: