9.4.1 Flapping and other rules
In words like winter, center, Atlantic, in which ambisyllabic /t/ follows /n/, a number of rules can apply:
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- Flapping can apply after (nasalization and) nasal deletion. GA /wɪntər/ becomes [wɪ᷈tər], and, because ambisyllabic /t/ is now between vowels, then becomes [wɪ᷈ɾər].
- t/d-deletion may apply to produce [wɪ᷈nər]. In practice, because the nasalization is likely to be maintained during the flap, the members of pairs like winter – winner will tend to be homophonous in unguarded speech.
Notice also in this connection that the following two utterances are distinct because of the /æ/ – /ə/ opposition in can’t – can:
you can’t eat it – [jəkæ᷈ɾiːɾɪt] |
you can eat it – [jəkən iːɾɪ] |
However, the following two sentences would be (near-)homophonous.
But you can’t eat it! – [bətʃəˈkæ᷈ɾiːɾɪt] |
But you can eat it! – [bətʃəˈkæ᷈n iːɾɪt] |
