Sound system Vowels CLOTH

The speaker recorded for this project produces a very rounded [o] for this word. It is not entirely clear whether this represents a common pronunciation of this word in Gullah, or whether the speaker is mistaking this word for clothe or even clothes. As will be discussed on consonants, the final fricative in this word is produced as [s] rather than [θ]. This might be an indication that this word was mistaken for clothes or it might represent a phonological process in Gullah by which voiceless interdental fricatives are replaced by voiceless alveolar fricatives. The latter theory is supported by the fact that the same replacements are made in BATH and, variably, in NORTH. Turner describes [o] in Gullah as “slightly above cardinal” and “never diphthongized”. He also observes fully rounded lips for this sound in Gullah (1971: 126).