“Long” vowels

PALM, START

The vowel of PALM and START is a low back [a] in practically all North American dialects. A low front [a] in these lexical types is reported as the main variant in Jam (C and E), T&T (in all lects), Baj, SurC, ChcE and Gullah (primarily in START), and NEngE in PALM, variably also for NEngE in START, InlNE and NfldE in both types, CanE in PALM, and CajE in START. An offglide in PALM, e.g. [ɑə/ɒə] , is possible in NYCE, CanE and AAVE; in START, this is common in PhilE and NYCE and possible in the South. Fronting and raising to a realization close to [æ] may occur in NfldE.