Diphthongs

MOUTH

Although the lead variant of MOUTH,[aʊ], can be found practically all around the globe and predominates in the vast majority of countries and regions, a wide range of alternative realizations are also possible. Raised and back onsets, e.g. [Λu/ɔʊ], are characteristic of a few varieties in fairly diverse parts of the world (e.g. Scotland, BrC, ChcE, T&TC, Liberia, and BlSAfE) and occur in others as well. Central schwa onsets characterize the North of England, Scotland and Wales, and can be found under specific conditions (e.g. only before voiceless consonants, as in “Canadian Raising”) in some North American varieties as well, but not elsewhere. Fronting is also scattered fairly widely (regular in East Anglia, BrC, AusE and NZE, SAmE, BahE, CamE, and CFE, and possible also in a few more British and American varieties). Monophthongization to [a:] is a possibility in northern England, a relatively small region in the eastern US, and CajE, as well as some forms of West and East African English and Australian contact varieties. A high back [o:] monophthong is reported as the main variant of the dialect of the Shetlands and Orkneys and the SurCs, very rarely from elsewhere.