Regrettably, the embedded audio in the pdf for “General” American 102 ran on Adobe Flash, which ceased to be supported on December 31st, 2020, and so those clips will no longer play directly in the pdfs, as originally intended. All of the audio clips can now be found on this page.
LOOK → l ~ ɫ (light /l/ or dark /ɫ/)
RAIL → ɫ ~ ʟ̞ (dark /ɫ/ or ‘vocalized’ /l/)
look i feel the flashing claws SCGA4
look i feel the flashing claws SCGA2
rail father is mad as hell SCGA4
rail father is mad as hell SCGA2
helmet - will you walk north SCGA4
helmet - will you walk north SCGA2
The Tongue Tip
In a great many languages, and in a great many varieties of English, the tongue tip touches the upper teeth to articulate /t, d, n, l/ sounds. In SCGA, it touches the alveolar ridge—the gum ridge behind the upper teeth.
alveolars do you fear death SCGA2
alveolars two students planted big fir trees all around the zoo SCGA2
Here’s what the CLOTH/THOUGHT vowel might sound like in an unmerged accent:
SCGA4 cloththought1 what frosty land is this
SCGA2 cloththought1 what frosty land is this
SCGA4 cloththought2 four small sips of strong coffee
SCGA2 cloththought2 four small sips of strong coffee
SCGA4 cloththought3 her poor paw is hurt
SCGA2 cloththought3 her poor paw is hurt
SCGA4 cloththought4 will you walk north
SCGA2 cloththought4 will you walk north
commA → ə
comma slashed the cotton sofa apart SCGA4_01
comma slashed the cotton sofa apart SCGA2_01
OF .. WAS .. FROM → əv .. wəz .. fɹəm
weak how was its fate decided SCGA4
weak flocks of trembling sparrows SCGA2
weak whispers from the inky shadows SCGA4
weak fighting a fog of sudden nightmare visions
weak verse drama of old SCGA2
weak four small sips of strong coffee SCGA4