In this section we give representative examples of spellings for each of the GA vowel phonemes. In a number of cases, exceptional spellings are noted. Regularities are given as rules.
/ɪ/ Examples of spellings that represent the vowel /ɪ/
lip – /lɪp/
guild – /gɪld/
manage – /ˈmænɪd͡ʒ/
Exceptional spellings with e
pretty – /ˈprɪt̬i/
England – /ˈɪŋglənd/
Exceptional spellings with u
busy – /ˈbɪzi/
business – /ˈbɪznɪs/
Exceptional spellings with o
women – /ˈwɪmən/
/ɛ/ Examples of spellings that represent the vowel /ɛ/
bed – /bɛd/
bread – /brɛd/
lever – /ˈlɛvər/
Exceptional spellings with a
any – /ˈɛni/
many – /ˈmɛni/
Thames – /ˈtɛmz/
Exceptional spellings with ay, ai
says – /sɛz/
said – /sɛd/
again – /əˈgɛn/
/æ/ Examples of spellings that represent the vowel /æ/
land – /lænd/
swam – /swæm/
quack – /kwæk/
laugh – /læf/
bath – /bæθ/
aunt – /ænt/
dance – /dæns/
command – /kəˈmænd/
Exceptional spellings with ai
plaid – /plæd/
Rule: In GA, though not in all varieties of American English, /æ/ does not occur before /r/. That is, marry = merry = Mary: /ˈmɛri/.
/ʌ/ Examples of spellings that represent the vowel /ʌ/
nut /nʌt/
color – /ˈkʌlər
son – /sʌn/
(m)other – /(ˈm)ʌðər/
one -/wʌn/
dove – /dʌv/
country – /ˈkʌntri/
Exceptional spellings with oo
blood – /blʌd/
flood – /flʌd/
Rule: /ʌ/ does not occur before /r/: hurry /ˈhɜri/, worry /ˈwɜri/, thorough /ˈθɜroʊ/.
/ʊ/ Examples of spellings that represent the vowel /ʊ/
put – /pʊt/
bull – /bʊl/
sugar – /ˈʃʊgər/
bosom – /ˈbʊzəm/
wolf – /wʊlf/
woman /ˈwʊmən/
foot – /fʊt/
Rule: The spelling oo only represents /ʊ/ in: foot, good, hood (also the suffix), soot (roet), stood, wood, wool and in all words spelled –ook such as cook, took, except spook (AmE for ghost) and snooker (BrE biljartspel), which have /u:/.
