American English Phonetics

Another American English Faculty Project

9.4.4 Summary

Here is a brief survey of the various realizations of ambisyllabic /t,d/.

  1. Flapping of ambisyllabic /t,d/:
    • Realization: [ɾ], i.e. a rapidly pronounced [d]
    • Condition: after vowels (or vowel plus /r/).
    • Examples:

Via WSP

liter                  leader              see you tomorrow

metal               medal              go to Paris

hurtle               hurdle              too far to walk

Via Liaison

right on           ride on

heart attack     hard attack

hit it                 hid it

  1. Voicing of ambisyllabic /t/
    • Realization: [d]
    • Condition: after /n/ in reduced syllables; or after /l/; or /t/ in to after any voiced consonant
    • Examples

Via WSP

talented           they seem to think

certainty          it’s wrong to say

altogether        all together

penalty             live together

Via liaison

the moment is

the treatment of

built up

  1. Elision of ambisyllabic /t/
    • Realization: [n], or [ɾ]
    • Condition: after /n/ in strong syllable
    • Examples

Via WSP

winter

fantasy

mental

Via Liaison

she went on

I can’t afford it

In front of