Re: USAGE: pronouncing "l", "needs washed"

Nik Taylor
> And Rosta wrote:
> > (b) /wAlk/, /tAlk/ - totally new to me & I can't imagine
> > how/where/when they could have originated.
>
> From the collapse of /O/ and /A/ in many American dialects.
I cannot see why that should have led to the restoration of
/l/. The pronunciations /wAk/ and /tAk/ aren't new to me; only
ones with /l/ in.

I wonder if it's something to do with a slight velar glide
occurring in the transition from [A] to [k], and this being
analysed as a realization of /l/, reinforced by it being
there in the spelling.

--And.