> [mailto:CONLANG@listserv.brown.edu] On Behalf Of Paul Kershaw
> > From: "phil@PHILLIPDRISCOLL.COM" <phil@...>
> When I was
> > a teenager around 1970, I noticed that everyone here in
> southeastern
> > Michigan pronounced
> ...
> > switched to ['aiDr=]. In fact, I can't remember the last
> time I heard
> > someone else say ['iDr=].
> > But I don't know any teenagers around here. I wonder how
> they say it.
> > --Ph. D.
>
> I'm 40, live in Oakland County (that's southeastern
> Michigan), have lived in Michigan all but my first 18 months,
> and not only do I say EE-ther, but I interpret AYE-ther as
> rather pretentious. I can't remember the last time a local
> said AYE-ther, although I'd expect it's more common in the
> Ann Arbor area... is that where you are?
45, originally from Southern California. Same thing here. It's always been
/iD@r/ with /aID@r/ generally only used by snobby types.
> Also in free variation: Pronouncing the "t" in "often." I
> don't, and it makes me wince. :)
I do pronounce the it with a /t/ though it's subject to be be lost in sloppy
speech).
The annoying one for me is "else" pronounced [Elts].