Re: USAGE: Shaw alphabet (was Re: USAGE: Con-graphies)

From: caeruleancentaur
"For me, "dance" has the same vowel sound as is found in ant, aunt, answer,
pants, rancid, etc.  It seems to be a more closed sound. Does anyone know
what I am talking about?
Charlie"

Charlie,
Maybe it's closer before a nasal? Just a guess.
I'm a speaker of Northern UK English and I, too, have got the same vowel in
<dance, ant, aunt, answer, pants, rancid>, though for me it's [a] and not
[&].
My southern compatriots have usually got [A:] in <aunt, dance, answer>.

Dan