Phonetic Transcriptions: RP vs Basilectal NEA

1. bomb

RP: /ˈbɒm/ Basilectal NEA: /ˈbɔm/

2. soften

RP: /ˈsɒf.tən/ Basilectal NEA: /ˈsɔf.tɛn/

3. song

RP: /ˈsɒŋ/ Basilectal NEA: /ˈsɔŋ/

4. never

RP: /ˈnev.ə/ Basilectal NEA: /ˈnɛv.a/

5. Moses

RP: /ˈməʊ.zɪz/ Basilectal NEA: /ˈmo.sɛs/

Key Differences Observed:

Vowel Systems:

• RP /ɒ/ → NEA /ɔ/: The RP short 'o' sound becomes a more open /ɔ/ in NEA
• RP /ə/ → NEA /a/ or /ɛ/: The schwa in unstressed syllables is often realized as full vowels in NEA
• RP /ɪ/ → NEA /ɛ/: The near-close front vowel becomes mid-front in NEA
• RP /əʊ/ → NEA /o/: The diphthong becomes a monophthong

Consonant Patterns:

• Final consonant clusters: NEA tends to simplify or modify final clusters
• Fricative /z/ → /s/: In "Moses," the voiced fricative becomes voiceless

Stress Patterns:

• Primary stress placement remains consistent between both varieties for these words
• NEA tends to maintain full vowel quality in unstressed syllables rather than reducing to schwa