Vowels GOAT

According to the BCDP data, typically . Before /l/, there is a tendency for onset lowering (e.g. GOAL ). It is possible that some speakers, particularly in the Black Country, may retain a lack of distinction between NOSE and KNOWS, although according to Wells (1982: 357), the long mid mergers were generally carried through in the Midlands (typical realizations being  ). Hughes and Trudgill (1996: 55) have WM , while Mathisen (1999: 109) has  for Sandwell.

Painter (1963: 30) has BC , realized as , with sporadic , as well as sporadic  or (rare) , while Chinn and Thorne (2001: 22) maintain that Bm speakers’ realization here is typically “something similar to ‘ow’” (), e.g. in do, mood, rude, group, flew, shoe, juice, blue.

There is some evidence (mostly written, some audio) for lack of a NOSE/KNOWS merger, in the form of -type vowels at least in forms of the verb go (e.g. Bm <goo/a-gooin’/gu/gin’/guz> ), as well as <’um/um> home, <wunnarf> won’t half, <dun’t> don’t. Chinn and Thorne (2001: 160) claim that the feature also occurs in home in Worcestershire and Black Country, although in the latter case <wum> is said to be more frequent.

In fact, the written material may provide evidence for lack of NOSE/KNOWS merger: words especially with StE <oCe> may be respelt as follows (suggesting something like ):

There is also some written evidence for variable -type realizations in Bm/ BC <grawt>/<grort>  groat(s) (cf. <grawty/grorty dick>, but also <grawty/ greaty puding ).

Heath (1980: 87) has  for Cannock.