Rhythm

The use of full vowels in unstressed syllables in New Zealand English has been noted for some time. It affects both weak monosyllabic words – mainly function words – and weak syllables in polysyllabic words. A number of reasons can be conjectured for some of these full vowel forms. One is the unclear distinction between commA and horsES, meaning that contrasts which in other varieties may be dependent on this (e.g. affect vs. effect) are realized differently – if at all – in New Zealand English. Another is spelling pronunciation, possibly accounting for a full vowel in the first syllable of botanical and placate, for instance. A third factor involves the rhythm of New Zealand English, which has been claimed to be more syllable-timed than in other varieties. This tendency towards syllable-timing (which is not nearly as marked as for some varieties such as Singapore English) is reflected in the equalization of stressed and unstressed syllables (full vowels for reduced, long vowels for short), as well as in overall timing structures. Contact with the Maori language, with its mora-based timing, could have contributed to the rhythmic pattern of New Zealand English.