It was recently pointed out to me that I pronounce “any” ( and the related anything, anymore, etc.) as /ˈɪn.i/ instead of /ɛn.i/. Does anyone know a regional variation of American English that has this /ɛ/ to /ɪ/ shift here?
2
-
4en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin-pen_merger– NardogNov 19, 2019 at 8:15
-
Variation in vowels is correlated not only with regional speech, but also with socioeconomic status and political views. There's more involved than where you live.– jlawlerNov 19, 2019 at 17:17
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
There is the pen/pin merger in the South and Northern Ohio. But that doesn't necessarily explain your observation. I also pronounce "any" and "innie" the same, but I'm from Seattle and don't have that particular merger at all. You should consider other similar examples: many / mini (the former has ɛ/ɪ in free variation). For me the change only involves two words, not for example Benny, penny, Denny, Henny, Jenny, Kenny, Lenny (okay, there is a name-forming pattern underlying most of these), nor semi-, demi-, hemi-.
-
Interesting, I also live in Western Washington and have an intermediate articulation in “many”, but don’t have the pin/pen merger. As far as I can tell, this isn’t a documented feature in “Pacific Northwest” or Western American English. Looks like my friends will be having to put up with some informal surveys.– AndrewNov 19, 2019 at 18:44