Unstressed /p/, /k/, and /t/

Marky   Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:29 am GMT
Do the consonants /p/, /k/, and /t/ are aspirated when they're unstressed? Like the words "potential", "complete", and "after".
Entbark   Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:57 am GMT
In "potential," both the p and t are aspirated. In "complete," both the c and p are aspirated. In "after," the t is not aspirated in American English because it is actually a flap. These stops are generally aspirated at the beginning of syllables, even if unstressed.