<<What about words with the /l/ at the end, such as "hull"? Is that the same as "hole"?>>
JHJ, these mergers that I have don't seem to affect words with /l/ at the end of the word or before a vowel. Here's how I pronounce these words:
''hall'' : /ho:l/
''hole'' : /h@}l/
''Hollywood'' : /hOliwUd/
''hull'' : /h6l/
It only affects words with /o:l/, /@}l/, /Ol/ or /6l/ followed by a consonant. Also ''called'' and ''cold'' remain distinct for me as /ko:ld/ and /k@}ld/, because ''called'' has two morphemes.
JHJ, these mergers that I have don't seem to affect words with /l/ at the end of the word or before a vowel. Here's how I pronounce these words:
''hall'' : /ho:l/
''hole'' : /h@}l/
''Hollywood'' : /hOliwUd/
''hull'' : /h6l/
It only affects words with /o:l/, /@}l/, /Ol/ or /6l/ followed by a consonant. Also ''called'' and ''cold'' remain distinct for me as /ko:ld/ and /k@}ld/, because ''called'' has two morphemes.