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The Wikipedia page lists six stages of the Northern Cities Vowel Shift, with the following results:
1. cat: [k{t] becomes [ke@t] or [kI@t]
2. cot: [kAt] becomes [kat]
3. caught: [kOt] or [kQt] becomes [kAt]
4. ket: [kEt] becomes [k@t]
5. cut: [kVt] becomes [kOt]
Also the vowel in 'kit' is backed. I don't think I've ever heard anyone with all six stages. Which ones occur in what areas? Are they more advanced in younger speakers? What about social status?
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I'm from Michigan and I have the first three stages, i.e.
"cat" [ke@t]
"cot" [kat]
"caught" [kAt]
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I ordered a sandwich at a cafeteria in Buffalo, NY a few days ago. The lady behind the counter asked me [anw@t]. I was sure the question had been "And what?" and I replied "Just the sandwich, please". She asked again a couple of times before I realized she was saying "On what?".
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Note that the NCVS actually varies from dialect to dialect with it, and has not necessarily taken the form that Wikipedia says it takes. For instance, in my dialect I have:
"cat" : [k_hE{?], [k_he{?], or sporadically [k_hE@?]
"cot" : [k_ha?]
"caught" : [k_hQ?], or sporadically [k_hA?]
"ket" : [k_hE_"?]
"cut" : [k_hV?] (note that this is not rounded at all *but* it is fully backed, unlike what is often transcribed as [V] for NAE dialects), or in more careful speech [k_h7?] (also note that this is fully backed)
"kit" : [k_hI_"?]
You could say that I have all the stages, but most of them are not complete degree-wise. Of all the changes, the one for me which is the most complete is [A] -> [a], which only does not occur when r-coloring (sporadically) or l-coloring is present (in any register) or occasionally in very careful speech. The raising and diphthongization of [{] is pervasive, but in more careful speech it can be quite weak. Also, the centralization of [E] and [I] are pervasive, but they are not complete in the sense of shifting [E] to [3] or [@].
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<<cut" : [k_hV?] (note that this is not rounded at all *but* it is fully backed, unlike what is often transcribed as [V] for NAE dialects)>>
Yes, I've noticed that the /V/ in 'cut' for example, is for me much closer to [6] or [@] than [V]. I think this is the most common pronunciation outside of the Carribean and Scotland (perhaps Northern England as well). I really have no distinction between /V/ and /@/; it's just a matter of stress.
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