Grey dots in the cot-caught merger map.

Guest   Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:24 pm GMT
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/phono_atlas/maps/Map1.html

In this map, there are grey dots in various places. What do the grey dots mean? Does that mean that people in those areas just pronounce "cot" and "caught" the same or differently according to will?
Sarcastic Northwesterner   Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:40 pm GMT
Cyan: invariant distinction in production and perception
Red: invariant merger in production and perception
Grey: Variable

But remember, not all the people surveyed were natives of those areas. For example, there are grey dots in the Northwest, but I've never in my whole life heard a native Northwesterner pronounce them differently--even 80 and 90 year olds, unless they had lived in other areas for a long time.
Guest   Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:44 pm GMT
I'm actually from one of the areas dominated by grey dots and I've always pronounced them the same.
Josh Lalonde   Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:37 pm GMT
Bump!
Josh Lalonde   Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:39 pm GMT
That is also not me.