Boeing-bowling merger?

Lee   Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:08 am GMT
There is little or no difference in pronunciation between my "Boeing" and "bowling", both tend to be [bo:UIN]. I may sometimes make a distinction, but not usually.
Skippy   Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:11 am GMT
I pronounce the /l/ in bowling... Boeing and bowling are definitely distinct for me.
Travis   Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:19 am GMT
In everyday speech "Boeing" is ["bo:I~:N] while "bowling" is ["bo:UI~:N]. They sound similar but are not truly merged due to the historical shift oU > o here.
Reggo   Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:08 am GMT
"Boeing" [b7UiN] and "bowling" [bo5iN] are certainly distinct for me.
Lazar   Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:12 am GMT
I have "Boeing" ["b7U.IN] and "bowling" ["boU5.IN], demonstrating pre-/l/ allophony similar to Reggo's, so the two are very distinct for me.
Sarcastic Northwesterner   Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:06 am GMT
Boeing is most properly pronounced [bowin]

Bowling is [bolin]