<< I'm curious, though--in what Northern or Western States is mary/merry/mary unmerged? >>
I grew up in the Great Lakes, and I have always had the full merger. I don't recall ever hearing anyone unmerged in the Great Lakes, unless they were originally from the Northeast. For example, my father moved to Chicago from New York when he was 13 or 14, and completely resisted the merger.
I grew up in the Great Lakes, and I have always had the full merger. I don't recall ever hearing anyone unmerged in the Great Lakes, unless they were originally from the Northeast. For example, my father moved to Chicago from New York when he was 13 or 14, and completely resisted the merger.