ran and rang

Guest   Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:13 pm GMT
According to a dictionary, "ran" an "rang" should have the same vowel sound, but they most definitely do not when I pronounce them. "Rang" has the same vowel as "rain".

I can't even pronounce "rang" with the same vowel as "ran".
Guest   Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:22 pm GMT
I pronounce it the same way. Are you from California?
I can pronounce "rang" with the same vowel as "ran", but it feels a little weird.
guest   Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:41 pm GMT
I too pronounce "rang" as /re:[i]ng/ (same sound as in 'rain'), but I see where my pronunciation comes from--from an earlier /æ/ sound in "ran" (i.e. /ræ:ng/).

I think it comes from lengthening of the vowel befor -ng, -nk, etc. same as in "thing" or "think" where the /I/ is lengthened to /i:/
Travis   Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:52 pm GMT
I likewise do not rhyme "ran" and "rang", having [ˈʁɛ̯̃æ̃ːn] for "ran" and [ˈʁẽ̞ːŋ] for "rang". As stated before, this is due to the raising of certain front vowels, most commonly historical /æ/ and /ɛ/, before /ŋ/.
Guest   Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:51 pm GMT
<<I pronounce it the same way. Are you from California?
I can pronounce "rang" with the same vowel as "ran", but it feels a little weird. >>

No, I'm from Western Pennsylvania and I have a hard time saying "rang" with the "ran" vowel.