Abstract
The standard lexical set face is generally defined as being those words which have the stressed vowel /eɪ/. Phonetically described, it is a narrow diphthong with a starting point which is half-close, front and unrounded in the standard RP accent, with the diphthong glide in the direction of [ɪ] (Wells 1982: 141). This vowel can occur in checked position, where the following consonant can be said to check the pulse of air for the syllable and its vowel, as in words such as tape /teɪp/, name/ neɪm/ and bacon /beɪkən/, as well as in free position, where the vowel occurs free of any checking consonant, as in words such as play /pleɪ/, weigh /weɪ/ and they /ðeɪ/.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2015 Susan Fox
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fox, S. (2015). The FACE Variable. In: The New Cockney. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137318251_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137318251_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-30140-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-31825-1
eBook Packages: Palgrave Language & Linguistics CollectionEducation (R0)