Bay Islands English

Bay Islands English is generally rhotic. Although /r/ is always pronounced in words containing the NURSE vowel, it is occasionally absent before a consonant among some speakers.[3]

Bay Islands English has poor distinction between the sounds [v] and [w]. The two sounds are often merged with each other (and sometimes, [b], resulting in a three-way merger) or substituted in opposing positions. Graham (1997) cites the influence of the Twi language, which lacks /v/ in its phoneme inventory, and other West African languages with the same feature as a likely cause for this.[3] A similar process also occurs in Bermudian, Bahamian, Saban, Vincentian, and other Caribbean Englishes. However, it is also possible for these sounds ([w] and [β]) to be realized as variants of a single phoneme. Warantz (1983) also claims that [w] occurs categorically before /a/, /ʌ/, and /ə/ and variably with [β] in all other environments. However, the phonemic contrast in Bay Island English is generally neutralized in all environments, with possible realizations including [w], [v], [β], [ɥ], [ʋ], [b], and [ɞ]. Graham (1997) has judged [w◌̥][note 1] as the most common realization, and the usual realization of /v/ post-vocally. A word-final /v/ (as in have, live or love) is often raised through the influence of the following element, thus causing it to be realized as either [w◌̥][note 1] or a vowel with a [ɞ]-like quality. This results in intervocal sequences such as [ɐw◌̥],[note 1] [ɛw◌̥],[note 1] and [ɵw◌̥].[note 1] [w] can occur before both front and non-front values, and it is only unlikely to occur before [i] and [e]. [ɥ] can only occur before [i] and [ɪ]. [β] occurs before [ɪ], [e], and [ɛ]. [v] occurs in the same positions as in Standard English, but never where SE has [w]. Whenever [v] occurs intervocally or as the first element of a consonant cluster, it may be dropped altogether. This results in pronunciations such as [nɒ:r] (never), [hʌn] (having) and [pe:d] (paved). [b] is found sporadically among creole-influenced speakers.[3]

• Graham, Ross (1997). Bay Islands English: Linguistic Contact and Convergence in the Western Caribbean. University of Florida.
• Graham, Ross (2010). "Honduras/Bay Islands English". The Lesser-Known Varieties of English: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. pp. 92–135. ISBN 978-1-139-48741-2.
• Holm, John (1983). "The Bay Islands English of Honduras". Central American English. Heidelberg: J. Groos. pp. 71–94. ISBN 9783872762955.
• Warantz, Elissa (1983). "The Bay Islands English of Honduras". In Holm, John A. (ed.). Central American English. Heidelberg: Julius Groos Verlag. pp. 71–94. ISBN 3-87276-295-8.