The schwa is a very common vowel in unstressed syllables of English. In a number of words, the use of the schwa is not obligatory. It is used by certain speakers but not by others.
In words such as fellow, potato, tomato, window and yellow, most speakers use a diphthong in the final syllable, which consists of a mid round back tense vowel and a high back round lax vowel. It can also consist of just a mid round back tense vowel. However, the final vowel can also be reduced to a schwa. The use of the schwa is not standard pronunciation, but nevertheless, it does occur.
The name Missouri, a state in the midwestern United States, can be pronounced with a word-final schwa. However, outside of Missouri, the most common pronunciation of the final syllable is with a high front unrounded vowel. In Missouri, the pronunciation of the schwa is most common in the western part of the state.
In the words program and restaurant, most speakers use a low vowel in the final syllable of each word. The word program has a low front vowel, and restaurant has a low back vowel. However, the vowel of the final syllable can be reduced to a schwa, but, it is not considered standard pronunciation.
The nouns candidate and delegate are examples of free variation. Many speakers pronounce them with the diphthong of eight, but many speakers also produce a schwa in the final syllable. For those speakers who do, the words rhyme with carrot. However, the verb delegate is never pronounced with the schwa in the final syllable.
Many English words can be pronounced in more than one way. In words such as potato and program, the use of the schwa in the final syllable is not considered standard. However, in words such as candidate and delegate, the use of the schwa and of the diphthong are both common and thus considered standard.
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