Vowels of Boston English

The English of Boston is one of the well-known varieties of American English. The vowels of Boston English are different from those of many American varieties of English. Though Boston is not so far from New York, the vowels are quite different. 

Unlike in New York, Boston has the cot-caught merger. The result is that the words cot and caught are pronounced the same in Boston. In New York, they are distinct.

In words such as father, Boston uses a central vowel in the first syllable. In New York English, the first syllable has a back vowel. This is the case in most parts of the United States.

Both Boston English and New York English are classified as non-rhotic varieties of English, but this is not the case for all speakers. In younger speakers, rhoticity has become more common, and in many cases, it is variable. Nevertheless, in words such as dark and star, many speakers use non-rhotic pronunciations. In Boston English, the vowel is low central, but in New York English it is low back.

The diphthongs in words such as night and out are pronounced differently in the two accents. In New York English, the first component of the diphthong is a low central vowel. However, it is a mid central vowel in Boston English. The pronunciation of the diphthongs in Boston English is similar to the pronunciation of the diphthongs in Canadian English.

Boston English has a number of features which serve to distinguish it from other varieties. Though Boston English is often considered similar to New York English, it is distinct. Features of Boston English include the cot-caught merger, the use of the low central vowel in many words and the mid central vowel in diphthongs.