Lateral of Jamaican English

In English the lateral can be pronounced with velarization. This is especially common in syllable-final position. Many varieties of English such as American and Received Pronunciation have velarized laterals. However, this is not the case in Jamaican English, a variety which never velarizes the lateral.

The lack of velarization of the lateral in Jamaican English is a feature that it has in common with many Irish dialects. The dialect of Newcastle in northern England is another variety which does not velarize the lateral. In Received Pronunciation, the lateral is not velarized syllable-initially but it is syllable-finally.

Jamaican English does not velarize laterals. The lack of velarization is one feature which distinguishes Jamaican English from many varieties of English. Many Irish dialects of English also lack velarization of the lateral.