Palauan English

This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

Palauan English is the dialect of English spoken by the Palauan People.

Phonological features

Palauan English has many features, especially in the phonology, that show the influence of the Palauan language and (to a lesser extent) the Japanese language. It is also influenced by American English.

Consonant variations

Palauan English is rhotic.

The interdental fricatives /θ/ and /ð/ are often realized as [t̪] and [d̪].

Vowel variations

KIT: /ɪ/ = [kɪt]
DRESS: /ɛ/ = [dɹɛs]
TRAP: /æ/ = [tɹæp]
LOT: /ɑ/ = [lɑt]
STRUT: /ʌ/ = [stɹʌt]
FOOT: /ʊ/ = [fʊt]
FLEECE: /i/ = [flis]
FACE: /e:/ or /eɪ/ = [fe:s] or [feɪs]
PALM: /ɑː/ = [pɑ:m]
THOUGHT: /ɑ/ = [t̪ɑt] or [θɑt]
GOAT: /o:/ or /oʊ/ = [go:t] or [goʊt]
NEAR: /iɚ/ or /ɪɚ/ = [niɚ] or [nɪɚ]
SQUARE: /ɛɚ/ = [skɛɚ]
START: /ɑː/ = [stɑɚt]
FORCE: /oː/ = [foɚs]
SURE: /o.ɚ/ = [ʃo.ɚ]
NURSE: /ɚ/ = [nɚs]
GOOSE: /u/ = [gus]
PRICE: /ɑɪ/ = [pɹɑɪs]
CHOICE: /ɔɪ/ = [tʃɔɪs]
MOUTH: /ɑʊ/ = [mɑʊt̪] or [mɑʊθ]
HAPPY: /i/ = [hæ.pi]
LETTER: /ɚ/ = [lɛt.ɚ]
HORSES: /ɪ/ = [hoɚsɪz]
COMMA: /ə/ = [kɑm.ə]