= Canadian raising
{c}
<Canadian raising> names a pronunciation pattern in which the starting portion of the <diphthongs> conventionally transcribed `/aɪ/` and `/aʊ/` is raised in particular contexts, especially before a voiceless <syllable coda>. The pattern is associated with <Canadian English>, while related effects also occur in other North American varieties.<An Acoustic Study of Canadian Raising in Three Dialects of North American English by Sky Onosson>[Abstract, printed p.iii, definition and three-dialect comparison]{ref}
Comparing `lout` and `loud` in controlled contexts can illustrate a voiceless-versus-voiced following consonant, but an acoustic test should compare repeated tokens and their <formant> trajectories. <Sky Onosson>'s dissertation separates changes in trajectory from the shortening of vowels before voiceless consonants; its abstract reports different cross-dialect patterns for the two <diphthongs>. A single midpoint or duration can therefore miss part of the phenomenon. \b[Raising refers to vowel quality], not simply to a higher voice <fundamental frequency>.
Back to article page