Vowels DRESS

Most data sources suggest [ε] , including BCDP and Mathisen (1999: 108). However, Painter (1963: 30–31) records BC /e/, realized as , with sporadic [ε]> . Heath (1980: 87) has [ε] for Cannock.

Furthermore, the BCDP data indicate that before /l/ (which is typically dark) there is a strong tendency towards lowering and/or breaking (e.g.  , well). There is some written evidence for BC lowering to [a], especially before /l/ in <bally> belly, <ballies> bellows, belluck ‘to bellow’, but also in other environments, e.g. <zad> zed, <frenzy> frenzy ‘fretful’. Similar realizations occur in the SED data for localities close to Black Country.

Written data also suggest possible [I]-type realizations in some words, e.g. Bm <git> ‘get’, Bm/BC <bibble> ‘pebble’.