Diphthongs PRICE, PRIZE

The diphthongs associated with these two lexical sets display a range of possible realizations in NfldE. Some speakers – among them urban residents of the Irish Avalon – tend to distinguish PRICE and PRIZE words via a non-low [ə] or [Λ] onset in PRICE, but a low [ɑ] or [a] onset in PRIZE. That is, such speakers display the pattern commonly referred to as Canadian Raising. More typical among traditional speakers from all areas of the province, however, is the use of a low-mid to mid onset ( [ɐ, ə, Λ] in all environments, not simply before voiceless obstruents as in PRICE. This pattern is in all likelihood inherited from both SW English and SE Irish source dialects.

For conservative speakers, particularly but by no means only on the Irish Avalon, the raised onset may also be retracted and rounded to an  -like sound. Though this is most evident in post-labial position (e.g. might, twice), it is by no means restricted to this environment. Before sonorants (e.g. time, fire, child), glide-weak-ened pronunciations are not uncommon (as also for the MOUTH/LOUD sets).