[Magdalen] Mary, Marry, and Merry

[Simon Kershaw]

Scott's description also applies in England, certainly in the English I 
speak (which most would probably consider to be "standard" "unaccented" 
English). The three words have the clearly distinct pronunciations.

The difference between the first and the third (Mary and merry) is the 
length of the vowel -- long "eh" in Mary and short "eh" in merry.

The vowel is marry is distinct, a short sharp "a" as in "map", and a 
pure vowel not a diphthong as it might be in the US ("meh-up").

And in all three the "r" is audible but not trilled (non-rhotic).

simon

On 2020-05-14 21:10, Scott Knitter wrote:
> Here's how I hear the three words in, let's say, East Coast accents (I 
> know
> there are many):
> 
> Mary = MARE-ee  --first syllable of medium length
> 
> marry = MA (from "map") - ree   -- first syllable rather long
> 
> merry = MEH (from "meth") - ree   --first syllable quite short
> 
> And yes, here in Chicago, all three of these are likely to be said the
> first way.
> 


-- 
Simon Kershaw
simon at kershaw.org.uk
St Ives, Cambridgeshire