Comments on: How to say Can and Can’t in British and American

By: Vicki

Vicki — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 21:18:16 +0000

In reply to Belén.

Hi Belen. You’re right, I wouldn’t pronounce that ‘t’ – it would be elided. I am going to hold off giving and explanation of why because I think someone else reading this could give a better one. Any answers, anyone?

By: Belén

Belén — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:47:04 +0000

Hello!

Would you pronounce /t/ in ‘Can’t they?’.

I guess you wouldn’t, but I don’t know why. Is it because we have a consonant sound after?

Thanks!

By: Vicki

Vicki — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 11:00:22 +0000

In reply to Graeme. Hi Graeme. I'm afraid I don't know enough about Australian English to speak to that, but I agree that there are lots of regional variations.

By: Graeme

Graeme — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 07:37:17 +0000

I agree tat standard British is cahnt, whereas Americans usually say cannt. It’s my understanding that it’s regional in both countries, many British dialects saying cannt, while some New Englanders lean towards cahnt. In Australia where I come from cahnt is universal.
But Southern American is caint, (rhymes with ain’t), is it not?

By: Vicki

Vicki — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 21:28:25 +0000

In reply to Jeremy Coulson. Thank you very much for this thoughtful comment Jeremy. Viwers might like to watch our other video on the rhotic R sound and also our video on the vowel soundsUh and Ah.

By: Jeremy Coulson

Jeremy Coulson — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:19:54 +0000

Although it might seem otherwise to non Brits who watch British films or tourists or who only visit London – the pronunciation of “can’t” is not standard throughout the British Isles.

It is pronounced by locals as “caahnt” or even “carnt” only in the South East of England (including London and extending to Bournemouth) and the Midlands – which it has to be said is where the majority of the population live.

In the North and South West of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire it is pronounced “Kant” rhyming with “rant” (with many minor variations).

However, with TV and other media, where London English is dominant, the caahnt/carnt
pronunciation is increasingly standard in the South West and parts of the North.

Separately, as an Englishman and keen listener to accents I have often had to listen very carefully to distinguish Northern Irish and also some Scottish speakers from Americans.