Shock!

[Carolina1983]

Hello, usingenglish friends!

My question is about the vowel sound in the word "shock". When you say this word, is the vowel sound the same as the one we find in "saw" (/sɔ:/)?

Thank you!

 

[charliedeut]

It's the same as in "hot": /hɒt/.

 

[Carolina1983]

It's the same as in "hot": /hɒt/.

That´s what the dic. says, right? I think americans tend to use - or use actually - the vowel sound in saw, instead of the a:

 

[probus]

I think you are correct about the sounds in AmE Carolina1983. I also think that if a question pertains to one dialect exclusively you should say so up front.

 

[Carolina1983]

I think you are correct about the sounds in AmE Carolina1983. I also think that if a question pertains to one dialect exclusively you should say so up front.

I was wondering why all dictionaries say otherwise, probus! They say ɔ: will sound like a:. Isn´t that weird?! It´s exactly the opposite! What do you think? I´m sorry I didn´t mention the dialect thing upfront. It didn´t occur to me I wasn´t being clear enough.

 

[5jj]

They say ɔ: will sound like a:

As far as I know, no dictionary says that /ɔ:/ will sound like /a:/. With each dictionary, you have to look carefully at what phonemic symbols they use to represent what sounds, and also at which variety of English pronunciation the dictionary is noting.

 

[probus]

I was wondering why all dictionaries say otherwise, probus! They say ɔ: will sound like a:. Isn´t that weird?! It´s exactly the opposite! What do you think? I´m sorry I didn´t mention the dialect thing upfront. It didn´t occur to me I wasn´t being clear enough.

I haven't even consulted a dictionary. I'm simply relying on my ears and my memory.

 

[Carolina1983]

As far as I know, no dictionary says that /ɔ:/ will sound like /a:/. With each dictionary, you have to look carefully at what phonemic symbols they use to represent what sounds, and also at which variety of English pronunciation the dictionary is noting.

Yes, that´s what I meant 5jj. American dictionaries, OAA for instance, will say that, in some parts of the US, speakers will use a: instead of ɔ:. I was the one who heard otherwise, I mean, I constantly hear native speakers say ɔ: where, supposedly, they´d say a:.

 

[Carolina1983]

I haven't even consulted a dictionary. I'm simply relying on my ears and my memory.

LOL me too!
Except I am not a native

 

[Rookanga1945]

I'm American, and yes, the people I know pronounce the vowel sound in "shock" the same way as in both "hot" and "saw." "Hawt" and "shawk" and so forth. But if I used my terrible British accent, I would pronounce "shock" and "hot" both with shorter vowel sounds than "saw."

Hope this helps!