An acoustic comparison between New Zealand and Australian English vowels*

Abstract

This study presents an acoustic comparison between New Zealand English (NZE) and Australian English (AE) citation‐form monophthongs and diphthongs. Formant frequencies were calculated and the data were labelled for vowel target position. Four main kinds of analysis were carried out: F1/F2 formant plots of monophthongs, onglides in vowels exemplified by HEED and WHO'D, formant trajectories of rising diphthongs, and formant trajectories of falling diphthongs. Consistent with other studies, we find the major differences in the NZE and AE vowel spaces are the centralizing and lowering of NZE HID and HOOD, and the raising of the NZE front and high vowels. The major difference in the diphthongs is the HERE/HAIR merger occurring in NZE but not AE. Contrary to other studies we find both HEED and WHO'D in NZE have long onglides and that the extent of these onglides is similar to those in AE. Proposals are included for a modification to the transcription system of NZE.