San Francisco English and the California Vowel Shift

San Francisco English has been previously identified as distinct from Californian English, based on its maintenance of a low back vowel distinction [13]. Subsequent work has shown participation in the low back merger and other Californian sound changes [15]. We present an analysis of the front and central vowels involved in the California Vowel Shift: KIT, DRESS, TRAP, and STRUT. Previous work in San Francisco [8] found raised DRESS after velars, and raised KIT, DRESS, and TRAP before nasals.
Elsewhere in California [11], KIT and DRESS are lowering; TRAP is raising before nasals and backing before orals (‘the nasal split’). We examine vowels produced in read speech by 24 speakers stratified by age, gender, and ethnicity. Results show apparent time evidence of DRESS lowering/backing and the TRAP ‘nasal split’. Effects of style and gender raise further questions. The results point to San Francisco English converging on broader regional patterns.