The Lost /T/ in Mountain
You may hear American English speakers pronounce the word “mountain” without a /T/. It just sounds like “mou uhn”.
This comes from a larger pattern in English where /T/ changes in pronunciation depending on where it is in the word. Every dialect of English has its own /T/ variant rules, and English has many.
In this lesson I will talk about what is happening in words like “mountain” and “certain”.
Here’s the rule: When /T/ comes before a Vowel + /N/, replace the /T/ with a glottal stop. This only happens in unstressed syllables.
A glottal stop means that you quickly close your larynx shut and then burst the air. It’s the popping noises in “uh oh”.
Also notice that in these cases the Vowel + /N/ syllable is spoken very quickly and the /N/ completely takes over the unstressed vowel. We actually call this a syllabic /N/, meaning that there is no vowel, only a fast /N/.
Now say it with me: /MOW n/
Here is a list of other words where this strange /T/ replacement happens.
frighten, cotton, Britain, gotten, certain, curtain, button, written, eaten, fountain, lighten, forgotten, mitten, Manhattan, glutton
The list above is not exhaustive but contains many common words with this /T/ variant.
Again, this variant only occurs in unstressed syllables. We maintain the /T/ in words like “maintain” and “sustain” where the second syllable is stressed.
There are many other variants of /T/ (at least six!), where /T/ varies in pronunciation or is omitted entirely from pronunciation depending on where it comes in the word. The most effective way to master subtle sound variations in a language is to work closely with a qualified speech/accent professional. Visit this page to find out more about how to sign up for speech assessments.
Written by Sarah Sherer, PhD 3/31/2023