“Short” vowels

FOOT

The FOOT vowel shows little variation: the canonical realization as a relatively high and back [ʊ] predominates everywhere. Possible variants are a tensed [u] in Nfl dE, ChcE, JamE/C and SurC, or a lowered type, close to [Λ], in Nfl dE, ChcE, and T&TC/TobC. In SAmE, mostly in urban contexts, this vowel may be fronted (as part of the “Southern Shift”) to [ɵ ~ Y].