Vowel systems FACE

The FACE set words, corresponding to ME /ai/, /a:/, and to a certain extent /ε:/, is represented in Suriname creoles by words derived from Early Modern English. When followed by a consonant this set is indistinguishable from the DRESS set.

When this vowel occurs word-finally it is often diphthongized. The occurrence of a semi-vowel in Sranan or a diphthongal element in Ndyuka is unforecastable. Very exceptionally, we also see two words in the above table whose forms seem to preserve diphthongs word-internally.

Words that normally belong to the FLEECE set include:

Some words that should normally belong to the FACE set in fact belong to the FLEECE set.