Monophthongs and diphthongs FOOT and GOOSE (LOOSE)

These two vowels tend not to be phonemically distinguished, hence, full and fool are not a minimal pair. They are phonetically very similar: the FOOT vowel may be articulated with a raised [o] or lowered [u], whereas GOOSE varies between a lowered and advanced [u] and at times a slightly lengthened [u].

NURSE This vowel is usually realized as [ε] or a retracted [ε], e.g. church > [tsεts], girls > [gεls], turn > [tεn]. Under certain conditions NURSE may also be realized as [ɒ]. This seems to occur after /w/ as in work > [wɒk] ; however, this could be a spelling pronunciation.