How can you distinguish the American 'can' from the American 'can't'

Question

I always feel difficult to differentiate between the American 'can' and 'can't.'
However, it is easy to distinguish the British 'can' and 'can't.' (Except this, American English is relatively easier for me to understand on the whole, on the average)
(I wonder if) Only me feel like that in the world?
If you are British or other foreign English speakers who felt like me at least more than once, please give me your tips to distinguish the American 'can' from the American 'can't.'
(Of course, any American teachers also give me their advice if they can understand why I can't differetiate between the 'can' and the 'can't.')

Lucas21c · Accepted Answer

(Revision)
I always feel difficult to differentiate between the American 'can' and 'can't.' => I always feel difficulties to differentiate between the American 'can' and 'can't.'

GPY · Answer

lucas21c(Revision)I always feel difficult to differentiate between the American 'can' and 'can't.' => I always feel difficulties to differentiate between the American 'can' and 'can't.'

I always have difficulty differentiating between ....

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I always find it difficult to differentiate between the American 'can' and 'can't.'

lucas21c(I wonder if) Only me feel like that in the world?

I wonder if I am the only one in the world that feels like that.

lucas21c(Of course, any American teachers also give me their advice

I advise that you listen more carefully. The ending "t" sound is hard to hear, and it is very important for the meaning of the sentence! Sometimes, the context and other words in the sentence will help.

I can? hear you very well. Please speak up.
Sorry, I can? go with you today. How about tomorrow?
I know I can? do it! I did it twice yesterday.

GPY · Answer

lucas21cExcept this, American English is relatively easier for me to understand on the whole, on the average

I think there is more variety in BrE accents than in AmE accents. BrE accents differ amongst themselves at least as much as, and probably more than, "standard" BrE differs from "standard" AmE. Also, irrespective of accent, many British speakers have poor diction (lazy and sloppy).

Lucas21c · Answer

To me, 'a' of the British English 'can' sounds rather different from the 'a' of the BrE 'can't.'
I think that's why I can distinguish the BrE 'can' from the BrE 'can't' relatively easily.
However, I don't know whose diction is better or worse because there are many American people who have poor diction as much as the British people do.
Except 'can't and 'can't', normally, I can understand American English better, but it is only because I have had so far more chances to be exposured to AmE and so I am more familiar with it.
Does the 'a' of the AmE 'can' sound clearly different from the 'a' of the AmE 'can't' to you?
I wonder how it sounds to other people.

GPY · Answer

lucas21cDoes the 'a' of the AmE 'can' sound clearly different from the 'a' of the AmE 'can't' to you?

I can certainly visualise the typical AmE pronunciation of those vowels as being close, perhaps not always distinguishable to me.

At http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/can_1 and http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/can-t, the US pronunciation of the vowel in "can" seems longer and more like a diphthong. It is close to how I would say "cairn".

Lucas21c · Answer

Thank you very much for your tips.
By the way, you know, the pronunciation of AmE 'can't' in the dictionary has very strong and clear 't' while, in the real world, only a few AmE speakers articulate like that.
Actually, that is why I posted this question and try to get some advice from other's experience.
This might be a trivial problem and not so important, but I am just curious about how the other region's English speakers or learners feel about the AmE 'can' and 'can't' and how they can manage to distinguish the AmE 'can' from the AmE 'can't' if they feel like me.
Frankly speaking, I mostly differentiate the AmE 'can' from the AmE 'can't' depending on not listening, but the context.
What I cannot understand is the AmE speakers also cannot distinguish my 'can' and 'can't' when I mimic the AmE accent with weak 't' sound.
However, more surprising is the AmE speakers have no problem to differentiate between the other AmE speaker's 'can' and 'can't' even when they articulate 'can't' with very weak and vague 't' sound.
How the AmE speakers articulate their unique 'can' and 'can't?'
And how they can distinguish the 'can' from the 'can't?'
I hope anyone who have some useful tips about this problem please shares his know-how.

Lucas21c · Answer

The only thing that I can tell is the 'a' sound of AmE 'can't' tends to be stronger than the 'a' sound of AmE 'can.' (It feels as if AmE has the contrary tendency to BrE to me)
However, I think it is not always.

How can you distinguish the American 'can' from the American 'can't'

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