The Pronunciation of "Important"

Question

The first T of "Important"  is a Stop Consonant or a Flap-T? If it is a Stop-T why did this guy say this is a Flap-T?If it is a Flap-T why Rachel English say No

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Lucas Oliveira SilvaIf it is a Stop-T why did this guy say this is a Flap-T?

He said that because he pronounced it as a flap-T (also called a tapped-T). Maybe he's from the southeastern part of the US.

Lucas Oliveira SilvaIf it is a Flap-T why Rachel English say No

It's a "Stop-T" (I call it an unreleased T) the way she says it.
______________

Rachel shows you how to say it the way most Americans say it. There is another version, however, and that's when you pronounce it with a flap-T, i.e., as "impordant". This second version is used in an area of the U.S. centered in the state of Georgia. If you can find a recording of First Lady Rosalynn Carter from years ago, you might hear her say "impordant" that way.

Rachel's transcription is not quite right, though. The last syllable is not a schwa-plus-N, nor does she actually pronounce it that way. She correctly pronounces it as a syllabic N.

See the thread at How to pronounce a 't' in American English

CJ

The Pronunciation of "Important"

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