Am - weak form

[Steven D]

Don't forget that "am" has a weak form.

What am I going to do now?

What'm I going t' do now?

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/defi...key=2406&ph=on

[Tdol]

wotmagonnadonow?

[Steven D]

Originally Posted by tdol

wotmagonnadonow?

It just might sound like that too. Personally, I don't use "a" for "I" unless it's part of "I'm". Then it's more like "U'm over here." or "Ah'm over here." The "I" can be schwa as part of the contraction "I'm"

[Tdol]

It could even be reduced in BrE to womagonnadonow?

[Steven D]

Originally Posted by tdol

It could even be reduced in BrE to womagonnadonow?

It could possibly be heard like that in AE as well, but I would say not often. It's not my style to say it. The "o" sound for the "a" in "what" is not American pronunciation. I hear them say "what" on the BBC. It does sound like "wot" sometimes or often.

womagonnadonow? I can imagine hearing it though. Maybe the guy who I heard say, "Was it sumpin' I was sayin'awhat?" would say it. But I don't know. I don't lean too far in either direction for the most part.

Language should be used correctly, but it should also be described as it really is. That's why I say it's a bozo idea to think that "some" doesn't have a weak form. Of course it has a weak form! All we have to do is listen and observe how we speak.

I've been continuing my informal poll of "may I" versus "can I", and "can I" is way out front in the lead. I suppose it depends on where I ask about it though - maybe. The poll isn't really necessary, however. I know how this thing goes.