[Vocabulary] Is the /ɑ/ in "Whata" reduced to /ʌ/?

[Hexuan Xiao]

I know that the most precise pronunciation of the word, "What", is /ɑ/, but I think
when American people speak fast, their whats all sound like WUT(/ʌ/ to me.
For example, what's up sounds like like wutsup. Also, becAUse's au is transcribed
/ɔ/ or /ɑ/ (if you are cot caught merged), but sounds like to me that it is reduced to
/ʌ/ or a schwa. I personally pronounce because as bɪˋkəz when I speak at normal speed and not fully articulate it.
So if it is reduced, do you guys reduce it to a schwa like me or is it better reduced to /ʌ/?
Thanks a lot in advance. :-D

 

[GoesStation]

I'm from southwest Ohio, where I and many other people use Appalachian-influenced pronunciations. (We're in an accent boundary region, so people who grew up across the street from one another may speak quite differently.)

I use different vowels in cot and caught, but I use a schwa in what and because. I do often aspirate the /wh/ in what.