Abstract Resolving the convergence of low-back vowels in English constitutes a pivot with repercussions for the rest of the vowel system. We consider how speakers on an eastern Caribbean island co-opt the inherent variability of vowel systems to differentiate themselves. Examining the vowels of Bequia English (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) shows the main source of variation to lie in the position and duration of four low back vowels (cloth, lot, palm, thought), which do not act as the same pivot point for realignment of the vowel space as in North American English. The crucial distinction between transmission and diffusion lies at the heart of our findings: principles of language change derived from varieties characterized by transmission may differ from principles associated with histories of diffusion central to many contact and creole varieties.

中文翻译：

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加勒比的枢轴？加勒比海东部的中腰元音英语

摘要解决英语中的低背元音的融合是其余元音系统的枢纽。我们考虑东部加勒比海岛屿上的发言者如何通过元音系统固有的可变性来区分自己。检查贝基亚英语（圣文森特和格林纳丁斯）的元音，可以发现变化的主要根源在于四个下背元音（衣服，批次，手掌，思想）的位置和时长，它们不是同一个枢轴与北美英语中的元音空间重新对齐的点。传播与扩散之间的关键区别在于我们的研究结果：