Try not to extend the “a” sound

[Silver]

Hi,

A friend of mine always pronounces “cat” as “can’t”, I noticed that he elongated the “a” sound and unintentionally added an “n” sound.

I suggest that:

Try not to extend the “a” sound.

Is it idiomatic to say this?

 

[Welsh_Sion]

It would be (or should be!) understood.

< Topic drift removed. Cagey, moderator >

 

[TGW]

Try not to extend the “a” sound.

I’d use “draw out” instead.

 

[sound shift]

It would be (or should be!) understood.

I agree.

I would probably use simpler terms, though: "Try to make the 'a' shorter."

 

[dojibear]

Try not to extend the “a” sound.

It is idiomatic. Youre meaning is: say the "a" sound with a shorter duration.

We often use distance words (lengthen, shorten, extend, longer, shorter) about sound duration in speech or singing.

 

[Chasint]

...

Try not to extend the “a” sound.

Is it idiomatic to say this?

Yes this is perfectly idiomatic. I see no reason to change it. Of course, it does not address the problem with "n".

 

[Forero]

In most AmE, cat and can't have the same vowel, which can have long or short duration, and in some environments can't can even be shorter than cat. The presence or absence of that n sound, then, is the only reliable difference between the two words.