An Introduction to French Pronunciation

74 The Vowels in Detail
(Note that this form of transcription does not indicate any
lengthening of the vowel.) This phenomenon is particularly
common, as in the above examples, with the three high vowels,
/i/, /y/ and /u/, but may also occur elsewhere, especially with
the high-mid vowels /e/, /ø/ and /o/, e.g.:
vive la liberté [viv la libεrteo ], je le veux [ʒcl vø [ ], qu’il est
beau [kil ε bou ].
We draw attention to this feature for recognition purposes
only. There is no need for foreign learners to make a determined
effort to adopt it, but they should be aware of its
existence.
10.12 Canadianisms
10.12.1 There is, of course, considerable variation in pronunciation
within the province of Quebec, both regionally
and individually, ranging from those whose pronunciation is
virtually indistinguishable from that of Parisians to those
whose Quebec accent is so strong as to be difficult to understand
for those whose ear is accustomed only to European
French. Only three of the more widespread and striking
features of the pronunciation of vowels are mentioned here
for recognition purposes; of these, those noted in 10.12.2 and
10.12.3 are more likely to occur in educated speech than that
noted in 10.12.4. (For a full discussion of Canadian French
vowels, see Walker, 1984: chapter 3.)
10.12.2 There is a widespread tendency to give short /i/, /y/
and /u/ a more open pronunciation than in European French.
These varieties can be represented as [i], [y] and [υ]; [i] and [υ]
are pronounced rather like the vowels of English bit and put
respectively but, of course, with greater tension; e.g.:
facile [fasil] jupe [ʒyp] bouche [bυʃ]
liquide [likid] musique [myzik] cousine [kυzin]
riche [riʃ] plume [plym] soupe [sυp]
vite [vit] tu l’as vu? [ty la vy] toute [tυt]