In message , Java Jive
writes:
On 13/07/2018 18:26, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In England, it's roughly a north-south divide: in London, the leader
of the city is pronounced the same as a female horse, and the
blooming part of a plant is pronounced the same as ground grain; in
more northern towns and cities, these words - like your ewer - have a
definite two syllables.

No, not at all. I was 'fraightfully' well bought up in the south of
England, and to me 'mayor', 'ewer', and 'flower' are all audibly two
syllables, 'mare' and 'your' certainly one, and 'flour' somewhere in
between, but I'd say more one than two.

Delighted to hear it. (And I'd agree about flour.) So the border is
obviously very complex. Interesting to hear that it exists in the USA
too. I was going to say maybe it's a class (or clarse, as some pronounce
that word; I pronounce it to rhyme with lass) thing, but you say you
were, as you put it, "fraightfully" well brought up and in the south,
yet you pronounce as I do. Maybe it's (or started as) "affected" class.

I think at least the areas (and perhaps classes?) where "flower" is a
term of endearment - "that's all right, flower" - always pronounce it as
two syllables.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Grammar is there to help, not hinder."
-- Mark Wallace, APIHNA, 2nd December 2000 (quoted by John Flynn 2000-12-6)