Java Jive wrote:
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.Â* 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.

I was brought up in the north of England, and I pronounce those words
with exactly the syllable lengths you mention.
'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.
Between 27 and 34 I lived and worked on the south coast in E Sussex, but
I've been back up north ever since.

Ed