#  -augh words 

 



 For some of these words the voiceless velar fricative \[x\] (as in Scots dialect *loch* ) was lost, and for others it became \[f\]. In either case the diphthong became a monophthong. The \[f\], when present, had a subsequent effect on the pronunciation of the vowel.

Sort    Middle English sound 

  ME spelling 

  ModE spelling 

  ModE sound 

      
  
[aʊx] 

  aught  
slaughter

 laugh  
draught

 

  aught  
slaughter 

  [ɔ] or [ɑ] 

    laugh  
draught, draft 

  [æf] or [ɑf] 

    

 



 The voiceless velar fricative \[x\], as heard in the Scots dialect pronunciation of *loch* , is sounded with the middle-and-back of the tongue raised to the rear of the oral cavity.