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    Pronunciation of these vowels varies regionally in the US. Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 16:21
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    As far as I know, the basic pronunciation is the same in most places for this a sound. What is different is the a in path and bath. There are two a sounds, one is different, the other the same. The rr might be trilled in BrE by U-speakers. Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 16:39
  • Is there any reason to doubt Merriam Webster on this? Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 17:10
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    Some speakers rhyme "marry" and "carry" and "hairy" and "Mary". Some would even say "keery". Some speakers would use the sound of the initial "a" in British "garage". Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 18:18
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    Standard English, BrE or AmE, pronounces one of the a's the same way; and another a differently: both say bank, both don't say bath. Regional variations on both sides like keery is another issue. As for AmE, standard pronunciation for carry and marry are the same unless you're a southerner. Commented Oct 14, 2018 at 21:30