Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

When I read on the website that a man standing next to a hole with a shovel could be called Barry I was confused.   It wasn't until I heard Martha say it that I realized she pronounced "Barry" and "bury" the same.   I'm from the Northeast and it would never occur to me that these would be pronounced the same, as much as I wouldn't blink if I heard someone from the south do that.