lot sob clog
clock flock
cod dock
Now try saying these words:
lost boss
soft floss
cross dog
Concentrate on the vowels sounds in each set of words. Does the vowel sound different to you? Because I have a really hard time hearing the difference but many people can. The first set of words is supposed to be /o/, as in short O. And the second set is supposed to be /aw/. I think it’s really a regional thing because one of my ESOL co-workers last year pronounced those sets of words totally differently. Our students laughed at us when we were debating these things in front of them!
So vote – different or the same?! (And put where you grew up in your comment – I think it makes a difference.)
Salmon and Souvlaki 
NO difference baby. . .- AK!!
ok, i think they sound very different, except that with a few words i was perplexed…alaska is rubbing away my jersey speak.
They sound the same to me! (Northern California)
This is strange to me because I raised you, but I can definitly hear the difference. My mouth even moves differently with the two sets. AK/Seattle
Jon and I both agree the same, being from AK and SD. When i think of friends from the east coast saying them, I can see what you mean by the differences. So, I’d say it’s regional.
no difference… they both have and “aw” sound. I grew up in South Dakota.
Lots of SD people here! No surprise then, that I would say they sound the same