Before the low central vowel , the velars and can be realized with palatalisation, so that cat can be pronounced [khat ~ kjat] and card as [kha:d ~ kja:d]); while [ɡ] and [ɡj] coexist, as in gap [ɡap ~ ɡjap] or guard [ɡa:(ɹ)d ~ ɡja:(ɹ)d]. These variations are distinct phonemes in Jamaican Patois before [a]: [ɡja:dn̩] is garden while [ɡa:dn̩] is Gordon; [kja:f] is calf while [ka:f] is cough. They are not distinct phonemes in Jamaica English because these word pairs are distinguished by the vowel ([a] vs [ɔ]) instead. However, this fact hasn't stopped educated speakers from incorporating [kj] in their English at least before unlengthened "a". Hoewever, vowel length can be a relevant factor, since it is possible to hear forms like for cat, for carry, for character, and for Caribbean, but affluent or aspiring middle-class speakers tend to avoid for car due to its longer vowel.Irving-Sobers, G. Alison, 2018, pp. 45-46.Irving-Sober, G. Alison (1994). "Dialect Variation in Jamaican English: A Study of the Phonology of Social Group Marking". English World-Wide, Volume 15(1). p. 69.
Before the low central vowel  the velars and can be realized with palatalisation so that cat can be pronounced [khat ~ kjat] and card as [khad ~ kjad]); while [ɡ] and [ɡj] coexist as in gap [ɡap ~ ɡjap] or guard [ɡa(ɹ)d ~ ɡja(ɹ)d] These variations are distinct phonemes in Jamaican Patois before [a] [ɡjadn̩] is garden while [ɡadn̩] is Gordon; [kjaf] is calf while [kaf] is cough They are not distinct phonemes in Jamaica English because these word pairs are distinguished by the vowel ([a] vs [ɔ]) instead However this fact hasn't stopped educated speakers from incorporating [kj] in their English at least before unlengthened "a" Hoewever vowel length can be a relevant factor since it is possible to hear forms like for cat for carry for character and for Caribbean but affluent or aspiring middle-class speakers tend to avoid for car due to its longer vowelIrving-Sobers G Alison 2018 pp 45-46Irving-Sober G Alison (1994) "Dialect Variation in Jamaican English A Study of the Phonology of Social Group Marking" English World-Wide Volume 15(1) p 69