The word “it” in the above quote refers to the word “aren’t.”
I’m from Indiana, and I have always pronounced “aren’t” as “arnt,” with one syllable. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard anyone in real life (as opposed to people on TV or in movies) pronounce it with two syllables.
I don’t notice anything particularly unusual or regional in the speech of the fellow in the video. Not even the word “note.” I’m not sure what people mean when they say it sounds like “newt.” Not to me, it doesn’t.
Monkey wrench time: I’ve wondered if playing wind instruments can change your natural accent?
Poking around on Google, it seems he was born in Shepherdstown WV and went to Shepherd University in WV. He spent some time in New York City and many other places before settling in Baltimore.
The rest of his speech definitely isn’t Bawlamorese, but the “ew” sound is definitely common to parts of Baltimore (especially the Dundalk area). It’s not common to WV, so I’m guessing he picked up the O sound after moving to Baltimore.
(I grew up in WV and lived in Baltimore for a while, so I’m definitely familiar with both accents)
It doesn’t sound exactly like “newt,” but it definitely does not sound like a standard American “long o” sound to me. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to get into IPA here, but it sounds less like “noʊt” and more like “nəʊt” to me, so the beginning of the diphthong is a schwa rather than an “o” sound. It’s a little more forward in the mouth than a standard “o.” (Or maybe it’s another similar mid vowel, but it doesn’t sound as back as a standard American “o.”)
I guess with “aren’t” now that I listen to myself over and over, “arnt” doesn’t sound that off, but I definitely do have a light schwa in it when I say it myself, so it’s like “a-r(i)nt.” So maybe that gives away my accent.
You’d practically need one to be able to say it.
To describe for others, [əʊ] for the “o” vowel would mean the oh part is not rounded and maybe the mouth not open as much.
It reminds me of Canadian “ow” raising, where “about” sounds sorta like “aboat” but not quite.