1.7.3. Phonotactic Differences

Rhoticity

Received Pronunciation has /r/ where there is a following vowel, e.g. red. When this includes vowel in the following words it can connect the two words into a single phonetic unit (e.g. tear up). Such linking may occur where no letter "r" in spelling, e.g. law officer /lLrOfisq/. There is no intrusive /r/ in General American English.

Southern speech and Eastern New English speech are non-rhotic. Between vowels /r/ may be lost as in Ca’ol < Carol, sto’y < story (this is found in southern vernaculars rural) in upper Southern varieties (Appalachian Ozark) the intrusive /r/ occurs when a word has final unstressed -ow

e.g. hollow > holler

yellow > yeller

It also occurs when suffixe flexions are attached:

e.g. fellows > fellers

narrows > narrers

Post consonantal /r/ loss may also be found if /r/ occurs in an unstressed syllable:

e.g. p’ofessor < professor

sec’etary < secretary.

It is found primarily in Southern-based varieties.

There are also occasional instances in which an intrusive /r/ may occur:

e.g. wash > warsh

idea > idear