Rhoticity – Session
This session is now finished, you can watch a video of the presentation section here. If you’d like to take the session as a 30 minute 121 class, you can purchase it below.
IN BRIEF:
The letter R is silent in many British English accents, except when it is before a vowel sound. This session compares these accents (non-rhotic) with accents that do pronounce every R.
- Rhotic vs Non-rhotic Accents
- Vowels with and without /r/
IN DETAIL:
One of the most striking features of many British accents is the omission of an /r/ sound in words like PARK, MOTHER, ARE etc.
The rule is quite simple: only say an /r/ when it is before a vowel sound.
However, in most English accents speakers would pronounce the /r/ in these words – including General American English.
In this session we’ll compare accents that are rhotic (American, West Country, Irish, Scottish) and non-rhotic (RP, Cockney, MLE, Northern) and see how the vowel system changes in rhotic accents.
Join the live session on the links below. If you’d like a reminder one hour before the class begins, send us an email.
A video of the taught part of the class will be available shortly after the session for subscribers.
