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RP linking and intrusive /r/ - Coggle Diagram
RP linking and intrusive /r/
Linking /r/
Accents of English throughout the world may be divided into two main types depending on whether the letter <r> is realised in non-prevocalic positions (i.e. before a consonant or a pause).
In
rhotic accents (e.g. AE, Scottish English, Irish English) every <r> in the spelling has a spoken realisation.
In non-rhotic accents (e.g. RP and Australian English) <r> is realised in speech only when it is immediately followed by a vowel
.
RHOTIC ACCENTS - /r/ is pronounced in all contexts/environments
NON-RHOTIC ACCENTS - /r/ is pronounced only before vowels
hear /hɪe/ /hɪr/
hearing /hɪərɪŋ/ /hɪrɪŋ/
hear me /hɪə mi/ /hɪr mi/
hear it /hɪər ɪt/ /hɪr ɪt/
doctor /dɒktə/ /dɑ:ktər/
doctor Johnson /dɒktə dʒɒnsən/ /dɑ:ktər dʒɑ:nsən/
doctor Anderson /dɒktər ændəsən/ /dɑ:ktər ændərsən/
Intrusive /r/:
Intrusive /r/
The linking /r/ serves to make the transition between two vowel sounds smoother. To achieve the same effect, some non-rhotic speakers will insert an /r/ between vowels also when there is no <r> in the spelling:
Maja and Max /maɪər ən mæks/
Drawing /drɔ:rɪŋ/
This is the RP intrusive /r/. It is intrusive because it is used even if it does not occur in the spelling.
The RP intrusive /r /may be used:
after the monophthongs /ɑ:/, /ɔ:/, /ɜ:/
after /ə/ as a monophthong or as the final element in a diphthong
The intrusive /r/ is by no means obligatory in RP. Some RP-speakers are even opposed to its use. You do not need to use intrusive /r/ in your own pronunciation if it feels unnatural.