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R phoneme /r/
/r/ is a consonant phoneme that occurs in English as one of the standard English phonemes.[1]
Naming[edit | edit source]
Like other phonemes, naming this can be difficult. It could be called R after its symbol, but in non-rhotic accents, as /ɑ:/, this doesn't include /r/! Alternatively, it could be called ruh /rə/ after its sound when initial, or lengthened to rrr /r:/. It occurs twice in the rhotic pronunciation of rare, rear and roar.
Classification[edit | edit source]
This can be classified as consonant phoneme > approximant phoneme.
Representation[edit | edit source]
In phonemic notation using the International Phonetic Alphabet, the R phoneme is represented by lowercase R, ⟨r⟩ as its IPA symbol. In SAMPA and X-SAMPA, r is also used. This has the IPA number 122 (referring to the symbol, not the sound). In IPA Braille, ⠗ (1235) is used, which is also used for letter R in standard Braille.
Phonotactics[edit | edit source]
When /r/ is in coda position, we analyse it as part of the preceding vowel sound. The phonemes for ɴᴏʀᴛʜ vowel phoneme /ɔː(r)/, ꜱǫᴜᴀʀᴇ vowel phoneme /eə(r)/, ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ vowel phoneme /ɑː(r)/ are all rhotic. The ɴᴜʀꜱᴇ vowel phoneme /ɜː(r)/ is nearly always rhotic. Additionally, ᴄᴜʀᴇ and ɴᴇᴀʀ may be rhotic.
That means /r/ can only appear in initial position. It also occurs as part of several initial consonant clusters:
- Initial consonant cluster /br/
- Initial consonant cluster /dr/
- Initial consonant cluster /fr/
- Initial consonant cluster /gr/
- Initial consonant cluster /kr/
- Initial consonant cluster /pr/
- Initial consonant cluster /skr/
- Initial consonant cluster /spr/
- Initial consonant cluster /str/
- Initial consonant cluster /tr/
- Initial consonant cluster /ʃr/
- Initial consonant cluster /θr/
Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
The standard pronunciation of this sound is as labialized postalveolar approximant [ɹ̠ʷ]. However, there are several possible variations on this.[2]
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling is consistently ⟨r⟩, ⟨rr⟩, ⟨rh⟩, or ⟨wr⟩.
| Phonograms | Example words | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ⟨r⟩ | ||
| ⟨rr⟩ | ||
| ⟨rh⟩ | rhapsody, rhesus, rhino, Rhiannon, Rhys, Rhadyr, Rhondda, Rhyl | |
| ⟨wr⟩ | wreak, Wright, write, wrong, wrought |
