Re: CHAT: rhotic retroflexion (was: CHAT: iron worlds (etc..

Raymond Brown wrote:
>
> At 4:51 pm -0500 15/5/01, Eric Christopherson wrote:
> [snip]
> >
> >So retroflexion is the same as rhoticity?
> >
>
> I quote from J.C. Wells, University of London, "Computer-coding the IPA: a
> proposed extension of SAMPA".  In proposing that retroflex consonants
> (shown in IPA by dental/alveolars with rightward tails) be written [t`],
> [d`], [s`], [z`] etc, he adds:
>
> "No ambiguity arises through this: the IPA rhoticity hook applies to
> symbols for vowels, the retroflexion tail to consonants.  In any case,
> r-coloured ('rhotic') vowels are sometimes themselves termed retroflex."
>
> Indeed, they are.  I was familiar with the term long before I met the term
> 'rhotic', so I find it difficult to break the habit  :)
I've always had a problem with this, because as I understand the term
"retroflex", neither my /r/ nor any rhotic vowels are retroflex. Maybe
my definitio is just all askew...

--
Robert

Reply