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

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  :)

Ray.


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A mind which thinks at its own expense
will always interfere with language.
                   [J.G. Hamann 1760]
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