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

On Wed, May 16, 2001 at 04:12:30PM -0400, Robert Hailman wrote:
> 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...
From what I've read of North American /r/, it's considered only slightly
retroflex, FWIW. I don't notice my r-colored vowels being farther back
either, but I'm not a phonetician.


--
Eric Christopherson / *Aiworegs Ghristobhorosyo

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