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Rhotacism

Sound
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A phonological tendency or device involving repeated or prominent /r/ sounds for effect.

Detailed Definition
Rhotacism in poetry refers to the exaggerated or stylized use of the “r” sound (trilled or tapped), often for rhythmic emphasis, onomatopoeic effect, or dialectal authenticity; it can evoke regional identity, emotional fervor, or sonic texture, as in Scots poetry or Romantic depictions of natural turbulence.
Example
Example in poetry:
Rhotacism emphasizes /r/ sounds: “Round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran”; “Rivers roar through red ravines”; Used for rolling, resonant effects in Romantic poetry.
Additional Notes
Excessive or affected use of 'r' sounds. Phonetic device creating rolling or harsh effect. Can be defect or deliberate technique; study with alliteration and consonance.
Also Known As
R-sound dominance Liquid repetition Rolled-r excess
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