Overview
This lecture focuses on the pronunciation concept of intrusive /r/ in English, explaining how it appears in connected speech and providing practice examples.
Introduction to Pronunciation Workshop
- The workshop aims to improve real spoken English listening and speaking skills.
- Fluent English often sounds different from what is written.
The Intrusive /r/ Sound
- Intrusive /r/ appears when a word ending in a vowel sound (like "law") is followed by a word starting with a vowel sound (like "and").
- In "law and order," a linking /r/ is often inserted for smoother pronunciation: "law-r-and order."
- This pronunciation feature is called "intrusion."
- Intrusive /r/ does not occur in all English accents and is sometimes debated among speakers.
- The /r/ sound in intrusion is subtle and not pronounced strongly.
Examples of Intrusive /r/
- "law and order" pronounced as "law-r-and order."
- "draw a circle" may sound like "draw-r-a circle."
- "paw on" can be pronounced "paw-r-on."
- "flaw in" is often said as "flaw-r-in."
- "saw a" might sound like "saw-r-a."
Practice Exercise
- Students are encouraged to listen and repeat sentences with intrusive /r/ to practice natural pronunciation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Intrusive /r/ — The insertion of an /r/ sound between words ending and beginning with vowel sounds for smoother speech.
- Accent — A way of pronouncing words that shows which country, region, or social class a person comes from.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice repeating sentences with intrusive /r/ for improved fluency.
- Read more about the intrusive /r/ in recommended materials.