british_and_american_englishes.md

• Name some of the main differences between British and American English!

  British
  - Non-rhotic
  - More rapid, eliminates some vowels
  - Post-alveolar approximant [r] ("bIrd")
  .
  American     
  - Rhotic (always pronounces the 'r')
  - Feels slower/drawled
  - Post-alveolar approximant: [ɹ] ("buhrd")

• What is rhoticity?

  Rhoticity describes whether or not the /r/ is preserved in all phonetic environments.
  .
  British English (being non-rhotic) does not always pronounce the 'r', in particular when it comes after a vowel
  Example:
    "far from" is said like "fa' from"
    "water" is said like "watuh"
    "perfect" is said like "puhfect"
  .
  (i.e.: the final r is skipped, except when it is a linking r (when the next word begins in a vowel, like "for us" -> "forus")

• Why is American English called a rhotic language?

  Because in American English, the 'r' is pronounced in all phonetic environments.

• What is the post-alveolar approximant [ɹ] in AE?

  Bird is pronounced "buhrd".
  The r-sound is darker.

• What is the post-alveolar approximant [r] in BrE?

  Bird is pronounced "bIrd".
  The r-sound is lighter.

• When is the /r/ pronounced in BrE?

  - between two vowels (carrot)
  - start of a word (read)
  - linking r

• What are the three variations of the [r] in BrE?

  - flapped /r/
    (when a king says "verry")
  - linking /r/
    ("for a minute" -> "fora minute")
  - intrusive /r/
    ("idea of" -> "idearof")

• What is the flapped /r/?

  One roll of a rolled r (so you roll the r, but only shortly)
  Example:
    When a king says "verry"
  .
  (Other languages, like spanish, use this lot)

• What is the linking r?

  When one word ends in an /r/ sound and the next begins with a vowel, the words are linked.
  Example:
    "for a minute" is said like "fora minute"
    "far away" is said like "faraway"

• Explain what the intrusive r is. Give an example.

  Though no 'r' is written, one is added between two words in pronunciation for smoothness.
  Example:
    "idea of" is said like "idearof"
    "law and order" is said like "lawrand order"

• What are centring diphthongs?

  Diphthongs are glides from one pure vowel into an adjecent one. Like in "hound"
  .
  Centering diphtongs specifically end in an /ə/ (which is a central vowel)
  Example:
    beer -> beah bɪə(r)
    sure -> shuah ʃʊə
    where -> wheah weə

• What is t flapping? Which variety of English uses this?

  A /t/ or /d/ (plosive sounds) can become non-plosive for smoother pronunciation.
  "water" becomes "wadder"
  (your tongue only taps against the roof of your mouth, rather than building up pressure)
  .
  British uses this.
  Brtish:  "Wadduh"
  American: "WaTer"

• What is a post nasal /t/? Which variety of English uses this?

  In Standard American English, the t sound in words like winter, inter, enter can be assimilated.
  -> "winner", "inner", "enner"

• What differences are there between stress in certain words of English and American varieties of English?

  Generally, stress patterns are the same, but:
  British: Stress on the first/ second syllable
  American: Stress on first syllable, and secondary stress on the second to last syllable.
  .
  British: SEcretary
  American: SEcreTary
  .
  .
  Special case: words of french origin:
  British: stress on early syllable (GOURmet)
  American: stress on final syllable (gourMET)

• Why are there more vowels in the British than in the American variety of English?

  Since Standard British English is non-rhotic, it has more diphthongs (substituing the final /r/)
  .
  Like in 'water' -> "watuh"