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Kenkenken9876 Posted 13 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
r-colored schwa
American English pronunciation question
A question about r-colored vowel.
For example, the vowel in "bird" in American English is pronounced with what's called a r-colored vowel, or r-colored schwa.(/??/)
As far as I checked several online English dictionaries or explanation in wikipedia, etc, it is written that this vowel is pronounced like /r:/, that is, the position of the tongue is held at the r-sound position from the beginning of the pronunciation all during the vowel.
My question is: Is that the only correct pronunciation for this vowel?
If I start the vowel with the simple schwa without any r-color and then, move my tongue until it produces the 'r' sound while pronouncing the long schwa vowel, is it regarded as wrong or a strong foreign accent?
As far as I have observed some Americans speaking words with this pronunciation on Youtube videos, when a word is pronounced fast, it seems the r-colored schwa does not change during the syllable but it also seems that, when spoken slowly, schwa-to-'r' transforming can be observed, or at least, the position of the tongue is not constant, fixed at the same position but the schwa is first pronounced for a while and then the tongue rises in the mouth.
How much schwa and 'r' are blended, or how and when the blending starts, might depend on persons or where he/she is from even inside the US.
If I am learning American English, do I have to pronounce the colored-schwa, as a constant fixed one vowel without any position change of the tongue during the pronunciation?
Wikipedia says,
Dropping or weakening of r-colored vowels when singing has traditionally been nearly universal and a standard part of vocal training, but there are now numerous exceptions, including many Irish singers and many performers of country music; though this is not universal. In certain particular cases, a vowel + r is pronounced as two syllables instead, a non-rhotic vowel followed by a syllabic r.
So, if the 'vowel + r' pronunciation is allowed in singing, it should also be observed in usual conversations. Am I wrong?
A question about r-colored vowel.
For example, the vowel in "bird" in American English is pronounced with what's called a r-colored vowel, or r-colored schwa.(/??/)
As far as I checked several online English dictionaries or explanation in wikipedia, etc, it is written that this vowel is pronounced like /r:/, that is, the position of the tongue is held at the r-sound position from the beginning of the pronunciation all during the vowel.
My question is: Is that the only correct pronunciation for this vowel?
If I start the vowel with the simple schwa without any r-color and then, move my tongue until it produces the 'r' sound while pronouncing the long schwa vowel, is it regarded as wrong or a strong foreign accent?
As far as I have observed some Americans speaking words with this pronunciation on Youtube videos, when a word is pronounced fast, it seems the r-colored schwa does not change during the syllable but it also seems that, when spoken slowly, schwa-to-'r' transforming can be observed, or at least, the position of the tongue is not constant, fixed at the same position but the schwa is first pronounced for a while and then the tongue rises in the mouth.
How much schwa and 'r' are blended, or how and when the blending starts, might depend on persons or where he/she is from even inside the US.
If I am learning American English, do I have to pronounce the colored-schwa, as a constant fixed one vowel without any position change of the tongue during the pronunciation?
Wikipedia says,
Dropping or weakening of r-colored vowels when singing has traditionally been nearly universal and a standard part of vocal training, but there are now numerous exceptions, including many Irish singers and many performers of country music; though this is not universal. In certain particular cases, a vowel + r is pronounced as two syllables instead, a non-rhotic vowel followed by a syllabic r.
So, if the 'vowel + r' pronunciation is allowed in singing, it should also be observed in usual conversations. Am I wrong?
Top answer
/) Correct. kenkenken9876 this vowel is pronounced like /r:/, that is, the position of the tongue is held at the r-sound position from the beginning of the pronunciation all during the vowel. Correct.
- /) Correct.
- kenkenken9876 this vowel is pronounced like /r:/, that is, the position of the tongue is held at the r-sound position from the beginning of the pronunciation all during the vowel.
- Correct.
- kenkenken9876 My question is: Is that the only correct pronunciation for this vowel?
- Yes.
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1 Answers
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kenkenken9876 the vowel in "bird" in American English is pronounced with what's called a r-colored vowel, or r-colored schwa.(/??/)Correct.
kenkenken9876 this vowel is pronounced like /r:/, that is, the position of the tongue is held at the r-sound position from the beginning of the pronunciation all during the vowel.Corre
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