Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
rhotacism
Noun
/ˌroʊtəˈsɪzəm/
Definition
Rhotacism is the phonetic phenomenon where the sound associated with the letter ‘r’ appears in place of another sound.
Examples
- In some dialects of English, rhotacism is evident when the word ‘idea’ is pronounced with an ‘r’ sound.
- Historical analyses of language often note rhotacism as a part of sound change in Latin and its descendant languages.
- Rhotacism can be observed in the evolution of certain Greek words into Latin.
Meaning
In linguistics, rhotacism refers typically to the change in pronunciation where a consonant, particularly the ‘l’ sound, transforms into the ‘r’ sound, often resulting in a variation in word forms.
Synonyms
- Rhotacism phenomenon
- Consonant change
- Phonological alteration
