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rhotacism

[ roh-tuh-siz-uhm ]

noun

  1. Historical Linguistics. a change of a speech sound, especially (s), to (r), as in the change from Old Latin lases to Latin lares.
  2. excessive use of the sound (r), its misarticulation, or the substitution of another sound for it.


rhotacism

/ ˈrəʊtəˌsɪzəm /

noun

  1. excessive use or idiosyncratic pronunciation of r
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈrhotacist, noun
  • ˌrhotaˈcistic, adjective
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Other Words From

  • rhota·cistic adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rhotacism1

1825–35; < Greek rhô rho + (io)tacism
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rhotacism1

C19: from New Latin rhōtacismus , from Greek rhōtakizein (verb) from the letter rho
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Example Sentences

Gorman's own experience with a speech impediment, a common pronunciation difficulty known as rhotacism, only further echoes this emergent theme.

From Salon

“When I was 5, I couldn’t wead, I couldn’t wite,” Nate said, mimicking his own early rhotacism.

Rhotacism, rō′ta-sizm, n. erroneous pronunciation of the letter r: burring: the tendency of s to change into r.—v.i.

High German Rhotacism is very prevalent, although, according to Grimm, Deutsche Grammatik, vol.

Rhotacism.—Many children do not form R at all for a long time and put nothing in place of it.

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R horizonrhotacize