Tim’s hard at work in the pronunciation workshop. This time, he’s talking about sounds that you can hear, even when they don’t – or shouldn’t – exist!
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Transcript:
Tim
Hi, I’m Tim and this is my pronunciation workshop. Here I’m gonna show you how English is really spoken. It’ll help you become a better listener and a more fluent speaker. Come on, let’s go inside.
Have you ever seen a ghost? No, of course you haven’t, because they don’t exist. But have you ever heard a sound that wasn’t there? Well, if you’ve listened to lots of real English, you probably have. We asked the people of London what they think is the most important thing the government should prioritise. This is what they said:
Voxpops
I think law and order is important.
Yes, I think law and order is important.
Law and order is very important.
We all think that law and order is important.
I think law and order is very important.
Tim
Meet my boys. ‘Law’ and ‘order’. Join them together with the word ‘and’ and you can hear another sound after the word ‘law’. Listen out for it.
Voxpops
I think law and order is important.
Yes, I think law and order is important.
Law and order is very important.
We all think that law and order is important.
I think law and order is very important.
Tim
In fluent speech, if a word ends in an /ɔː/ sound, like law and the next word begins in an /ə/, you’ll often hear a /r/ sound linking them together. Law-r-and order. Law-r-and order. ‘Law-r-and order’ is easier to say than ‘law and order’. It flows better.
And this is called intrusion. Now this is a little bit controversial. It doesn’t happen in all accents and some people do say it’s not the proper way to speak. But it is something you will hear. Just remember the /r/ sound is not very strong. Here are some other examples:
Examples
Can you draw a circle freehand?
My dog hurt its paw on some broken glass.
There was a flaw in the argument.
I saw a good film last night.
Tim
Right, so you’ve heard the examples, now it’s your turn. Are you ready to give it a try? Listen and repeat.
Examples
Can you draw a circle freehand?
My dog hurt its paw on some broken glass.
There was a flaw in the argument.
I saw a good film last night.
Tim
How did you do? Well done. Now, if you want to read more about this topic, please visit our website bbclearningenglish.com. That’s it from the pronunciation workshop for this week. Bye.
Now, do you want a war or what? Ow!
source
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So is there something for when brits Fink someting? For some reason they have a serious problem with TH. Its either F or a T. Fink or Tink. 250 years ago the English 2.0 standard came out, and it seems that the brits are a little slow to take the upgrade.
ordah
floo
It is a nice easy English thanks
In proper English we don't do this.
Vodka (r) and coke
The intrusive r is the most obnoxious grinding thing to hear, i wish you could now explain how the t in tuesday becomes a ch sound as in chewsday
“Law(r) and order is easier to say than law and order”… for non-rhotic accents, maybe, but for speakers with rhotic accents, it sounds rather ridiculous.
Try saying Lawn Order. If you can pronounce that without an intrusive r, you can pronounce law and order without it as well. Just saying.
I watched and listened twice. Unfortunately, I didn't find that "r" sound.
This is beautiful English
It sounded like: "There was a floor in the argument" 😅😅😅
Thank you Tom for the interesting intrusive /r/ lesson today!!
I speak in a General American accent, so I tend to enunciate my syllables really well; even if it doesn’t “flow” easily. Although, I’ve been told I lean a little hard on my ‘R’ sounds, but I think that’s also part of a General American accent. Some American accents are kind of lazy and will throw enunciation out the window. I live in Oklahoma. The traditional “Oklahoma Accent” is dying, thankfully. You don’t usually hear anyone talking with an Oklahoma Accent unless they are over 50. I guess maybe in the rural areas it’s more common – but not in the larger cities, like what I live in. But in Oklahoma accents, they sound really lazy. “Winda” instead of “Window”, “Pella” instead of “Pillow”. They also sound like they talk from the back of their throat and it comes out sounding winded, like they feel tired just speaking. Traditional Oklahoma accent sound kind of like Texas accents, but just softer and lazier sounding. I’ve been an Oklahoman all my life, so I can make fun of them. 😂
I’m a software engineer in America. The company I worked for is based in America, but we also had an office in UK. We used to make fun of our London colleagues because they would never say “Data” they would say “Data-rr”. Lol.😂
It doesn't really flow better, but what can I say
And what does a floor have to do with and argument
So you guys are just to lazy to actually say the words?
As an American, since I'm forced to write letters into words that are completely silent, I have the freedom to pronounce sounds/letters that are not in words. This is my birth right. Now let me go warsh my hands.
As a Japanese child psychologist specializing in language acquisition, I found this exploration of intrusive /r/ fascinating. While observing young learners, I've noticed Japanese children often struggle with English /r/ sounds due to phonetic differences – our alveolar flap /ɾ/ versus the English approximant. This intrusion phenomenon might actually help learners perceive word boundaries in connected speech, acting as a natural bridge between vowels. However, explicit instruction about these linking sounds could reduce confusion, especially for auditory learners. It raises interesting questions about whether such phonological patterns should be taught intentionally or acquired naturally through exposure. Thank you for highlighting these nuances of spoken English!
日本の児童心理学者（言語習得専門）として、この「侵入的/r/音」に関する考察に非常に興味を持ちました。幼い学習者を観察する中で、日本語話者の子どもが英語の/r/音に苦労する傾向があることに気付きます——日本語の歯茎はじき音/ɾ/と英語の接近音の違いが原因です。この「侵入」現象は、実際には学習者が連続した発話中の単語の境界を認識する助けとなり、母音間の自然な架け橋として機能する可能性があります。ただし、特に聴覚優位の学習者にとっては、これらの連結音について明示的に指導することで混乱を軽減できる可能性があります。こうした音韻パターンを意図的に教えるべきか、自然な曝露を通じて習得させるべきか——大変興味深い問いを提起しています。英語話し言葉の微妙なニュアンスに光を当てていただき感謝します！
I went to Americar and met with Amandar in august.
That intrusive R sounds awful. It should not be taught as proper English.
Little bit difficult
Wrong interpretation in this video! The first two speakers are not using any kind of linking or intrusive r but simply making a quick silent pause (similarly to the standard South African accent some British people do not use the intrusive r but a silent pause between vowels)
This doesnt explain why english people pronounce the words with Rs at the end of them when there is no word starting with a vowel afterwards. They pronounce the R at the end of words when they are at the end of a sentence. Like the word idea they say idear
Lore and order is important.
Great 👍
I can well remember people with Boston accent adding R to Canada (CanadER), etc
There are a few non-rhotic American accents, Boston+NYC most notable. These accents also are known for adding an intrusive R (Canada = CanadER). But, local, regional accents in America are mocked and are fading. Many young people especially middle class and up, speak with what's called a Standard American Accent (Rhotic , often a strong R pronunciation).
As an Asian, we don't have to worry about the R
floor lmao
no way i'm pronouncing that way
Old people from Georgia (US) seem to do something similar: Tampar, Alaskar, etc.. but with an American R at the end
How about drawring, sawring, pawring, thawring, cawring?
I also hear an a sound like 'uh' at the end of order.
Now there's speaking posh and speaking clearly. Posh people speaking tend to drag the words longer towards the end of the word. People who speak clearly, will speak more slowly and pronounce the vowels and consonants and emphasize certain words using stresses.
Lauren Orda.
There was a floor in the argument? How does this improve communication? Perhaps there's a floor in my argument?
listenah, and speakah