People from England - curious about something

[Fritzo]

I've noticed that a lot of people with British accents seem to place an "r" at the end of words that end with an "a".

For instance:

America is pronounced "Americ-r"
Mama is pronounced "Mom-r"
Alaska is pronounced "Alask-r"
I've even heard Obama pronounced "Obam-r"

Is that a regional thing?

BTW- take heart in knowing that the British have the best accents. Nice work guys. Really well done.

 

[bart1975]

I noticed that some people from southern states in the US do this occasionally.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I noticed that some people from southern states in the US do this occasionally.

This is true, but it is rare here.

 

[Jumpem]

And why do you guys get fish and chips places on every corner instead of burger places!? I wish that were the case here.

 

[brblx]

i have never heard them except in hillbilly slang.

i think what you're referring to is more of a tendency to replace a short 'u' sound with a short 'e' sound.

 

[foghorn67]

Yes, they do. And it's horrible.
The letter Z is "zair."

I have no "idear."

Have you driven that "zair R1?"

What a butchery.

 

[overst33r]

Yes, they do. And it's horrible.
The letter Z is "zair."

I thought it was Zed?

 

[foghorn67]

I thought it was Zed?

Who knows what the hell they are saying. You could be right.

 

[Fritzo]

I guess it has to do with Rhotic accents:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhotic_and_non-rhotic_accents

Kind of a British version of the "Southern" accent.

 

[slayer202]

what? only time I hear it is with some idiots here in the US that don't know how to speak. I think you are confusing, for example, how they say "mamah"

 

[Fritzo]

what? only time I hear it is with some idiots here in the US that don't know how to speak. I think you are confusing, for example, how they say "mamah"

See the Rhotic accent link above. It's basically someone with a very steep British access overstressing the "ahh" sound of a short A, making it sound like R. It's very common if you watch BBC America or listen to British radio.

 

[Arkaign]

See the Rhotic accent link above. It's basically someone with a very steep British access overstressing the "ahh" sound of a short A, making it sound like R. It's very common if you watch BBC America or listen to British radio.

So true. I listen to NPR, which plays BBC world service after hours, and indeed the pronunciation of words that end in A is generally a distinct R sound.

America is indeed Americer. China is Chiner. The one that made me lol was Russiar, which sounds like 'Rusher'. ZOMG ZERG RUSH!

 

[HAL9000]

Americans always think this, but I've never heard it before. I literally have no idea what you mean.

<-- Has a "BBC English" accent, i.e. a generic, normal, no south / north English accent.

 

[dwell]

Also noticed they start words that start with a "H" weird. HMO sounds like "hach-emm-oh"

 

[HAL9000]

Also noticed they start words that start with a "H" weird. HMO sounds like "hach-emm-oh"

That's just morons in the UK.

 

[HAL9000]

BTW- take heart in knowing that the British have the best accents. Nice work guys. Really well done.

Also... Thanks!

P.S. I think you mean English accents, Scottish people or people from Northern Ireland speak very differently.

 

[zinfamous]

Who knows what the hell they are saying. You could be right.

lol "zair?"

why would you even think that?

it's always been "zed."

I think Americans are the only ones that actually say "zee." It's "zed" in nearly every language--remember that it is not unique to the english alphabet.

 

[zinfamous]

Also... Thanks!

P.S. I think you mean English accents, Scottish people or people from Northern Ireland speak very differently.

true.

The Irish actually have the best accents. then the English.

I wish we could speak English with an accent like that, but we're stuck with the boring standard pronunciation. :\

 

[zinfamous]

Americans always think this, but I've never heard it before. I literally have no idea what you mean.

<-- Has a "BBC English" accent, i.e. a generic, normal, no south / north English accent.

most of the BBC news broadcasters I listen to always say "Chin-er."

How have you not noticed this?

also, Russ-er, any word that ends in soft vowel (Well, a or e, I think), always gets an -r on the end.

always.

 

[Arkaign]

Americans always think this, but I've never heard it before. I literally have no idea what you mean.

<-- Has a "BBC English" accent, i.e. a generic, normal, no south / north English accent.

Haha

Surely you've heard it.

I found this thread :

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=507655&page=2

In which several brits admit to this truth. It led me to this song, fast forward to around 2:05, and listen to him pronounce Donner instead of Donna


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La8rXO9VrYA&feature=related

 

[HAL9000]

true.

The Irish actually have the best accents. then the English.

I wish we could speak English with an accent like that, but we're stuck with the boring standard pronunciation. :\

I agree, I do love an Irish accent.

Pretty sure you mean an American pronunciation

most of the BBC news broadcasters I listen to always say "Chin-er."

How have you not noticed this?

also, Russ-er, any word that ends in soft vowel (Well, a or e, I think), always gets an -r on the end.

always.

Never heard that ever,

Haha

Surely you've heard it.

I found this thread :

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=507655&page=2

In which several brits admit to this truth. It led me to this song, fast forward to around 2:05, and listen to him pronounce Donner instead of Donna


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La8rXO9VrYA&feature=related

To me Donner and Donna sounds exactly the same, neither have an R sound at the end.

 

[zinfamous]

Never heard that ever,

Proof! neckbeard is not from England! He's a completely fabricated troll personality!

 

[HAL9000]

Proof! neckbeard is not from England! He's a completely fabricated troll personality!

Shit! You know.

 

[Arkaign]

To me Donner and Donna sounds exactly the same, neither have an R sound at the end.

 

[HAL9000]

Serious. In the UK things don't have an extended RRRRR sound at the end of words, unless you are a pirate arrrr!