033 intrusive r

Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2014

Intrusive /r/
Words ending with a final letter <r> are linked to a following word beginning with a vowel. This use, which
is justified by the spelling, is called linking .q..

By analogy, however, some speakers extend this linking phenomenon to situations where there is indeed a
final .?+
H?+
@9+
N9+
29. sound followed by a vowel but without an <r> letter in the spelling: this is called
intrusive .q.. Although many consider this to be typical of sloppy speech, even they themselves tend to use
intrusive .q. without being aware of this.

Compare:

Linking .q.

Intrusive .q.

Dr. Allen .!cPjs?q
!zk?m.

China and Japan .!sR`Hm?q
?m
cY?!ozm.

Dear Ellen .!cH?q
!dk?m.

The idea of it .Ch
`H!cH?q
?u
Hs.

More ice .!lN9q
!`Hr.

Law and order .!kN9q
?m
!N9c?.

Star Alliance .!rs@9q
?$k`H?mr.

The Shah of Persia .C?
!R@9q
?u
!o29R?.

Transfer it .sqzmr!e29q
Hs.

Richelieu is mad .!qh9Rki29q
Hy
!lzc.

Context
.,?.
.,H?.

.,N9.
.,@9.
.,29.
•

+ vowel

Transcribe these phrases and decide whether there may be linking .q., intrusive .q. or neither.
Justify your choices.
PHRASE

I could never have imagined.
There you are
Our enemies
Heir apparent
Vodka and tonic
India and Pakistan
Three elephants
Two o’clock
Four X-rays
More useful
I saw it
Your Honour
Do it for her

TRANSCRIPTION

LINKING
.q.

INTRUSIVE
.q.

NEITHER

WHY?