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

Other Word Forms

• rhotacistic adjective
• rhotacist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhotacism¹

1825–35; < Greek rhô rho + (io)tacism

Word History and Origins

Origin of rhotacism¹

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

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.

From New York Times

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg