Abstract
The realization of postvocalic /r/ has been frequently examined in both diachronic and synchronic research on world Englishes, showing a multitude of linguistic and extra-linguistic factors to modulate the degree of rhoticity. Since rhoticity is one of the most important indices of variation across Englishes, it forms an instructive phonological marker to investigate the dynamics of norm formation in emerging varieties. While the Inner and Outer Circle varieties have been extensively studied, there is fairly little research on the variable realization of postvocalic /r/ in the Expanding Circle Englishes. Here, we fill this gap with a study on the degree of rhoticity by highly proficient users of an EFL variety emerging in China, college English teachers, who are pertinent norm providers for EFL learners. We provide a multivariate analysis of phonological and sociolinguistic factors conditioning the degree of rhoticity in Chinese English on the basis of speech production data from 13 participants. Results show that Chinese English is best categorized as marginally rhotic. Concerning the patterning of phonological variables, it aligns more with Inner Circle than Outer Circle Englishes, albeit with significant inter- and intra-speaker variability. We discuss the competing roles of norm orientation, substrate influence, and other relevant variables therein.
Highlights
Due to their ambivalent phonetic properties, rhotic sounds are one of the most variable segments across the languages of the world, in their actual phonetic realization and in their distribution within different word positions and phonological contexts
Since the present research investigated two similar speech styles that were included in the Yunnan English study, namely interview and reading, we can conclude that Yunnan English is rather non-rhotic compared with Chinese English, with the degree of rhoticity for both speech tasks lower than 50%
We explored a relatively small but quite instructive aspect of this emerging variety, the degree of rhoticity, and showed the way internal and external factors constrain the production of (r) on the basis of experimental data collected from college English teachers in China
Summary
Due to their ambivalent phonetic properties, rhotic sounds are one of the most variable segments across the languages of the world, in their actual phonetic realization and in their distribution within different word positions and phonological contexts. While non-rhotic accents pronounce /r/ only in syllable onsets as in red or break, rhotic accents would produce the same category in the postvocalic position as in here and hurt. Despite this coarse distinction, rhoticity is known to be a gradient phenomenon. The classic work of Labov (1966) on New York City English, for instance, has shown that speakers go beyond the binary rhotic-nonrhotic distinction and instead show gradient patterns in their realization of postvocalic /r/. Do you have any experience abroad? If yes, please indicate the country and length of residence
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
