Websters dictionary mandates no "r" at the end of words

[Paul Johnston]

I don't know whether Noah Webster was non-rhotic (I don't think so),
but tons of Americans born in his home state and YOURS are, Tom.
They still can get an American passport if they come from, say,
Putnam, CT.


On Sep 26, 2008, at 5:19 PM, Tom Zurinskas wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Tom Zurinskas <truespel at HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Websters dictionary mandates no "r" at the end of words
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------
>
> I've started collecting dictionaries=2C interested in the various
> pronuncia=
> tion guide notations. =20
> =20
> The Barnes and Noble "Webster's Student Dictionary - Newly Revised
> Edition"=
>  1999 says: "-r is never pronounced at the end of words=2C but when
> a word =
> ending in -r is followed by a vowel=2C the -r can be pronounced."
> =20
> Barnes and Noble is a USA company.  The book is said to be an
> "American Edi=
> tion".  However=2C the editor is Britisher P.H. Collin=2C which
> explains th=
> e "r" dropping.  The word color is spell colour.  Farm is /fa:m/.
> The nota=
> tion appears to be the English-unfriendly SAMPA=2C which is partly
> a Britis=
> h creation.  I can't replicate it here because of the special symbols.
> =20
> Apparently=2C Barnes and Noble purchased the rights to the British
> dictiona=
> ry from UK's Harrap Publishing and merely marketed it in USA with
> minimal c=
> hange.  Webster's it's not=2C and American it's not.  I hope they
> corrected=
>  these mistakes. =20
> =20
> Tom Zurinskas=2C USA - CT20=2C TN3=2C NJ33=2C FL5+See truespel.com
> - and th=
> e 4 truespel books plus "Occasional Poems" at authorhouse.com.=20
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