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

[Tom Zurinskas]

For an American publisher to say this below is incredible to me.

The Barnes and Noble "Webster's Student Dictionary - Newly Revised Edition" 1999 says: "-r is never pronounced at the end of words but when a word ending in -r is followed by a vowel the -r can be pronounced."

The phonetic notation appears to be SAMPA.  All the words ending in "r" are represented with an upside down e (no "r").  The word "park" is pa:k.  This is not varified by m-w.com.  How could a "student dictionary" be so wrong?

Tom Zurinskas, USA - CT20, TN3, NJ33, FL5+
See truespel.com - and the 4 truespel books plus "Occasional Poems" at authorhouse.com.





> Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:45:53 -0400
> From: paul.johnston at WMICH.EDU
> Subject: Re: Websters dictionary mandates no "r" at the end of words
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Paul Johnston
> Subject: Re: Websters dictionary mandates no "r" at the end of words
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 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:
>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender: American Dialect Society
>> Poster: Tom Zurinskas
>> 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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