I have recently brought up in conversation with significant others of a particular ad that has the main actor with what I presumed to be a speech impediment, like me others apparently consider such phenonema;
" So many English people pronounce " r " as " w "
Bargain Hunt is on right now and, according to the host, one team have bought a " Beatwix Potter plate "
" Pwoperty pwices " are always rising.
This is peculiarly English, we Aussies and the Americans and Canadians don't do it.
Why is it so? " "but there is an answer according to; forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=830850
I am constantly surprised that this trend is not more widely recognised, indeed as in this case, when the issue is raised it is usually explained away as a speech impediment or some other cause that refuses to address the matter. From my experience Fiona is quite right. The phenomenon of sounding r as w is much more common in the language of England, and further more, it is more common in english speakers of certain class and educational level. Rather than being a speech impediment caused by some physical vocal fault, it is a learned behaviour that is handed down through generations. It seems to be far more a speech mannerism than an impediment.
Where this speech habit appears in other cultures, eg Australian, Canadian or American english it is far more likely that it is an impediment, but in English speakers of upper middle class, it is a language trait as common as that of any other facet of accent.
What do you think and does Mark fwom O'Bwien annoy you?
