lower and lour pronunciation

[Abstract Idea]

I have noticed the word "lower" has to distinct pronunciations.
My question is whether such distinct pronunciations are related to distintic meanings of the word lower.

For example, when the word "lower" stands for the comparative of "low" is its pronunciation always the same (\ˈlō-ər\)?

And what about the noun "lower" is it true that the pronunciations of "lower" and "lour" match exactly the same?

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by ymnisky

I have noticed the word "lower" has to distinct pronunciations.
My question is whether such distinct pronunciations are related to distintic meanings of the word lower.

For example, when the word "lower" stands for the comparative of "low" is its pronunciation always the same (\ˈlō-ər\)?

And what about the noun "lower" is it true that the pronunciations of "lower" and "lour" match exactly the same?

'Lower' sounds the same irrespective of the meaning. What is 'lour'?
'lower' contains a triphthong in AusE. / lɔʊə/ or / ləʊə/
or /ləʊwə/

Other triphthongs are:
/aɪə/ /faɪə/ fire
/eɪə/ /fleɪə/ flayer
/ɔɪə/ /fɔɪə/ foyer
/aʊə/ /flaʊə/ flower
It's probably more common to insert a /w/ in flower /flaʊwə/ and also in lower, and often a /j/ in the others

[yiuho]

Originally Posted by ymnisky

I have noticed the word "lower" has to distinct pronunciations.
My question is whether such distinct pronunciations are related to distintic meanings of the word lower.

For example, when the word "lower" stands for the comparative of "low" is its pronunciation always the same (\ˈlō-ər\)?

And what about the noun "lower" is it true that the pronunciations of "lower" and "lour" match exactly the same?

According to Longman Pronunciation Coach Dictionary

lower adjective, comp of low ˈləʊ ə ǁ ˈloʊ ə r ˌ lower ˈ case ◂ ˌ lower ˈ class ◂ ˌ Lower East ˈ Side ˌ Lower ˈ House




lower verb ‘bring down’ ˈləʊ ə ǁ ˈloʊ ə r lower|ed d lowering ˈləʊ ər ɪŋ ǁ ˈloʊ ə r ɪŋ lower|s z


lower adjective, comp of low ˈləʊ ə ǁ ˈloʊ ə r ˌ lower ˈ case ◂ ˌ lower ˈ class ◂ ˌ Lower East ˈ Side ˌ Lower ˈ House


lour ˈla ʊ ‿ə ǁ ˈlaʊ‿ ə r lour|ed d louring ˈla ʊ ‿ər ɪŋ ǁ ˈlaʊ‿ ə r ɪŋ lour|s z

[BobK]

'Lour' is an extremely obscure word (I don't think I've ever used it) meaning something like 'look at (in a menacing way)'. For the purposes of ELT, the word scarcely exists.

Another word, not quite as obscure, is 'bower' (which also has the /aʊ/ pronunciation): Bower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

b

[BobK]

PS - An afterthought about 'lour'. Although I gave the meaning 'look at in a menacing way', it's probably used more often in a figurative sense - a dark/heavy cloud can be called 'louring'.

b