When do the british pronounce r?

[BobK]

Not in all of them: the "r" in "storm" is silent.

I think K was talking about consonant clusters that come before a vowel (as in his examples). Although it looks like a consonant cluster, the '-rm' of 'storm' isn't one (in a phonological sense). (Of course, the dialectal variaations already noted do sound the r - indeed there are some that insert a schwa between the r and the m).

b

[birdeen's call]

I think K was talking about consonant clusters that come before a vowel (as in his examples). Although it looks like a consonant cluster, the '-rm' of 'storm' isn't one (in a phonological sense). (Of course, the dialectal variaations already noted do sound the r - indeed there are some that insert a schwa between the r and the m).

I don't understand. Isn't it a consonant cluster for a Californian person, for example? It's not for a speaker of a non-rhotic accent of course, but that was my point. Do you mean that I shoud have taken "stormed" as an example?

In which accents is there a schwa between the "r" and the "m" in "storm"? It doesn't sound unnatural to me but I can't recall any particular accent that does that.

[BobK]

I don't understand. Isn't it a consonant cluster for a Californian person, for example? It's not for a speaker of a non-rhotic accent of course, but that was my point. Do you mean that I shoud have taken "stormed" as an example? I was just defending K's examples, and I'd bet myself I wouldn't be the first to say 'non-rhotic'!

In which accents is there a schwa between the "r" and the "m" in "storm"? It doesn't sound unnatural to me but I can't recall any particular accent that does that.

bhai would know for sure, but I think the Irish 'form' sounds like 'forum'.

Something similar happens with another liquid. Irish 'film' definitely has two syllables.

b

[5jj]

Something similar happens with another liquid. Irish 'film' definitely has two syllables.b

So does Geordie 'film', but I think Geordie 'form' is only one syllable.

[BobK]

bhai would know for sure, but I think the Irish 'form' sounds like 'forum'.

...

Maybe it's just my ear. It could be that the r is syllabic. Since doing my CELTA I've taken to hearing schwa everywhere, as is the ELT fashion, where there are really syllabic consonants.

b