APPENDIX.

The consonant r in English only occurs before a vowel, either in the same or the next word, as in "erring" (eriq), "far off" (faar aof). When not followed by a vowel, that is, either by a pause or a consonant, it is weakened into - the er of "father." After aa and the is absorbed, as in "bar" (baa), "farther" (faadh), "her" (hoe), "heard" (hoed), the first two being indistinguishable from "baa" and "father." is sometimes dropped after ao, especially before a consonant, as in "floor," "floored," although the full flao, flaod are most usual in careful speech, especially when the is final. After other vowels is preserved throughout, also when the r is sounded as a full consonant: compare "air" (ae), "aired" (aed), and "airy" (aeri) with "far off" (faar aof), "her own" (hoer oun), and "flooring" (flaoriq).

The following table will give a general idea of these changes:-

faar aof (far off)	faa	faadh (farther).
hoer oun (her own)	hoe	hoed (heard).
fiiriq (fearing)	fii	fiid (feared).
aeriq (airing)	ae	aed (aired).
muuriq (mooring)	muu	muud (moored).
flaoriq (flooring)	flao	flaod (floored).
fairiq (firing)	fai	faid (fired).
flauri (flowery, floury)	flau	flaud (flowered).
leiriq (layering)	lei	leid (layered).
louriq (lowering)	lou	loud (lowered).

Note that ei(r) and ou(r) in rapid, especially in vulgar speech, often pass into ae(r) and ao(r).

When r is preceded by a short vowel, as in "hurry" (hri), "merry" (meri), no is generated.

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James Chandler 1998.