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Rhotacism: A complete guide to this speech impediment

Remember when you were a child and spoke by making your “R’s” sound like “W’s” and everything thought it was cute? That’s known as rhotacism and some people live with it even as adults. What is rhotacism, what is it like in other languages, and what are its symptoms? What does it look like as a speech impediment and what are some examples? What are its causes? How does it affect the brain ? Is it curable and how can it be fixed? This article will answer all your doubts about rhotacism. 

What is rhotacism?

Rhotacism is a speech impediment that is defined by the lack of ability, or difficulty in, pronouncing the sound R . Some speech pathologists, those who work with speech impediments may call this impediment de-rhotacization because the sounds don’t become rhotic, rather they lose their rhotic quality. It could also be called a residual R error.

It’s not such an uncommon phenomenon and actually also happens with the letter L , a phenomenon known as lambdacism . Sometimes people mistake these speech impediments for a lisp, of which they are not. Within the 2000-2001 school year, more than 700,000 students within the American public school system were categorized as having either a language impediment or a speech impediment. Ironically, all three speech impediments contain the troubled letter within them.

The word rhotacism comes from the New Latin rhotacism meaning peculiar or excessive use of [r]. The Latin word came from Ancient Greek word rhōtakismós which means to incorrectly use “rho” which is the equivalent of the Greek R. For language nerds, here’s a really great explanation of how the word came into being.

How does rhotacism work in different languages?

Rhotacism is, in theory , more common among people whose native language has a trilled R. For example, in Spanish the “rr” is a trilled R. Other languages with a trilled R include Bulgarian, Hungarian, Arabic, Finnish, Romanian, Indonesian, Russian , Italian, and most Swedish speakers. Some people might mock Asians, specifically Chinese, for not being able to pronounce the English word “broccoli” correctly- rather pronouncing it “browccoli”. This isn’t due to a rhotacism, however. It’s actually due to the fact that Mandarin (Chinese) words can have an “r” sound in the beginning of a word, but not in the middle or end of a word. This leads them to have issues in their phonotactics and creates an inability to pronounce the English “R” in the middle of words.

The leader of Hezbollah, Hasan Nasrallah, is a Lebanese leader and is mocked for his rhotacism when he says, “ Amwīka ” and “ Iswā’īl ” for the Arabic Amrīka (America), and Isrā’īl (Israel). He is a native Arabic speaker- a language which has the trilled R. Notice how he puts a W sound in those two words where the R sound usually is.

Symptoms of rhotacism

• Some people try to hide their impediment by avoiding words with R ’s in them.
• An overall inability to say R sounds
• Using trilled R’s or guttural R’s (such as the French R) when trying to pronounce the regular English R.

Rhotacism as a speech impediment

Using a strict classification, only about 5%-10% of the human population speaks in a completely normal way. Everyone else suffers from some type of speech disorder or another. For children of any language, the R sounds are usually the hardest to master and often end up being the last ones a child learns. That’s why baby talk if you think about it, doesn’t really use explicit or strong R sounds. In English, rhotacism often comes off as a W sound which is why “Roger Rabbit” sounds like “Woger Wabbit”. R is often more difficult because a child has to learn the different combination of the /r/ sounds, not just the letter itself, unlike other letters. For example, when it comes before and after vowel sounds. The combination of a vowel with the /r/ sound is called a phenome and in English, there are eight combinations of these:

–        The prevocalic R , such as “rain”

–        The RL , such as “girl”

–        The IRE, such as “tire”

–        The AR, such as “car”

–        The EAR , “such as “beer”

–        The OR , such as “seashore”

–        The ER , such as “butter”

–        The AIR , such as “software”

A speech impediment is a speech disorder , not a language disorder . Speech disorders are problems in being able to produce the sounds of speech whereas language disorders are problems with understanding and/or being able to use words. Language disorders, unlike speech disorders, have nothing to do with speech production.

Often what happens is that the person speaking isn’t tensing their tongue enough, or not moving their tongue correctly (up and backward depending on the dialect) which makes the W or “uh” sound come out. It may also be that the person is moving their lips instead of their tongue.

Examples of rhotacism

• Barry Kripke from the TV show The Big Bang Theory has both rhotacism and lambdacism- meaning he has issues pronouncing both his R ’s and his L ’s.
• The most famous of rhotacism would be Elmer Fudd from Looney Tunes . He pronounces the word “rabbit” [ˈɹ̠ʷæbɪ̈t] as “wabbit” [ˈwæbɪ̈t]
• In Monty Python’s Life of Brian , the 1979 film’s character Pilate suffers from rhotacism. In the film, people mock him for his inability to be understood easily.

Here’s a video with a woman who suffers from rhotacism. She explains how difficult it can be to have the speech impediment.

Causes of rhotacism

For many people, the causes of rhotacism are relatively unknown-, especially in adults. However, scientists theorize that the biggest cause is that the person grew up in an environment where they heard R ’s in a weird way, the shape of their mouths are different than normal, or their tongues and lips never learned how to produce the letter. In children, this could happen because the parents or adults around think the way the child talks (using baby talk) is cute and the child never actually learns how to produce it.

For one internet forum user, it has to do with how they learned the language , “I speak various languages, I pronounce the “R” normal in Dutch, French, and Spanish, but I have a rhotacism when speaking English. It’s the way I learnt it.”

For other people, speech issues are a secondary condition to an already existing, serious condition. Physically, it would be a cleft lip or a cleft palate. Neurologically, it could be a condition such as cerebral palsy. It may also be a tongue tie . Almost everyone has a stretch of skin that runs along the bottom of their tongue. If that skin is too tight and reaches the tip of the tongue, it can make pronouncing (and learning how to pronounce) R ’s and L ’s difficult. If the tongue tie isn’t fixed early on, it can be incredibly difficult to fix and learn how to pronounce later.

How the brain affects rhotacism

The brain affects rhotacism only for those who suffer from it not due to a physical impediment (such as a cleft palate). For some, this could happen because the brain doesn’t have the phonemic awareness and never actually learned what the letter R is supposed to sound like. This is common with kids whose parents spoke to them in “baby talk” and encouraged the child’s baby talk, too. This kind of behavior only strengthens a child’s inner concept that / R / is pronounced like “w” or “uh”.

Another reason could be that the brain connections simply don’t allow the lips or mouth to move in the way they need to in order to pronounce the R . This inability has little to do with physical incapabilities and more to do with mental ones. Some people with rhotacism have an issue with their oral-motor skills which means that there isn’t sufficient communication in the parts of the brain responsible for speech production.

Treatment for rhotacism

Is rhotacism curable.

It can have negative social effects- especially among younger children, such as bullying, which lowers self-esteem and can have a lasting effect. However, if the impediment is caught early enough on and is treated rather quickly, there is a good overall prognosis meaning it’s curable.

        However, some people never end up being able to properly pronounce that R and they end up substituting other sounds, such as the velar approximant (like w sounds) , the uvular approximant (also known as the “French R ”), and the uvular trill ( like the trilled R in Spanish).

How to fix rhotacism

Rhotacism is fixed by speech therapy . Before anything else, there needs to be an assessment from a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who will help decide if the problem can be fixed. If a child is involved, the SLP would predict if the child can outgrow the problem or not. After the diagnosis, a speech therapist will work with the person who suffers from the speech impediment by possibly having weekly visits with some homework and practice instructions. Therapy happens in spouts- a period of a few weeks and a break. There is a follow-up to see if there has been an improvement in pronunciation. In the U.S., children who are in school and have a speech disorder are placed in a special education program. Most school districts provide these children with speech therapy during school hours.

Another option, often used alongside speech therapy, is using a speech therapy hand-held tool that helps isolate the sound being pronounced badly and gives an image of the proper tongue placement to enable better pronunciation.

One study tested a handheld tactical tool (known as Speech Buddies) and the traditional speech therapy methods. The study found that students who used the hand-held tool (alongside speech therapy) improved 33% faster than those who used only the traditional speech therapy methods.

Have you or someone you know ever struggled with rhotacism? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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R Sound Speech Therapy: How to Overcome Rhotacism

The ‘R’ sound is one of the most common articulation challenges, affecting individuals from

early childhood into late adulthood. This speech impediment, called rhotacism, can influence social interaction, self-esteem, and academic or professional performance.

Fortunately, this challenge can be overcome by identifying its symptoms, understanding its

causes, actively working on articulation, and for optimal results, seeking professional speech

therapy. So, let’s break down how to overcome difficulties with the ‘R’ sound!

In this article, we will discuss:

Identifying the Symptoms of Rhotacism

Understanding the Causes of Rhotacism Overcoming Difficulty with the ‘R’ Sound Seeking Speech Therapy for Rhotacism

To accurately address and overcome rhotacism, you’ll first need to identify the impediment. The difficulty in pronouncing an ‘R’ sound can present itself in various ways.

Individuals may replace ‘R’ sounds with other sounds, such as 'w', 'l', or a distorted 'r' that does not sound clear or is slurred. For example, "rabbit" might be pronounced as "wabbit.", or “store” might be pronounced as “stole”.

It's important to listen for consistency in this misarticulation across different words and contexts. Early identification can be beneficial, as younger individuals often respond well to intervention strategies.

Embrace Clarity with R Sound Speech Therapy Today!

Understanding the Causes of Rhotacism

Rhotacism can stem from a wide variety of causes. Anatomical factors, such as an unusually

short or tight lingual frenulum (the tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth), can restrict tongue movements necessary for making the 'R' sound.

Neurological or developmental issues may also play a role, affecting the individual's ability to learn and perform the precise tongue and mouth movements required for correct pronunciation. Additionally, inadequate exposure to correct sound production in early childhood can contribute to the persistence of rhotacism. By understanding the causes of rhotacism, you can address the issue directly, optimizing the efficiency of treatment.

Overcoming Difficulty with the ‘R’ Sound

Overcoming rhotacism typically involves specific speech therapy exercises aimed at improving the articulation of the 'R' sound. Techniques might include:

● Tongue positioning exercises: Teaching the correct placement of the tongue to

produce the 'R' sound, which is often at the back of the mouth and involves a slight

curling of the tongue.

● Strengthening tongue muscles: Exercises designed to enhance the flexibility and

strength of the tongue for better control.

● Listening and repetition drills: Using audio recordings of correct 'R' sounds and

practicing them repeatedly.

● Visual aids: Showing diagrams of mouth positions and using mirrors to help individuals

see and adjust their tongue placement.

Seeking Speech Therapy for Rhotacism

If you or someone you know is showing signs of rhotacism, or any speech impediment, it's

important to seek professional evaluation. Early detection and intervention are critical for

effective management and can significantly impact quality of life.

Our team at Better Speech is committed to providing comprehensive assessments and tailored interventions for speech and language disorders. Contact our experts today to start your journey towards better communication.

To get started, find your speech therapist today. At Better Speech, we know you deserve speech therapy that works. Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating a variety of speech and language disorders. Reach out to our skilled Speech-Language Pathologists for guidance on managing and improving communication skills. At Better Speech, we offer online speech therapy services convenient for you and tailored to your child's individual needs. Our services are affordable and effective - get Better Speech now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is most suitable for beginning therapy for rhotacism.

Therapy for rhotacism can begin as soon as an issue is noticed, which can be as early as preschool years. Early intervention is beneficial because younger children often adapt more quickly to changes in tongue placement and muscle use. However, it's never too late to start, and adults can also see significant improvements with dedicated practice.

Can rhotacism affect literacy development in children?

How long does it typically take to correct rhotacism with speech therapy, can other speech disorders accompany rhotacism, what role do parents and caregivers play in the treatment of rhotacism.

About the Author

Aycen Zambuto

I’m a seasoned educator in speech therapy with over six years of experience helping people navigate challenges in communication. Throughout this time, I’ve found joy in guiding individuals through a variety of therapeutic journeys, from toddlers with apraxia to seniors with dysphonia.

I’m passionate about demystifying this complex world of speech therapy and helping readers around the globe achieve clear and effective communication. When I’m not writing about speech, you’ll often find me reading, traveling or spending time with friends and family.

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R Word List Speech Therapy Materials

If your child is having trouble saying the sound R, my R Word List page can help you!

If you are a speech therapist and you need some R speech therapy materials, you have come to the right place!

Below you will find lots of free materials!

• First, there is a FREE worksheet (for non-members) and link (for members) to access new articulation materials.
• Second, there is a word list for  quick viewing .
• Next, you can sign up for a FREE newsletter and receive  A LL THE WORD LISTS in one Folder in your Google Drive.
• After that, check out a brief explanation on how to say the target sound.
• Last, there are ideas for  articulation practice that do not require flashcards or word lists. This is the most functional option and appropriate for children working on generalization.

If you need a more in-depth explanation of R and how to say:

• prevocalic R

R Worksheets and More!

We have BRAND-NEW articulation worksheets for teaching, drill practice, generalization, and language based articulation games! 

• If you are a member, log in, download, and you are ready to roll here.
• If you want to join,  sign up here. 

Just fill out the form below to grab your free worksheet!

21 free smashmats.

Sign up below to receive your free materials.

R Word List

Google Drive Word List

Sign up with your email address to receive all the word lists instantly! They will be yours now and forever!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Google Drive. I can access my word lists from any device; laptop, desktop, or phone. 

If you want a copy, fill out the form above. I put all the word lists in one folder.  Once you receive your email with the materials, make a copy of the files and they are yours to use and tweak as needed.

• If you need help saving the word lists to your Google Drive, click here:  Save Google Document
• If you LOVE Google Drive as much as I do, check out our  Speech Therapy Documentation Page. 

R Packet Using High-Frequency Words

This is MY FAVORITE NEW RESOURCE! I HONESTLY use it all the time for each articulation session and handouts for home practice.

The words chosen for speech therapy can make all the difference between a good therapy program and a great one! For the generalization phase, it is crucial to use high-frequency words!! It only makes sense to use words that the client will actually say outside of the therapy room. Right?!

For only $5, you will receive  35 pages  of materials including:

• Flashcards that can be used as Cariboo Cards too, yeah!
• Flashcard free games that can be used as home practice
• Dot sheets, smash-mats, and/or coloring pages
• Articulation warm-up sheets which can be used as a goal review sheet
• Flashcards which contain word, phrase, and sentence level practice
• Cut/paste sentence level worksheets
• Self-assessment sheets
• Parent handouts

Read more about it  here. 

Articulation Games for R

The R sound is a later developing sound, usually mastered by age 5. R is also one of the hardest sounds to master in ANY language!

Take turns with your child saying the desired words. It is important to practice  hearing and   saying  the words.

• Write - Say “write” as you take turns drawing on a piece of paper
• Race - Say “race” as you and your child run across the yard
• Ready - Say “ready” before you start your race
• Read - Say “read” as your child reads a sentence in a book
• Fork - Say “fork” during meals
• Shirt - Say “shirt” as your child helps you with the laundry
• Sorry - Say “sorry” while playing the board game, Sorry
• Car - While talking about your favorite car, say “car”
• Hair - Say “hair” while your child combs her hair
• Wear - Say “I’m wearing” while describing what clothes you are wearing

Membership Site

If you are a parent and your child

• has trouble saying multiple sounds 
• needs to work on vocabulary development
• is working on improving grammar
• is working on narrative structure
• needs to work on social skills

AND you want

• a step-by-step guide to help your child 
• ideas on how to improve all language skills at home
• functional games

Then, our  members site might be just what you need. 

If you are a professional and you want: 

• Articulation Screening Tools
• Data tracking sheets
• Templates in Google Drive for easy data tracking and graphing
• Homework sheets/parent handouts on articulation therapy
• General flashcard games
• 36 flashcards for each sound: B, D, F, G, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, Z, SH, TH, CH
• 8-10 functional games for each sound
• Language based worksheets to spice things up!
• Picture description tasks
• Short story stimuli

Our  membership might be just what you need.

Example of Vocalic R Materials

When teaching prevocalic and vocalic R, we need the right cues and teaching materials. I added the new materials to the membership site.

Animated Cue Cards

• animated cue cards for OR, AR, IRE, EAR, EAR, ER, AND RL
• Great for teaching and providing the specific feedback each child needs (not too much or too little)

Printable Cue Cards

• Printable cue cards for OR, AR, IRE, EAR, EAR, ER, AND RL
• These are great handouts and help to keep all caregivers on the same page!

Teaching Material

• visual cues for how to combine the vowel to R
• use for teaching phase and review as needed

Specific Vocalic R Warm Up

• Warm-Up for: OR, AR, IRE, EAR, EAR, ER, AND RL
• Use for goal review, anatomy review, and to "warm up" muscles
• plus get quick drill practice

Prevocalic & Vocalic R Practice

• If a child can either say the prevocalic R but not the vocalic R (and vice versa), you can use that!
• Use phonetic placement to facilitate the needed R. 
• I LOVE THESE!

New Print and No-Print Materials

• web memory game
• no-print flashcards
• print flashcards
• leveled flashcards
• Word Lists For Speech Therapy
• R Word List For Articulation Practice

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What is the best word (or term) to identify pronouncing W's for L's and R's?

Is there a specific/proper/technical term for it? And not just the R-flop, but specifically the L-flop to W.

What would work here:

“I'm watching Formula 1 on Sky Sports and the __________ of the Brit announcers is so annoying - it's killing me." “Billie Piper is so hot. Her __________ in Dr. Who has me rubbing my legs together like a cricket.”

You get the idea.

• Rhotacism – I think related to other speech “impediments”, possibly too specific to the letter R, or at least not specific enough, I don't think
• Elmer Fudd Syndrome – too pejorative
• Baby Talk – perfect in above sentences, but I think reserved for intentional use.
• Johnathan Ross Syndrome - ?
• The L/R to W speech impediment - ?
• L-vocalization - ?
• “non-rhotic dialect r fronting” - ?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld3A3QCpXd4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6j63IyE-EM
• http://dialectblog.com/2011/05/26/the-trubbow-with-l-vocalization/
• http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ElmuhFuddSyndwome
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhotacism
• http://dialectblog.com/2011/02/07/jonathan-ross-and-the-letter-r/
• word-choice
• single-word-requests
• phrase-requests
• terminology
• idiom-requests

• 2 Wabiawization ? –  John Lawler Commented May 13, 2015 at 18:12
• 1 As far as I can tell, there isn't an official term to encompass both cases besides something general such as speech impediment . –  Adam Commented May 13, 2015 at 18:20
• 1 Johnathan Ross Syndrome was the precise name/wording that immediate sprung to my mind before I even read the body of the question itself. –  Janus Bahs Jacquet Commented May 13, 2015 at 18:27
• @Janus: I've heard/seen the man himself referred to as Johnathan Woss many times (including, obviously, every time he says it! :). I can't specifically recall whether I've ever heard anyone call what he does wossing , but that would seem such a natural coinage I prolly wouldn't remember it anyway. –  FumbleFingers Commented May 13, 2015 at 21:11
• Burr is related, but not really the same thing. (I found burr given as the translation of Hungarian raccsolás , which is a speech impediment where the subject is unable to properly roll his Rs, instead producing a sound more akin to H, almost like the CH in Bach.) –  Marthaª Commented May 14, 2015 at 23:56

4 Answers 4

L-vocalization is the term that would be used by linguists. In addition to British English, you can see the change in Polish and Brazilian Portuguese as well (a dark L is pronounced as a vowel or glide instead of as a lateral). Shakespeare himself made a little joke of this in Hamlet :

Gravedigger: It must be se offendendo. It cannot be else. For here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act. And an act hath three branches—it is to act, to do, to perform. Argal , she drowned herself wittingly.

Received Pronunciation is said to be a non-rhotic because speakers do not pronounce the r at the end of words. I'd want to check with some of our UK contributors, but I think that it is a loss of r (and lengthening of the previous vowel) rather than a change from /r/ to /w/.

• 1 That’s only one of the two, though. –  Janus Bahs Jacquet Commented May 13, 2015 at 18:28
• Maybe “L/R-vocalization” ? Anyway, “Will Ferrell” as “Wiwuw Fawuww” , exactly as Johnathan Ross pronounces it in the link, is the most specific thing I'm talking about. It's changing all the L's that is what I hear worst. The R-thing mostly just seems like proper cockney. –  ipso Commented May 13, 2015 at 18:43
• It may be that the velarization of postvocalic English /l/, as well as the liprounding of the English /r/ in all rhotic positions, conspire to produce a neutralization of both resonants to the resonant /w/, which is just a rounded vowel in the velar position. I've never thought about it before, but they do dovetail nicely that way. I spose that's why Elmer Fudd's accent is so easy to mimic -- we've got natural categories already. –  John Lawler Commented May 13, 2015 at 19:50
• To clarify the Hamlet quote: the gravedigger means "ergo" but has misinterpreted the Latin pronunciation. –  Max Commented May 26, 2015 at 12:12

Liquid vocalization is a general term encompassing vocalization of both /l/ and /r/ sounds.

This is the term used in Lisa J. Green's African American English: A Linguistic Introduction (2002), among others.

It's a simple combination of two linguistics terms:

Liquid . This is defined in David Crystal's Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (2008) as:

A term used by some phoneticians in the classification of speech sounds, referring collectively to all the apico-alveolar sounds of the type [l] and [r].

Vocalization. From the same dictionary:

In phonetics, a term referring to the process of changing a consonant articulation so that it becomes more vowel-like. For example, some regional accents of English, such as Cockney, have vocalized final /-l/, so that /wel/ is pronounced as [weʊ].

So although it's not an especially common term, it should be readily understandable for linguists.

Impediment.

a defect in a person's speech, such as a lisp or stammer. noun: speech impediment; plural noun: speech impediments

I think you can get your intention across by combining the terms rhotacism and lambdacism into lambdarhotacism .

I see there is highly related word, although it does not have any W connotation: lallation :

A lallation (also called cambia-letras or troca-letra , "letter changer", in Latin American countries) is an imperfect enunciation of the letter "L", in which it sounds like "R" (or vice versa), as frequently found in infantile speech. Wikipedia

• I guess lallation would suggest the creation of the word wawation . –  jxh Commented May 14, 2015 at 18:14
• Or, should that have been wawwation ? –  jxh Commented May 14, 2015 at 18:20

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Types of Speech Impediments

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Phynart Studio / Getty Images

Articulation Errors

Ankyloglossia, treating speech disorders.

A speech impediment, also known as a speech disorder , is a condition that can affect a person’s ability to form sounds and words, making their speech difficult to understand.

Speech disorders generally become evident in early childhood, as children start speaking and learning language. While many children initially have trouble with certain sounds and words, most are able to speak easily by the time they are five years old. However, some speech disorders persist. Approximately 5% of children aged three to 17 in the United States experience speech disorders.

There are many different types of speech impediments, including:

• Articulation errors

This article explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the different types of speech disorders.

Speech impediments that break the flow of speech are known as disfluencies. Stuttering is the most common form of disfluency, however there are other types as well.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Disfluencies

These are some of the characteristics of disfluencies:

• Repeating certain phrases, words, or sounds after the age of 4 (For example: “O…orange,” “I like…like orange juice,” “I want…I want orange juice”)
• Adding in extra sounds or words into sentences (For example: “We…uh…went to buy…um…orange juice”)
• Elongating words (For example: Saying “orange joooose” instead of "orange juice")
• Replacing words (For example: “What…Where is the orange juice?”)
• Hesitating while speaking (For example: A long pause while thinking)
• Pausing mid-speech (For example: Stopping abruptly mid-speech, due to lack of airflow, causing no sounds to come out, leading to a tense pause)

In addition, someone with disfluencies may also experience the following symptoms while speaking:

• Vocal tension and strain
• Head jerking
• Eye blinking
• Lip trembling

Causes of Disfluencies

People with disfluencies tend to have neurological differences in areas of the brain that control language processing and coordinate speech, which may be caused by:

• Genetic factors
• Trauma or infection to the brain
• Environmental stressors that cause anxiety or emotional distress
• Neurodevelopmental conditions like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Articulation disorders occur when a person has trouble placing their tongue in the correct position to form certain speech sounds. Lisping is the most common type of articulation disorder.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Articulation Errors

These are some of the characteristics of articulation disorders:

• Substituting one sound for another . People typically have trouble with ‘r’ and ‘l’ sounds. (For example: Being unable to say “rabbit” and saying “wabbit” instead)
• Lisping , which refers specifically to difficulty with ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds. (For example: Saying “thugar” instead of “sugar” or producing a whistling sound while trying to pronounce these letters)
• Omitting sounds (For example: Saying “coo” instead of “school”)
• Adding sounds (For example: Saying “pinanio” instead of “piano”)
• Making other speech errors that can make it difficult to decipher what the person is saying. For instance, only family members may be able to understand what they’re trying to say.

Causes of Articulation Errors

Articulation errors may be caused by:

• Genetic factors, as it can run in families
• Hearing loss , as mishearing sounds can affect the person’s ability to reproduce the sound
• Changes in the bones or muscles that are needed for speech, including a cleft palate (a hole in the roof of the mouth) and tooth problems
• Damage to the nerves or parts of the brain that coordinate speech, caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy , for instance

Ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, is a condition where the person’s tongue is attached to the bottom of their mouth. This can restrict the tongue’s movement and make it hard for the person to move their tongue.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Ankyloglossia

Ankyloglossia is characterized by difficulty pronouncing ‘d,’ ‘n,’ ‘s,’ ‘t,’ ‘th,’ and ‘z’ sounds that require the person’s tongue to touch the roof of their mouth or their upper teeth, as their tongue may not be able to reach there.

Apart from speech impediments, people with ankyloglossia may also experience other symptoms as a result of their tongue-tie. These symptoms include:

• Difficulty breastfeeding in newborns
• Trouble swallowing
• Limited ability to move the tongue from side to side or stick it out
• Difficulty with activities like playing wind instruments, licking ice cream, or kissing
• Mouth breathing

Causes of Ankyloglossia

Ankyloglossia is a congenital condition, which means it is present from birth. A tissue known as the lingual frenulum attaches the tongue to the base of the mouth. People with ankyloglossia have a shorter lingual frenulum, or it is attached further along their tongue than most people’s.

Dysarthria is a condition where people slur their words because they cannot control the muscles that are required for speech, due to brain, nerve, or organ damage.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Dysarthria

Dysarthria is characterized by:

• Slurred, choppy, or robotic speech
• Rapid, slow, or soft speech
• Breathy, hoarse, or nasal voice

Additionally, someone with dysarthria may also have other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and inability to move their tongue, lips, or jaw easily.

Causes of Dysarthria

Dysarthria is caused by paralysis or weakness of the speech muscles. The causes of the weakness can vary depending on the type of dysarthria the person has:

• Central dysarthria is caused by brain damage. It may be the result of neuromuscular diseases, such as cerebral palsy, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Central dysarthria may also be caused by injuries or illnesses that damage the brain, such as dementia, stroke, brain tumor, or traumatic brain injury .
• Peripheral dysarthria is caused by damage to the organs involved in speech. It may be caused by congenital structural problems, trauma to the mouth or face, or surgery to the tongue, mouth, head, neck, or voice box.

Apraxia, also known as dyspraxia, verbal apraxia, or apraxia of speech, is a neurological condition that can cause a person to have trouble moving the muscles they need to create sounds or words. The person’s brain knows what they want to say, but is unable to plan and sequence the words accordingly.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Apraxia

These are some of the characteristics of apraxia:

• Distorting sounds: The person may have trouble pronouncing certain sounds, particularly vowels, because they may be unable to move their tongue or jaw in the manner required to produce the right sound. Longer or more complex words may be especially harder to manage.
• Being inconsistent in their speech: For instance, the person may be able to pronounce a word correctly once, but may not be able to repeat it. Or, they may pronounce it correctly today and differently on another day.
• Grasping for words: The person may appear to be searching for the right word or sound, or attempt the pronunciation several times before getting it right.
• Making errors with the rhythm or tone of speech: The person may struggle with using tone and inflection to communicate meaning. For instance, they may not stress any of the words in a sentence, have trouble going from one syllable in a word to another, or pause at an inappropriate part of a sentence.

Causes of Apraxia

Apraxia occurs when nerve pathways in the brain are interrupted, which can make it difficult for the brain to send messages to the organs involved in speaking. The causes of these neurological disturbances can vary depending on the type of apraxia the person has:

• Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS): This condition is present from birth and is often hereditary. A person may be more likely to have it if a biological relative has a learning disability or communication disorder.
• Acquired apraxia of speech (AOS): This condition can occur in adults, due to brain damage as a result of a tumor, head injury , stroke, or other illness that affects the parts of the brain involved in speech.

If you have a speech impediment, or suspect your child might have one, it can be helpful to visit your healthcare provider. Your primary care physician can refer you to a speech-language pathologist, who can evaluate speech, diagnose speech disorders, and recommend treatment options.

The diagnostic process may involve a physical examination as well as psychological, neurological, or hearing tests, in order to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.

Treatment for speech disorders often involves speech therapy, which can help you learn how to move your muscles and position your tongue correctly in order to create specific sounds. It can be quite effective in improving your speech.

Children often grow out of milder speech disorders; however, special education and speech therapy can help with more serious ones.

For ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, a minor surgery known as a frenectomy can help detach the tongue from the bottom of the mouth.

A Word From Verywell

A speech impediment can make it difficult to pronounce certain sounds, speak clearly, or communicate fluently. 

Living with a speech disorder can be frustrating because people may cut you off while you’re speaking, try to finish your sentences, or treat you differently. It can be helpful to talk to your healthcare providers about how to cope with these situations.

You may also benefit from joining a support group, where you can connect with others living with speech disorders.

National Library of Medicine. Speech disorders . Medline Plus.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Language and speech disorders .

Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Stuttering .

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick statistics about voice, speech, and language .

Cleveland Clinic. Speech impediment .

Lee H, Sim H, Lee E, Choi D. Disfluency characteristics of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms . J Commun Disord . 2017;65:54-64. doi:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2016.12.001

Nemours Foundation. Speech problems .

Penn Medicine. Speech and language disorders .

Cleveland Clinic. Tongue-tie .

University of Rochester Medical Center. Ankyloglossia .

Cleveland Clinic. Dysarthria .

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Apraxia of speech .

Cleveland Clinic. Childhood apraxia of speech .

Stanford Children’s Hospital. Speech sound disorders in children .

Abbastabar H, Alizadeh A, Darparesh M, Mohseni S, Roozbeh N. Spatial distribution and the prevalence of speech disorders in the provinces of Iran . J Med Life . 2015;8(Spec Iss 2):99-104.

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Help for the speech impediment R: Sound: When Should Parents Get More Help?

Help for the “r: sound: when should parents get more help.

Is your child saying Wabbit instead of Rabbit or Maw instead of More ? If your child’s language contains these and other mispronunciations of the R sound or a “speech impediment r” issue, we are sure that you have experienced some difficulty in trying to correct it.

The R sound is one the most common sounds in English! Surprising!  And it is also one of the final sounds that you children master, frequently not maturing until they are 6 or 7 years old.

Often, one of the reasons a speech impediment R issue continues in a child’s speech is because of this. Because the sound develops later, one typical misunderstanding is to do nothing: Parents often think: “It will just take care of itself.” In many circumstances, it may resolve on its own, but sometimes kids and parents need some extra help.

If a child does not get help in a timely manner, incorrect R pronunciation might have a cascading effect. Children may become more self-conscious of their speech, their spelling may be harmed (see all the second grade spelling lists with r-controlled vowels? ), and they may be more vulnerable to teasing.

There is a scientific and medical term for the phenomenon of mispronunciation of the R sound. It is called Rhotacism , which refers to the inability or difficulty in pronouncing the /r/ sound.

So how should parents know when it’s time to get the help of a speech therapist? In general, you can review these questions to help guide your decision about getting help for a speech impediment R issue:

• Is your child frustrated when they try to communicate?
• Is their speech hard to understand?
• Is your child being teased?
• Is your child older than the suggested age at which articulation problems should start to fade? (The /r/ sound should be mastered by the age of seven)

According to studies, 7.5 percent of school-aged kids have articulation problems , with the R sound proving particularly challenging. Because this sound occurs before and after vowel sounds, children would need to learn various combinations of the R sound rather than just the sound alone. The vowel that is next to an R has an impact on how sounds and how it is produced.

Here are some examples:

• AR as in far
• AIR as in hair
• EAR as in deer
• ER as in mother
• IRE as in fire
• OR as in more
• RL as in curl
• Prevocalic R as in race

What Should Parents Do for Speech Impediment R Issues?

The initial step should be an articulation evaluation by a professional speech-language pathologist (SLP). You should anticipate a speech therapist to work with you on therapy alternatives once you’ve been diagnosed. Weekly visits with homework and practice directions may be one of these choices.

An SLP will Use Visual Cues:

Giving your child visual cues might also help them learn how to pronounce the /r/ sound correctly. They’ll have to adjust the way they move their mouth to pronounce this sound. This is obviously easier said than done.

Using your arm to demonstrate proper tongue movement is one approach that a therapist can show you how to teach your child: Extend your arm in front of you, then bring it up and in toward your body. Explain to your child that they should make the same action with their tongue when trying to pronounce the /r/ sound.

R Therapy Should Be Fun!

You’ll need to find ways to make these speech therapy activities interesting for your child if you want them to continue with them long enough to see benefits.

Fortunately, learning the R sound is a lot of fun. You can practice getting rid of a speech impediment R issue by:

• Have your child act as if they are an animal. They can practice growling like a bear or roaring like a lion in a fun and enjoyable method to improve their /r/ noises.
• You can even have kids dress up like pirates and practice their “argh” sound while wearing an eye patch.

The general prognosis is very favorable with early intervention and treatment in the early years for a speech impediment r issue. If parents see that the sound is not produced correctly by around age 6 or 7, it may be time to get help from a speech therapist.

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What is it Called When My Child Can’t Pronounce a Sound Like ‘R’

by admin | May 13, 2011 | Children

When a youngster is learning to speak, he or she will often have difficulty producing certain sounds and will replace those sounds with another sound.

A common example of this is the “Elmer Fudd” way of speaking, where all the /r/ sounds are replaced by /w/ sounds. There are several typical phonological processes that children use as they learn speech and language. Usually, children are completely unaware that they have mispronounced a word and may even argue that they said it correctly. Typically, as children get older, they learn to produce those difficult sounds and usually correct those errors without even realizing it. As this happens, children’s speech productions become clearer, and they becomes more intelligible (i.e., easy to understand).

When phonological processes do not disappear by a certain age; and/or the child can easily produce the omitted sound, but doesn’t use it in his or her speech, the child is said to have a phonological disorder . Phonological disorders can and do affect pre-literacy skills. As a result, children with these difficulties usually have difficulty learning to read and write.

As speech therapists, we can help children with phonological difficulties in the following ways:

• We can teach the child how to make the sounds that he/she is having difficulty producing

• We can help the child become aware of his/her difficulties

• We can work with the child and caregivers to improve pre-literacy skills.

Written by: Claudia Correia, Speech-Language Pathologist, The Speech Therapy Centres of Canada.

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Parent's Academy › Speech Disorders › Speech Impediments › 6 Types of Speech Impediments

6 Types of Speech Impediments

Stacie bennett.

Speech-Language Pathologist , Trenton , New Jersey

Jan 28, 2022 ‘Speech and language impediment’ is a very broad term that refers to a communication disorder in an individual that has depressed social, language, communication, hearing, or fluency skills.

In This Article

Speech therapy exercises with speech blubs, apraxia of speech, speech sound disorder, specific language impairment, language-based learning disabilities, key takeaways about speech impediments.

A speech impediment relates to the way an individual produces or articulates specific sounds. One example of this is stuttering. Under the umbrella of a speech impairment lies several different types of disorders with which a child or adult can be diagnosed.

A language impairment involves understanding and sharing thoughts and ideas. For example, this person may not have adequate or “age-appropriate” vocabulary and grammar skills. Again, there are several different language disorders that fall under this category that will be addressed in this blog.

Speech Blubs  is a language therapy app with a vast library of more than 1,500 activities, face filters, voice-activated activities, and educational bonus videos. 

The more you practice, the more it carries over! Try the Speech Blubs app for fun and engaging therapy sessions with your little one.

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3 Types of Speech Disorders

Apraxia of speech is a neurogenic (starts in the nervous system) communication disorder that involves the planning system for speech.

Individuals with Apraxia know what they want to say, but there is a disconnect in the part of the brain that tells a specific muscle to move. When someone is diagnosed with  apraxia of speech , they may have signs of groping, which is where the mouth searches for the position to create the sound.

When this occurs, it affects how long or short the sounds are, and could lead to odd pitch or volume issues and to sounds being distorted or substituted. A tell-tale sign of someone who has apraxia is that they lose the ability to produce sounds that they previously could say.

For instance, if you ask a child to say the word “dog,” which they do successfully and then ask them to say the same word again 10 minutes later, they will not be able to do it. 

Speech sound disorders may be of two varieties: articulation (the production of sounds) or phonological processes (sound patterns).

An articulation disorder  may take the form of substitution, omission, addition, or distortion of normal speech sounds.

Phonological process disorders  may involve more systematic difficulties with the production of particular types of sounds, such as those made in the back of the mouth, like “k” and “g” (ASHA 2018).

Educating a child on the appropriate ways to produce a speech sound and encouraging the child to practice this articulation over time may produce natural speech.

For additional reading on articulation and phonological disorders, check these blogs:

• What Are Phonological Processes
• Process of Articulation Therapy

Stuttering  is a disruption in the fluency of an individual’s speech, which begins in childhood and may persist over a lifetime.

Stuttering is a form of disfluency (an inability to produce fluent speech). Disfluency becomes a problem because it impedes successful communication between two parties. Disfluencies may be due to unwanted repetitions of sounds (e.g., “I-I-I want ice cream”), or the extension of speech sounds (e.g., “S——tart the wash”), syllables (e.g., “Na-na-na nasty”), or words (e.g., “go-go-go to the store”). Disfluencies also incorporate unintentional pauses in speech, in which the individual is unable to produce speech sounds (ASHA 2016).

Unfortunately, the cause of stuttering is unknown, which makes it more difficult to treat. Treatment can vary from person to person depending on the severity and type of stuttering that is occurring. 

Read more on  how to distinguish stuttering as a part of typical speech development from stuttering as a speech disorder!

3 Types of Language Disorders

Specific Learning Impairment (SLI) is diagnosed when a child’s language is not developing as rapidly or as typically as other children. In order for a child to be diagnosed with SLI, they cannot have Autism Spectrum Disorder, Apraxia, hearing loss, or an abnormality of the speech mechanisms. If those disorders are present, they do not have SLI and are exhibiting speech patterns typical of those diagnoses. Usually, the first indication of SLI is that the child is later than usual in starting to speak and subsequently is delayed in putting words together to form sentences.  Spoken language  may be immature. In many children with SLI, understanding of  language , or  receptive  language, is also impaired, though this may not be obvious unless the child is given a formal assessment. This diagnosis is reserved for children whose language difficulties persist into school age, not for children who are speech delayed and eventually catch up to their peers. 

Aphasia  is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions.

The major causes are a cerebral vascular accident (stroke), or head trauma, but aphasia can also be the result of brain tumors, brain infections, or neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia (ASHA 2017).

The difficulties of people with aphasia can range from occasional trouble finding words, to losing the ability to speak, read, or write; intelligence, however, is unaffected. Any person of any age can develop aphasia, given that it is often caused by a traumatic injury. However, people who are middle-aged and older are the most likely to experience the problem. 

Language-based learning disabilities occur in children who are falling behind their same-aged peers. These children will have difficulties with spelling, reading, and/or writing, but have normal intelligence levels. This is a common source of academic struggles in young children and can often be misdiagnosed or missed in typical assessments.

The key to supporting students with LBLD is knowing how to adjust curriculum and instruction to ensure they develop  proficient language and literacy skills . Most individuals with LBLD need instruction that is specialized, explicit, structured, and multisensory, as well as ongoing, guided practice aimed at remediating their specific areas of weakness.

There are a lot of speech and language impediments that can occur in children and adults. This blog only scratches the surface of these disorders, so please stay tuned and check out Speech Blubs regularly for more in-depth blogs regarding these subjects.

If there’s a topic you’d like to know more about, please reach out to us and we will get working on it! As always, if you feel like your child is exhibiting any signs or symptoms of these disorders, it’s important that you make an appointment with a speech-language pathologist as soon as possible to get a full evaluation.

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The author’s views are entirely his or her own and may not necessarily reflect the views of Blub Blub Inc. All content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgement, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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'I know how to do this job': A defiant Biden rejects calls to end his bid for president

WASHINGTON — Amid calls for him to bow out after a disastrous debate performance , a defiant President Joe Biden vowed Friday he will beat Donald Trump in the November election, making clear he has no plans to end his reelection campaign.

"I know I'm not a young man − to state the obvious," Biden said near the end of a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. "Folks, I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth.

"I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back," Biden said, prompting loud applause from supporters.

Biden took the stage to chants of "four more years" following performances by rappers Fat Joe and E-40. From the outset of his remarks, Biden set out to dispel any notion that he might terminate his bid for president following Thursday night's rocky debate.

"I'm here in North Carolina for one reason: because I intend to win this state in November," Biden said. "If we win here, we win the election."

Biden displayed much more energy and spoke clearer than the debate, when he struggled to put together coherent sentences, got lost in his answers and failed to rebut many of Trump's falsehoods. In his speech Friday, Biden slammed Trump as a morally corrupt liar.

"Now folks, I don't know what you did last night, but I spent 90 minutes on the stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat," Biden said, reciting a line he delivered during the debate.

Biden said he guesses Trump broke "a new record for the most lies told in a single debate," singling out above all the former president and presumptive Republican nominee downplaying his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

"His biggest lie: He lied about how he had nothing to do with the insurrection on Jan. 6. We all saw it with our own eyes. We watched it on television," Biden said.

"Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it," Biden said.

During Thursday night's debate hosted by CNN, Biden's voice was hoarse and raspy from the start. He stumbled over words and had to correct himself with numbers. He was sometimes hard to follow. On one occasion, the president appeared to lose his train of thought, stopped speaking and concluded − confusingly − with the line, "we finally beat Medicare."

While Trump talked, Biden often looked his way with a blank stare and his mouth open.

His performance led to calls from anonymous Democratic lawmakers, pro-Biden columnists and other Trump critics for Biden to step aside to let someone else run as the Democratic nominee.

Ahead of Biden's rally in Raleigh, a Biden campaign adviser told USA Today that Biden does not plan to drop out of the race and is committed to taking part in a second debate against Trump. Biden's allies in Congress, including House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., pushed back at Democratic anxieties and said Biden should stay the course.

First lady Jill Biden, wearing a black dress featuring the words "vote," defended her husband's debate performance as she introduced him.

"What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden: a president with integrity and character, who told the truth. And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie," Jill Biden said.

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Biden ally, also gave a vigorous defense of the president.

"Here's one thing I know to be true: When the fate of our country was hanging in the balance with a Donald Trump presidency, Joe Biden saved this nation with his victory in 2020. We must do it again in 2024."

Reach Joey Garrison on x, formerly Twitter @joeygarrison.

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Jonathan Ross and the Letter R

For many years, Britons have mocked television host Jonathan Ross for his pronunciation of the letter “r.” Ross seems to replace this letter with a “w,” so it appears to oustiders that he pronounces his own name “Jonathan Woss.” In reality, this perception is not quite right.

Ross exhibits something I like to call “non-rhotic dialect r fronting.” I’ve noticed that It has often been noted that some speakers of non-rhotic dialects (i.e. dialects where the “r” is dropped at the end of words like “car” and “butter”) have a tendency to front the letter r in other contexts.

There are a few dialects where I’ve seen this to be the case: Cockney/Southeast England, New York City and Boston. Usually what happens here is that instead of pronouncing “r” with the “standard” English alveolar approximant (IPA [ɹ] ), it is pronounced a bit more forward in the mouth as a labiodental approximant (IPA [ʋ] ).

To put this into plain English, it means that where an average American or Brit would pronounce “r” with their tongue planced on the ridge behind the top teeth, Jonathan Ross and people like him pronounce it with the bottom lip placed near the top teeth. It’s not actually “w” we’re hearing, but something in between Standard English “w” and “r.”

There are two other (American) celebrity examples of this: Barbara Walters and Matt LeBlanc (of Friends fame). Walters has received a lot of ribbing about her “loose” r’s, resulting in the Saturday Night Live impression of her from the 1970s in which she opened her talk show with, “hello, I’m Bawbwa Wawa.” The reality is that Walters, who grew up in Boston, exhibits a dialect feature common to where she is from.

Matt LeBlanc is also from Boston, and while his accent is mild, he still displays a bit of the “fronted r:” in old Friends episodes he said the word “Rachel” a bit like “Wrachel.” It isn’t as strong as the other two examples, but you can still hear a slight fronting of the “r.”

I am sure there is a theory about why this happens, but I haven’t read it (yet). Nevertheless, I believe this is an actual dialect feature and not just an individual quirk. The next time you want to make fun of Barbara Walters or Jonathan Ross, realize they’re speaking with accents, not speech impediments.

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12 Responses to Jonathan Ross and the Letter R

So how about some actual evidence that this is an accent (much less “dialect”) feature? It certainly isn’t in the case of Woss. It’s just a case of a well-known variety of “defective” r.

Good point. Let me clear up a few points that I think may help.

Take a look at this YouTube video of an interview with Ross. If you study his mouth when he pronounces his “r”s we are clearly talking about a labiodental approximant, not a “w” (voiced labialized velar approximant). His bottom lip when he says the “r” in “relax” is clearly positioned near his top row of teeth. I don’t think this is much in question, but I just want to be 100% clear on this point.

In retrospect, my humble disclaimer of “I’ve noticed that…” to preface my discussion of labiodental “r” was misleading. While it is true that I have noticed this phenomenon, I am emphatically NOT the first person to realize that many London English speakers (not just Ross), use a labiodental approximant to pronounce “r.” Type “labiodental approximant cockney” into Google and you’ll get a slew of academic materials and articles referring to this phenomenon. Here is just one of many. I don’t think there is any question about this point. (It is also the opinion of the author of the linked article that Ross and other R-labiodentalizers do not have a speech impediment).

There have probably been some studies done about labiodental-r in Boston and New York as well, but I haven’t read much material about that phenomemon. In that case, I am mostly going off my own observations. However, I’ve heard indications of r-fronting in at least Boston speakers so many times over the years, and in so many Bostonian celebrities (Walters, LeBlanc, Jay Leno), that I cannot write all those examples off as merely isolated speech difficulties, especially since I don’t think labiodental “r” should be considered a speech impediment in the first place.

But getting back to Ross, I think the more appropriate question is why this should be considered a speech impediment rather than a legitimate dialect feature. Ross uses a labiodental r. The labiodental r has been identified as a feature of London speech for at least several decades. Jonathan Ross is from London. Is there something I’m missing?

Yes, I’ve noticed this too. This does seem to happen much more often in regions with a non-rhotic accent. It’s interesting how you can hear in non-rhotic areas on both sides of the Atlantic. I wonder what the connection is between having a non-rhotic (I’m trying to see how many times I can use the word “non-rhotic”) accent and using a labiodental r. Why are non-rhotic speakers more likely to do it?

I wish I had some kind of explanation, but I don’t. I’ve had a few hypotheses brewing around in my head about it, but they’re all just speculation!

I can give an answer to this. I grew up in England with a labiodental /r/ a bit like Ross’s. I now live in California and have “corrected” my /r/ to a retroflex approximant.

I’ve observed that my daughter, who grew up and learned to speak here in California, first produced a labiodental nonsyllablic /r/, but a retroflex syllabic /r/. It seems that the apical approximant is easier to produce in syllable than non-syllabic position. Once it is mastered in syllabic position it can then be applied to the non-syllabic position too.

This matches with my own experience. When I arrived in California, I first began imitating the apical approximants in syllabic position.

Of course, since only rhotic accents have syllabic /r/, this would explain why non-rhotic accents are those that allow labial /r/.

i’m sorry to disagree but i have a cousin with the same problem and this is not at all a fronting of the non-rhotic r, of course they dont do it exactly as a w, they know it is not the same sound and make an effort to try to produce an r, but not because of their accent but because they cannot produce the r properly. that is a fact!!

I can’t either, but I think the reason I can’t isn’t an impediment, it’s my accent, just as I can’t roll my Rs because I haven’t grown up speaking French. I was quite shocked when I first learned that it wasn’t standard to pronounce it with your tongue and teeth and I could never understand what people were talking about regarding Jonathan Ross’s pronunciation. Everyone I know does it that way.

It is a speech impediment called Rhotacism. My wife’s son (from a previous marriage) has it.

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There may be a speech impediment form of this, but in the majority of cases it is a learned behaviour. My life has been split roughly evenly between two non-rhotic countries – Australia and the UK. This ‘impediment’ is almost unknown in Australia, but relatively common in the south of England.

I’m from the Boston area and have studied the variations on the accent from one town to another for years. Barbara Walters’ pronunciation is not common. I’ve always assumed she had a speech impediment.

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r pronounced as w - speech impediment

• Thread starter fionasydney
• Start date Feb 14, 2008

fionasydney

• Feb 14, 2008

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?  

anothersmith

Senior member.

I've always understood it to be a speech impediment.  

Elmer Fudd, a genuine, home-grown Amewican, had a gweat pwoblem with this sound, too. If you can believe the Life of Bwian, some Ancient Womans were afflicted with rhotacism.  

Without wishing to get into a long discussion about flapping and all that (there is already at least one thread about that already), I would only say that a lot depends on your perception. I was in America as a youngster, so when I returned to England, I also thought they all pronounced their r's as w's. But when you get used to it, there is a clear distinction between an English r and an English w. Around the world, there are endless variations on the pronunciation of r. And each is relatively soft (like in England) or hard (in America) or in between, or rolled, flapped, whatever.  

<<Reinforcing Lexiphile's Without wishing to get into a long discussion about . To keep the scope of this thread within reasonable bounds, please keep to the topic of r/w confusion of the Elmer Fudd variety. There are other threads about rhotic and non-rhotic pronunciation. Look up rhotic in the WR dictionary. panj (Mod)>>  

Hei, You may want to go on with this discussion here  

• Nov 4, 2008

A certain gentleman and I were talking the other day about this bloke , who is much in the news here at the moment, and who is renowned for having this speech impediment (pronouncing his r 's as w 's: hence his nickname Wossy ). My interlocutor described the impediment as his lisp . "That's not a lisp," said I, "that's a wubble-you ." I wonder if anyone knows the correct name for this particular impediment ... or has their own name for it? (And does anyone else call it wubble-you , as I have all my life?) ( This thread was inconclusive.)  

Ok, first of all the Elmer Fudd Speak is something we refer to as a "weak /r/" or if it happens with /l/, we call it "Gliding of Liquids". Sounds a little dirty but the /r/ and /l/ are classified phonologically as "liquids" and when you say "yeave the wabbit awone" you are "gliding" those liquid sounds. Click to expand...

• Mar 1, 2009

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.  

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20 Tongue Twisters with R in 2024

Tongue twisters are brief statements formed by repeating a letter’s pronunciation. Tongue twisters encourage appropriate tongue posture while pronouncing specific consonants. Gradually, the youngster will be able to enunciate these sounds on his or her own.

Furthermore, the higher the repeat frequency, the greater the tongue synchronization. Even native speakers find tongue twisters challenging! Because of their odd makeup, they are challenging to work with.

Here is a list of the top  tongue twisters with letter R :

1. Reading Bells ring rapidly and reeds rustle round rivers.

2. Rex wrecks wet rocks.

3. Raise Ruth’s red roof.

4. Red lorry, yellow lorry.

5. Round and round the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.

6. Rory’s lawn rake rarely rakes really right.

7. Really leery, rarely Larry.

8. Rubber baby buggy bumpers.

9. Rolling red wagons

10. Really want to run when it’s raining.

11. Red roses are wed to really white roses.

12. Red lorries run alongside the left road.

13. Reliability is being learned by Riley.

14. Reading alone allows you to really relax.

15. Rudder valve reversals

16. Red roses really have rare thrones

17. Red blood blue blood red blood blue blood

18. Revelers revel in leveling levels.

19. Ray Rag ran across a rough road. Across a rough road Ray Rag ran. Where is the rough road Ray Rag ran across?

20. Rh’s watched Ross switch his Irish wristwatch for a Swiss wristwatch.

These  R sound tongue twisters  are particularly useful for practicing the “R” sound, which can be difficult for both children and adults to master. These exercises are also beneficial for  speech therapy , helping individuals to improve their articulation and tongue motor skills.

If you’re interested in multilingual practice, there are also  tongue twisters in Spanish with RR  that can help you with the rolling “R” sound. Here’s an example of a  Spanish R tongue twister :

• Rápido ruedan los carros, recorre rápido Ricardo.

Using these  tongue twisters for R , both in English and Spanish, can greatly enhance your pronunciation skills. Practicing  tongue twisters starting with R  can help to stretch the muscles involved in speaking, making it easier to enunciate words correctly and with greater confidence.

In conclusion, practicing these  tongue twisters for R sound  helps to stretch the muscles involved in speaking, which is important for improving speech and pronunciation.

Regular practice with these  tongue twister R words  will not only make you more proficient in speech but also boost your overall communication skills.

Incorporating these exercises into your routine ensures that you continually work on improving your diction and clarity in both languages.

You might also like to try our these tongue twisters with P .

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How common are speech impediments with the letter R?

Table of Contents

• 1 How common are speech impediments with the letter R?
• 2 How common is rhotacism?
• 3 How do you get rid of R speech impediments?
• 4 Can you fix rhotacism?
• 5 What age should a child master the R sound?
• 6 Can you fix Rhotacism?
• 7 What does it mean when a student answers ” L ” wrong?
• 8 Where does the tongue make the L and are sound?

Approximately 8-9 percent of young children have some kind of speech or language disorder. One of the most common speech and language disorders a child may experience is an inability to pronounce the /r/ sound correctly. This particular speech impediment is known as rhoticism.

How common is rhotacism?

Rhotacism is present in 12.9% of the respondents, that is, 16% of the respondents when the rhotacism is supplemented with the combined articulation disorders.

What is it called when you cant pronounce L?

Lambdacism (from the Greek letter λ) is the difficulty in pronouncing l sounds.

Is rhotacism a disability?

Although Hodgson’s way of speaking has been widely described as an “impediment”, Mitchell points out that “rhotacism” is not classed as an impairment. “People think it’s OK to take the mickey out of speech impediments. They don’t with other disabilities, it’s a no-go area.

How do you get rid of R speech impediments?

The most common approach to speech therapy for a rhotacism is known as articulation therapy. In articulation therapy, speech therapists can work with a person to improve or correct speech sounds in a phonological system.

Can you fix rhotacism?

At what age should r be mastered?

No wonder that pesky sound (or lack of it) keeps getting messed up in children’s speech. The R sound is typically one of the last sounds to be mastered by children, often not maturing until ages 6 or 7.

Why is the R sound so difficult?

The “R” sound is hard for some children because it is difficult to see the tongue when you say it and it is hard to explain to a child how to make it. Notice how the “R” sound looks and feels different as you say each word. In horn and cover, the “R” sound is different because of the vowels next to it.

What age should a child master the R sound?

However, from a clinical perspective, children should be able to correctly pronounce /r/ sound in words by around 7 years of age, or once they enter 2nd grade.

Can you fix Rhotacism?

Is a Lisp hereditary?

-Genetics – Genetics can play a significant role in the development, structure, and position of one’s jaw, teeth, tongue and bite. In some cases, a lisp can be caused by abnormal development or positioning of the jaw and/or teeth.

Why are some people unable to pronounce the word R?

What does it mean when a student answers ” L ” wrong?

Where does the tongue make the l and are sound.

Which is the correct way to pronounce l and R?

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Reddit, I'm getting desperate...how do I fix my speech impediment?

I'm 17 years old and still have issues with my "r" sounds. They're not exactly "w" sounds, but they do sound distorted and unnatural. I have been in speech therapy on and off my whole life, and I really do care about fixing my speech. I can't get through a full day without beating myself up over how I sound.

My main issue is that everyone I go to about the issue tells me to solve it the same way...by giving me a list of words and telling me to repeat them until they sound good. My issue seems to be that I can't physically form the sounds. My tongue is very short (it barely reaches past my lips when I stick it out) and I often wonder if that affects my speech.

It has been hard to find info on fixing my issue because most websites are aimed to kids 12 and under and only detail the same methods that haven't worked for me. If anyone else has struggled with this issue later in life and has info on how to overcome it, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!