15
Why don't we voice the first R in "surprise"? (slrpnk.net)
submitted 6 months ago by to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.ca
37 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

What distinguishes it from the R is "surplus", for example? In both cases it's followed by a P and another semiglide.

Apologies if this pronunciation is regional to the Western Hemisphere, but I'm very curious regardless.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 3 points 6 months ago (6 children)

Two R sounds in a row can be difficult for some people to say quickly so they skip it.

Another example: I have heard “fusstrating” instead of “frustrating.”

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 6 child comments
    •
  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago (4 children)

    It's the concept that the mouth position to make an R is kind of the midway point between the S and the P, so if you're speaking quickly, the S and P just blend together. To really enunciate the R, you kind of have to actively pause for a moment between the S and P, which is a bit awkward for some people. I stumbled into a series of videos about language quirks recently that happened to cover this; kind of coincidental to see it here right afterwards.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 5 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    Reminds me of The Rural Juror:

    Barbara Walters: [on The View] Let's get personal. Your father Werner was a burger server in suburban Santa Barbara.

    Jenna Maroney: Yes, that's right.

    Barbara Walters: When he spurned your mother Verna for a curly-haired surfer named Roberta. Did that hurt her?

    Jenna Maroney: It was hard on all of us, yes.

    Barbara Walters: Flurg murg glurg flurg murg murg murg tennis murg murg. Was a murg murg flurg?

    Jenna Maroney: I'll always be his little girl. [cries]

    Barbara Walters: [puts her hand on Jenna's shoulder] Glurg.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

    And the sequel, Urban Furor

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •