Rhoticity as a Distinguishing Factor Between British and American Accents

Abstract

American and British English are widely used by English language learners to improve their language proficiency and for communication across borders. Rhoticity, or the post-vocalic pronunciation of the /r/ sound, is a key characteristic that helps differentiate between the two accents, Received Pronunciation and General American accents. The purpose of the study is to determine the rhotic and non-rhotic accent preferences, awareness, and usage among English Department students at Salahaddin University's College of Education during the 2023-2024 academic year. The study utilizes a mixed methodology (qualitative and quantitative) to obtain the data, including voice recordings, questionnaires, and interviews. The results demonstrate that students primarily speak with a rhotic General American accent. They are conscious of the differences between rhotic and non-rhotic American and British accents and favor rhoticity since it is a characteristic of the American accent. The results are helpful for linguists and educators in teaching students about rhoticity, which distinguishes the two accents. Gaining an understanding of this phonological feature enhances communication clarity and comprehension. To help students adapt their spoken language to various contexts, English language teachers need to be aware of rhoticity. Future research could focus on other aspects of pronunciation that distinguish the American and British accents, such as flapping.