Date: Wed, 23 Oct 1996 19:16:04 EDT

From: Zman890[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]aol.com

Subject: the American epenthetic "r"



Dear fellow linguists,



I am desperately searching for information about the epenthetic

"r" found in words like "warsh" (wash) and Warshington (Washington).

I know that this phenomena is only found in certain American dialects

(perhaps in Northern California, Oregon, and Idaho), however that is

as much as I have been able to find. I would really appreciate any

anecdotal, as well as quantitative information concerning this

linguistic variation.



Thank you in advance,



Jennifer van Vorst

Portland State



My wife's Aunt Jackie's from Bloomington, IN, and she says "warsh." So,

I hear, do other Hoosiers. In her area, anyway.