rhotacism

noun /ˈɹəʊ.tə.sɪ.zəm/

1. An exaggerated use of the sound of the letter R.

   countable, uncountable

2. A linguistic phenomenon in which a consonant changes into an R; rhotacization.

   countable

3. The inability to pronounce the letter R; derhotacization.

   countable, uncountable

   For example: r’s may become burrs or guttural grunts or w’s or l’s (rhotacism); […]

Where it comes from

From New Latin rhōtacismus, from Ancient Greek *ῥωτακισμός (*rhōtakismós), from ῥωτακίζω (rhōtakízō, “to incorrectly use rho”), from ῥῶ (rhô, “rho (the Greek equivalent of r)”) in analogy with ἰωτακίζω (iōtakízō, “to incorrectly use iota”); itself from ἰῶτα (iôta) in analogy with ἀττικίζω (attikízō, “talk like an Athenian”). By surface analysis, rho + -tacism.

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry rhotacism (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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