Articulation of English /r/

There are surely difference in the way people pronounce "r" in English. But despite these differences, people understand each other quite well. The big differences I have noticed deal with words ending in "-er" or "-re" in America, England and Scotland. British (excluding Scotland) "R" tends to be more German-like.

Oh, and regarding Brennus':

<<New York City has a special 'r' (a paleto-velar) sound which approaches the sound of 'l'. No wonder, Puerto Rican Spanish speakers call it Nueva Yol'. >>

It may be the case that NYC has its own special articulation for /r/, but Puerto Rican speakers natively realize even Spanish /r/ in this way (with some lateralization), especially before consonants I think. When speaking Spanish, the name of their own island sounds to me as "Puelto Rico". Even those Puerto Ricans who have never lived anywhere close to NYC do this.

As promised, here's my production of those words. Perhaps it's closer to what the author describes as "international english" but it could be something else entirely.

http://media.putfile.com/r-articulation

rear
rare
roar
murder
murderer
tower
tower of london
powers
powers of darkness
the car arrived
take care of yourself
the idea of it
Eliza Ellis
Shaw asked
witch
rich

I was rather annoyed a little while ago, when one of my friends, made fun of my pronouciation of "Inverurie" Aberdeenshire. How I could I possibly live in a place that I have difficulty pronoucing. I think that she wanted me to 'roll' my r's. Something that I was not prepared to do.

Another word that I have difficulty with is 'Heugh' as in 'Heugh Hotel' Stonehaven. There is a website for it.

www.heughhotel.com

It is a word that apparently only Scottish people are able to pronounce.

This is what someone else wrote:

Inverurie

I've always wondered about the correct pronunciation - should there really be a double R (Inver-ROO-rie) or is it actually a single R (Inver-YOU-rie)?

The question arose in connection with the following song:

Tune: The man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo

THE QUINE WHO DOES THE STRIP AT INVERURIE

Oh I'm nae Brigitte (pron the "te") Bardot and I'm nae Sophia Loren
Miss United Kingdom, oh no, ye're wrang again,
And I'm nae Prince Charles's girlfriend or even Miss Grampienne
I'm the quine that dis the strip at Inverurie.

Oh I used to operate a loom at Richards' factory
I liked it fine enough, b'it jist wisnae right for me
Wi' ma figure and ma looks and ma personality
I was born tae dee the strip at Inverurie.

I ta'en a busfare tae the Castlegate one day to see the sights
A mannie says, "Hey darling, would you like to hit the heights?"
"Oh ye're wasted in a factory, I can pit yer name in lights"
So I signed tae dee the strip at Inverurie.

Oh I met a fermer at a dance, he asked to see me hame,
He started getting funny when he got me up a lane,
I says, "Fa (who) d'ye think I am, I'm nae jist onyb'dy ye ken,
(Posh voice!) "I'm the quine that does the strip at Inverurie".

Oh I met a Texas millionnaire, he swept me aff my feet,
He gave me furs and diamonds, and a shop in Union Street,
Oh he wanted me tae merry'im, but I found I couldnae dee't
Cos I would mess (miss) the fun I hae in Inverurie.

Oh they phoned me up fae Grampian (pron Grumpiun), they said "We'll do a deal,
Yer fee'll be a fiver, and a lovely canteen meal,
Tho' I couldnae spake fer laughing, I said, "Hame and da' be feel,
I strip for eighty pounds at Inverurie.

Oh I think I'll still be at it even when I'm old and grey
I winna give up stripping till they carry me away,
When I reach the pearly gates at last I'll be really proud to say,
"I'm the quine that did the strip at Inverurie."