Mirror-nearer merger

English

Pronunciation

• (US, Canada, mirror–nearer merger) IPA^(key): /ˌmɪɹɚ ˈnɪɹɚ ˌmɝd͡ʒɚ/
• (US, without the mirror–nearer merger) IPA^(key): /ˌmɪɹɚ ˈnɪɚɹɚ ˌmɝd͡ʒɚ/, /-ˈniɹɚ-/
• (Received Pronunciation, General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˌmɪɹə ˈnɪəɹə ˌmɜːd͡ʒə/
  • (Standard Southern British) IPA^(key): [ˌmɪɹə ˈnɪːɹə ˌməːd͡ʒə]
• (Scotland) IPA^(key): /ˌmɪɹəɹ ˈniɹəɹ ˌmɛɹdʒəɹ/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˌmeːɹi ˌmæɹi ˈmeɹi ˌmɜːd͡ʒə/
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˌməɹəɹ ˈniəɹəɹ ˌmøːd͡ʒə/
• (East Anglia, cheer–chair merger) IPA^(key): /ˌmɪɹə ˈnɛːɹəˌmɜːd͡ʒə/

Noun

mirror-nearer merger

1. (phonology) A phonemic merger where the vowels in "bit" and "beer" are pronounced the same before /r/, making "mirror" and "nearer" rhyme.