NONRHOTICITY: the act of dropping the "R" at the end of a word

I am grateful to writer Caleb Crain, who published a great article in The New York Times Magazine on November 1. His article, "Keats Speaks," introduced a new word to the English language lexicon, nonrhoticity. I searched all over the place on Sunday evening trying to find the listing for this fabulous word, only to come to the conclusion that it was, indeed, a product of the clever mind of Caleb Crain. He says it is a word that means "the tendency to drop 'R' sounds from the end of syllables and words."

We from New England understand that tendency well, and would agree that one of the most proficient nonrhoticitizers in recent history had to have been the late Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy. But little did we know that New Englanders were preceded in this trait by various citizens of merry, old England, among them John Keats, the famous poet. Crain tell us that in reviewing the poetry and writing of Keats it becomes clear that some of his rhyming poetry seems to have depended upon this language trait.

I commend this word to our lexicon and look forward to hearing that it is included in the next annual review of new words warranting inclusion. It is as important to the unique character of New Englanders as lobstah, chowdah and the Boston Red Sox. As a transplant from New York State I admit to a continuing amusement by the language pattern, and even to being unable to put meaning to some sentences spoken by friends where the trait is prominent.

Language patterns are significant to this nation of blended cultures. We have to remember that we are not a tiny country where all of our native citizens have grown up in systems that are common to each other. Rather, we are a large, sprawling country, blessed by diversity and by wonderfully colorful variations on our food temperatures, clothing styles, and ...yes...speech patterns. It is part of what makes us the magnificent, diverse culture we find ourselves to be.