Developmental pattern

Vowelization

Vocalic /r/ and syllabic /l/ collapse into plain vowels.

Resolves by: Vowelization of /l/ by 6;0
Sounds affected: vocalic r (er, ar, or, air, ear, ire), syllabic l
Minimal pairs: 7

What it sounds like

"bird" becomes "buhd"
"apple" becomes "appo"
"car" becomes "cah"
"bowl" becomes "bow"

Also called: Vocalization, de-rhotacization

What is going on

When /r/ or /l/ sits at the end of a syllable with no vowel after it, it has to carry the whole syllable itself. That is hard. Vowelization is what happens when the child gives up the consonant work and just leaves the vowel behind - "flower" becomes "flowuh," "bottle" becomes "bottoo."

Vowelization is what most people hear as a "New York accent" or a "Boston accent" when it shows up in an adult, which is worth mentioning: in some dialects this is not an error at all. Before treating it, make sure it is not simply how the people around the child talk.

Try this at home

For /l/, the tongue tip has to actually touch behind the top teeth and stay there. Have the child say "ball" and hold the ending for three full seconds with the tongue glued up. For /r/, work from a word the child already says correctly and build outward.

When to refer

Vowelization of /l/ after 6, or /r/ after 7 - and only if it does not match the dialect spoken at home.

Print it

Vowelization minimal pairs17 pairs grouped by sound · PDF Vowelization picture pair cards4 reviewed two-picture pairs · PDF

Picture-ready minimal pairs

4 pairs

These pairs have two distinct picture subjects. Put both pictures on the table and take turns asking for one. If the two words sound alike, slow down and compare the sounds together. The printable word list has additional listening contrasts.

/r/ · 1 pairs

girl
vs
gull
medial

/l/ · 3 pairs

bowl
vs
bow
final
hole
vs
hoe
final
mole
vs
mow
final

Play it

Choose one of six games, then pick a speech sound and word position before playing.

See the six games