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Abstract
Sociophonetic patterning of rhotics in Scotland has been at the centre of linguistic research in the past decades and a gradual loss or weakening of rhoticity appears to be linked to age, social class, gender and identity (in different combinations). There is undoubtedly a wide range of different phonetic realisations of /r/ in general, and of coda-r in particular, available to Scottish speakers. However, before we can envisage current phonetic variation as part of a more global phonological change resulting in a non-rhotic system, it is essential to make an explicit link between variation in speech and the stability of the phonological system. Results presented in this paper suggest that non-rhotic speakers are not necessarily young, and it is argued that considering the interplay of various social factors today, phonological change is not underway.
Keywords: complex systems, Scottish English, lenition, rhoticity