Chinese pronounciation of "R"
Discussion
Ok. It's commonly known that Chinese people can't pronounce "R" because it's not in the language that the grew up with. Hence why in a chinese restaurant they say Flied Lice.
Get to the point I hear you cry....well I was thinking about thing and wondered if Chinese people can say "grrrrr"??
Get to the point I hear you cry....well I was thinking about thing and wondered if Chinese people can say "grrrrr"??
They aren't physically incapable of saying R, its just not really a normal part of their language. So its difficult for them to pronounce it, just as it would be difficult for you to pronounce mandarin (or any other language for that matter) properly without much practice.
Of course my name really F
ks them up because my first and last name start with R, then again even I have trouble pronouncing it sometimes... 
Of course my name really F
ks them up because my first and last name start with R, then again even I have trouble pronouncing it sometimes... 
R988 said:
They aren't physically incapable of saying R, its just not really a normal part of their language. So its difficult for them to pronounce it
Obviously it cant be a physical thing as they are physically the same as everyone else. But I think they say that it's at 6 or 9 months where a baby can perfectly replicate any sound they hear, so if you put a caucasian baby in china it will speak perfect chinese, but bringing a chinese child/adult and teaching them English will cause problems because they've not heard "R" to replicate it in those early months.
Anyway, the point was, can they say GRRRR? If not what do chinese kids say when playing tigers and lions?!
)
R988 said:
They aren't physically incapable of saying R, its just not really a normal part of their language. So its difficult for them to pronounce it, just as it would be difficult for you to pronounce mandarin (or any other language for that matter) properly without much practice.
Of course my name really F
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Have to completely disagree with both of you guys here, apparently it's a genetic thing - a bit like being able to roll your tongue.
I spent a about 6 months teaching English in Thailand, and none of my students ever managed to pronounce an 'R' (ruh - as in rough) properly. Prounouncing an 'R' (ruh) is quite a specialised sound, the tongue needs to move forwards, from the back of the mouth towards the front, and then downwards.
Where as for a 'L' (luh) sound the tongue only moves down at the front of the mouth - the forward movement is ommitted.
Contrast this to a 'W' (wuh) which can be made without moving the tongue at all - it's all jaw and lips.
Try it - say ruh - without moving your tongue - comes out a a wuh, add a little flick of the tongue and you get a luh.
Simply put, they just can't do it.
You wouldn't believe what fun I had writing 'Richard ran rapdily around the room' on the board and getting them all to say it out loud. Oh
it really did come out as 'Lichard lan lapidly alound the loom' everytime. Oh my, how I laughed and laughed and laughed. best
Ex
Well I haven't been able to find out so far, though I have succeeded in making a fool of myself (I am always good at that though). Generally the answer from most I asked was 'err, I don't know', to 'why on in gods name would ou want to know that?'.
On a vaguely related topic though, I did discover I am a non-rhotic speaker
On a vaguely related topic though, I did discover I am a non-rhotic speaker
TheExcession said:Yes, but it is definitely not genetic. Anyone can be taught to pronounce the R sound.
Have to completely disagree with both of you guys here, apparently it's a genetic thing - a bit like being able to roll your tongue.
I spent a about 6 months teaching English in Thailand, and none of my students ever managed to pronounce an 'R' (ruh - as in rough) properly. Prounouncing an 'R' (ruh) is quite a specialised sound, the tongue needs to move forwards, from the back of the mouth towards the front, and then downwards.
Where as for a 'L' (luh) sound the tongue only moves down at the front of the mouth - the forward movement is ommitted.
Contrast this to a 'W' (wuh) which can be made without moving the tongue at all - it's all jaw and lips.
Try it - say ruh - without moving your tongue - comes out a a wuh, add a little flick of the tongue and you get a luh.
Simply put, they just can't do it.
You wouldn't believe what fun I had writing 'Richard ran rapdily around the room' on the board and getting them all to say it out loud. Oh
best
Ex
Any oriental person (whether Chinese, Korean, Thai or any other exotic flavour) who is taught English from an early age has absolutely no trouble pronouncing their Rs.
planetdave said:
Where do you find all this obscure shit (that's for R988)
Next you'll be saying you've read all of Noam Chomskys' works you maniac.
>> Edited by planetdave on Saturday 10th September 22:09
funny you should say that
nah I haven't read any of his books, though I am suprised by how much useless crap I know, if only it could be used for something useful...
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