Pronunciation "r"

Question

The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especially r in the middle of a word such as " murder". I am wondering how ESL teachers teach this pronunication in a graphic way. Some book suggests that the tongue should follow the following action. "hold your hand out flat, with the palm up, slightly dropping the back end of it, take your fingers and curl them up slightly" Any better idea?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especially r in the middle of a word such as ... palm up, slightly dropping the back end of it, take your fingers and curl them up slightly" Any better idea?[/nq]
You don't need to pronounce the Rs in "murder". And if you really want to learn how to do it you've got to decide if you wanna pronounce them the Irish or the Scottish way first.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especially r in the middle of a word such as " murder". I am wondering how ESL teachers teach this pronunication in a graphic way.[/nq]
In my experience, trying to teach sounds using graphic techniques, or trying to describe how physically to produce the sound, is not effective.

We all have the innate capability to produce the sounds. It's simply a matter of encouraging students to listen to, then try to reproduce the sound. Help them by pointing out that sounds which initially sound (to them) identical, are in fact different. After that, it's up to them.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especially r in the middle of a word such as ... palm up, slightly dropping the back end of it, take your fingers and curl them up slightly" Any better idea?[/nq]
How about, "the sound when you throw up"? ... I am kidding you.

I am Japanese and still have this problem after living in the USA for 13 years. I got an A for English but still have the problem. Sometimes I can articulate very clearly; sometimes I replace with an "l". I just can't help it.

To help ESL teachers, let me describe what does to ESL students like me when we have to articulate Rs. It makes us feel uncomfortable because the position of the tongue stimulates the pharynx and nauseates us. This is the best explanation I can come up with. I can't guarantee you that other students will agree with me. However, anyway, it's a very uncomfortable feeling and requires us to work very hard.

I can suggest one idea, though. I believe this idea will work for only enthusiastic students. When you notice the ambiguity or mistake of the student, you can mention it and tell them how they would have been misunderstood by other clue less English speakers.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especially r in the middle of a word such as " murder".[/nq]
In Standard British English the "r" at the end of a syllable isn't pronounced. This type of accent is referred to as non-rhotic.

Rhotic accents include Irish, Scottish and Standard American English. But even here the effect of the "r" at the end of a syllable is mainly to alter the quality of the preceding vowel.

The pronunciation of "r" at the beginning of a syllable is a different question. But the quality of teh pronunciation is one of teh characteristics that differentiates these accents. Scottish pronunciation of the "r", for example, is much stronger than in many other accents.

However, since most of the people I teach are German-speakers I usually have to contrast the German pronunciation of "r" with that in various forms of English. I don't have to tell them how to make an "r" sound, so I'm afraid I have never really had to think about the question you pose.

There are books on English pronunciation which have diagrams showing the position and movement of the tongue during the pronunciation of teh various vowels and consonants. a good one I've used on occasion is called "Ship or Sheep" - I'm afraid I can't remember who publishes it, but I'm sure a Google search will reveal that without any difficulty.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especiallyr in the middle of a word such as " murder".[/nq]
[nq:1]In Standard British English the "r" at the end of a syllable isn't pronounced. This type of accent is referred ... sure a Google search will reveal that without any difficulty. Three 'teh's in one post. Is this a record? m.[/nq]

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]r in[/nq]
[nq:2]In Standard British English the "r" at the end of ... sure a Google search will reveal that without any difficulty.[/nq]
[nq:1]Three 'teh's in one post. Is this a record?[/nq]
No, I've managed on occasion to do twenty in one post - it happens when I post when I should have gone to bed about three hours ago - i.e. when I'm tired and not concentrating and my finger no longer do what they're supposed to. I can do "tehre", "tehy", "wehre" "wehn", "waht" and "woh" too on request. ;-)

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2] inmessage news:bns705$15g4a3$(Email Removed)... r in Three 'teh's in one post. Is this a record?[/nq]
[nq:1]No, I've managed on occasion to do twenty in one post - it happens when I post when I should ... "tehre", "tehy", "wehre" "wehn", "waht" and "woh" too on request. ;-) Mmm, I know the feeling, only too well. m.[/nq]

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especially r in the middle of a word such as ... palm up, slightly dropping the back end of it, take your fingers and curl them up slightly" Any better idea?[/nq]
This might surprise some of you, but I'm a Scot and I practise rolling my 'r's. Mainly, because I like to improve my Spanish pronunciation; a language that makes Scots sound soft.

a lot of rotten rhymes". It's not a rrace, say each word very slowly and carrrefully

There are a least a couple of ways of producing the sound. The French have a slightly different sound, a guttural 'r' sound, produced using the body of the tongue against the soft palate. Scots and Germans and the Spaniards produce a guttural 'ch' sound which comes from further down the throat, at the pharynx. The Scottish 'r' sound is produced by using the tip of the tongue and vibrating it against the hard palate. You might try exercise like: pretend to be driving a car. Make the vroom vroom sounds of the engine. You should encourage your students to feel which part of their tongue is being used. Gradually increase the pitch of the engine. You students should begin to be able to sense different parts of their tongues and mouths coming into use. Repeat often.

When it comes to making sounds - to improve pronounciation - it's important to look and sound as stupid as possible. Babies aren't inhibited when they learned to babble; adults need to learn to relax and enjoy the stupidity of the moment.

Iain

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, ... how ESL teachers teach this pronunication in a graphic way.[/nq]
[nq:1]In my experience, trying to teach sounds using graphic techniques, or trying to describe how physically to produce the sound, ... pointing out that sounds which initially sound (to them) identical, are in fact different. After that, it's up to them.[/nq]
.i agree

.i taught english hearing/speaking skills for several years and came to a conclusion that my primary job was to assist the learners to hear more accurately .esl students do not hear the same things that native speakers hear .they grew up learning to attend to sound distinctions that have little or no relevance in english .for example, most asian students have great difficulty hearing the difference between "hit" and "heat" .in their native tongues the two sounds are considered mere variants of a single phoneme and therefore not worth distinguishing

.with practice, though, they can learn to hear with precision, and then they can begin to correct their own pronunciation

.and "r" is without a doubt the most difficult to describe

heron

-- unDO email address ___ Nature, heron stone to be commanded, mailto:(Email Removed) must be obeyed. http://home.comcast.net/~heronstone/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The pronunciation of "r" is very difficult for some asians, especially rin the middle of a word such as " ... sometimes 6 months or more for a person to hear the sound and thus be able to re-produce the sound.[/nq]
But then I'm no expert, it's something I remember and may or may not be accurate.

Robert Miller

Pronunciation "r"

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