You already know that at ALOS we make a great deal of pronunciation when it comes to mastering a language. Speech, sounds and the way they are produced are fundamental, and in some cases they can be an enormous challenge. Let’s look at a few examples.
Learning a new language is quite a challenge, especially when it comes to mastering sounds that do not exist in your mother tongue. Some of them can be particularly hard to pronounce and require specific practice before you can master them.
The R sound in Spanish
Let’s start with Spanish. For many English speakers, the trilled “r” sound in Spanish can be tricky. This sound, also known as the alveolar “r”, is produced by vibrating the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge (the area behind the upper teeth).
A tip for mastering it: Practise with words that have a strong “r” at the beginning, such as “rápido” or “rojo”. You can also try saying “t” repeatedly and quickly, trying to make the tongue vibrate.
The tricky Ü in German
German presents the challenge of the “ü” sound, which does not exist in English, for example. This sound is produced by rounding the lips as if you were going to say “oo” as in “food”, but saying “ee” instead.
A tip for mastering it: Start by saying “ee” and, without changing the position of your tongue, round your lips. Practise with words such as “Müll” (rubbish) or “über” (over, about).
More difficult sounds: the θ in English
The “θ” sound, as in “think” or “both”, is a problem for speakers of languages that do not have this sound, such as Spanish and French. It is a voiceless interdental fricative, produced by placing the tip of the tongue between the teeth and blowing air out.
A tip for mastering it: Place your tongue between your upper and lower teeth and blow gently, making sure you do not use your voice. Practise with words that have “th” at the beginning and at the end, such as “think” and “bath”.
The ɬ sound in Welsh
Welsh has the “ɬ” sound, as in “Llanelli”, which is not found in many other languages. It is a voiceless lateral fricative, produced by placing the tongue against the roof of the mouth and letting the air escape around the sides.
A tip for mastering it: Place your tongue against the roof of your mouth, as if you were about to say an “l”, but instead of releasing the tongue, let the air escape around the sides. Practise with words such as “Llanelli” or “Llewelyn”.
The tones of Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is tonal, which means that the tone in which a word is pronounced can change its meaning. There are four basic tones: high level, rising, falling-rising and high falling.
A tip for mastering it: Listen to native speakers and repeat after them. Use language learning apps that focus on practising tones, such as Pleco or HelloChinese. Record your own voice and compare it with that of native speakers.
Need help? Useful tools
- Forvo: An excellent online tool where you can listen to the pronunciation of words in various languages by native speakers. Visit Forvo.
- IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): Get familiar with the International Phonetic Alphabet to understand how sounds are produced. Resources such as the IPA Chart can be very useful.
The hardest sounds of all
Mastering difficult sounds in a new language takes time, practice and patience. By using the right techniques and resources, you can overcome these challenges and improve your fluency and accuracy. Do not be put off by the initial difficulty; with dedication and steady practice, you will manage to pronounce even the trickiest sounds with confidence. And if you want to master a language with the most advanced methods, with courses tailored to you and qualified native-speaker teachers, at ALOS we have what you are looking for.