Thread: Hello there. I have a few pronounciation problems

Hiya,

My name is Jonathan, and I recently decided I am going to try to learn Russian. Actually, I decided this about two years ago, and got a book to try and learn (Living Language methinks), but I started it ang got scared away by terms I didn't understand involving grammer. I then tried to learn Chinese, but I soon realized that I couldn't progress very well with no one to practise with and being illiterate. A few days ago I decided I would volenteer for a Jewish immigration service which lead to my decision to try Russian again. I'm hoping I'll have some people to practise with. I actually think I'm doing quite well so far. I can already understand some of the posts in Russian here. Granted, I can only get the gist of it, but I'm happy with my progress since a few days ago. The grammar isn't so bad now that I know the terms a little better.

Now, to the point of my long-winded little introduction up there: Like I said, the grammar hasn't been a terrible problem so far, and I can read pretty well I think. My main issue is that I can't hear the difference between hard and soft consonents and vowels. On the internet there are many examples, and I can always hear there's something different but it always changes and I can't imitate it. Another sound that I have trouble with is ы. It's the same thing. All the examples I hear sound slightly different to me, and sometimes when I hear it in a word it'll just sound like "Wiy", but a little less so. Will the ability to hear these kinds of nuances come with time, or am I a hopeless case?

My last problem isn't as serious, it's just really annoying. I can't do a rolling "r". All I can do is kind of flap my toungue. Is this a very serious impediment? Do you think I might eventually be able to learn how to do it, or should I just give that up?

Thanks very much!

Woah, I just read that through. I talk way too much...

Hi yourself! ......... (Marilyn Monroe....in one of her movies)

Don't worry about it for now.

Alright then. Thanks for the reply

Yeah I'd say that's probably the best sum-up of the problems most Russian learners face that I've read. It's just a question of practice.

I'm native russian speaker, but also had problems with rolling 'r' till 17y.o.
Then I deside for myself - it's stupid to speak that way I spoke and fix my problem. It's only one way - practice, practice and practice...

I have been studying Russian for a few months nows with a native speaker. The grammar has not been too difficult for me, but the pronunciation is a problem, particuraly the soft л at the end of words.

My teacher really stresses pronunciation as it seems more important in Russian than in English. I get discouraged because sometimes my teacher thinks that I can eliminate my American accent totally. I know this will never happen, just like my teacher's Russian Accent will always be noticeable, even if just barely.

Originally Posted by Basil77

I'm native russian speaker, but also had problems with rolling my 'r's till I was 17 y.o.
Then I decided for myself - it's stupid to speak the way I spoke and I fixed my problem. It's only one way - practice, practice and practice...

Originally Posted by 8250

I have been studying Russian for a few months nows with a native speaker. The grammar has not been too difficult for me, but the pronunciation is a problem, particuraly the soft л at the end of words.

Stretch your lips as if you were smiling and put the tip of your tongue slightly behind your fore teeth bent slightly backwards. Then try to say
-ль like in Рамиль

My teacher really stresses pronunciation as it seems more important in Russian than in English. I get discouraged because sometimes my teacher thinks that I can eliminate my American accent totally. I know this will never happen, just like my teacher's Russian Accent will always be noticeable, even if just barely.

Accent will go away only if you have a huge everyday practice in speaking and listening (several years at least). Actually I've never met a foreighner who would speak without an accent (even though a light one).
But don't worry. You will be understood even with a heavy accent. Pronounciation is important, of course, but not that badly as you say. Russian is not, by any means, like Chinese or Japanese. Actually, accent will be unnoticed if you form your sentences correctly and use correct word forms, cases and endings (a scourge for all learning Russian).
We do have many people here from the republics of the former USSR who speak with awful accents but use correct grammar so we got used to that. You will give your foreign origins away only if you make typical for westerners grammar mistakes.

If I were to visit Russia and attempt to speak Russian and do it badly, would people be offended?

Originally Posted by 8250

If I were to visit Russia and attempt to speak Russian and do it badly, would people be offended?

No, they will be glad that you even take the effort to speak their language!

Originally Posted by 8250

If I were to visit Russia and attempt to speak Russian and do it badly, would people be offended?

They would shoot you on the spot.

Originally Posted by 8250

If I were to visit Russia and attempt to speak Russian and do it badly, would people be offended?

No, not so many foreigners even try to speak Russian except Zdravstvuite and Do Zvidanya. People may find your accent amusing but they'll be more friendly if you speak Russian even with a terrible accent.
The problem is - they will most probably answer you in Russian thinking that you'll understand them

Originally Posted by Ramil

Stretch your lips as if you were smiling and put the tip of your tongue slightly behind your fore teeth bent slightly backwards. Then try to say
-ль like in Рамиль


Your accent will go away only if you have _ a lot of everyday practice in speaking and listening (several years at least). Actually I've never met a foreigner who would speak without an accent (even though a light one).
But don't worry. You will be understood even with a heavy accent. Pronounciation is important, of course, but not as much you say. Russian is not, by any means, like Chinese or Japanese. Actually, accent will be unnoticed if you form your sentences correctly and use correct word forms, cases and endings (a scourge for all learning Russian).
We do have many people here from the republics of the former USSR who speak with awful accents but use correct grammar so we got used to that. You will give your foreign origins away only if you make grammar mistakes typical for westerners _.

The problem is _ they will most probably answer you in Russian thinking that you'll understand them

Я согласен! Меня бесит когда люди говорят со мной как бы я был носителем языка! Но меня раздражало бы намного больше если бы они переключили на английский, потому что думают, что я ничего не понимаю.

Originally Posted by basurero

Я согласен! Меня бесит, когда люди говорят со мной, как если бы я был носителем языка! Но меня раздражало бы намного больше, если бы они переключились на английский, потому что думали бы (just "думая" is much better), что я ничего не понимаю.

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by Ramil

Stretch your lips as if you were smiling and put the tip of your tongue slightly behind your fore teeth bent slightly backwards. Then try to say
-ль like in Рамиль


Your accent will go away only if you have _ a lot of everyday practice in speaking and listening (several years at least). Actually I've never met a foreigner who would speak without an accent (even though a light one).
But don't worry. You will be understood even with a heavy accent. Pronounciation is important, of course, but not as much you say. Russian is not, by any means, like Chinese or Japanese. Actually, accent will be unnoticed if you form your sentences correctly and use correct word forms, cases and endings (a scourge for all learning Russian).
We do have many people here from the republics of the former USSR who speak with awful accents but use correct grammar so we got used to that. You will give your foreign origins away only if you make grammar mistakes typical for westerners _.

The problem is _ they will most probably answer you in Russian thinking that you'll understand them

Я согласен! Меня бесит когда люди говорят со мной как бы я был носителем языка! Но меня раздражало бы намного больше если бы они переключили на английский, потому что думают, что я ничего не понимаю.

Спасибо за исправления. На самом деле то, что к тебе обращаются на русском должно тебе льстить, потому что люди считают, что ты достаточно знаешь русский язык, чтобы их понять. (На самом деле многие люди просто не знают никаких других языков и выбора у них нет. Иногда меня забавляет то, что при разговоре с иностранцем люди начинают говорить по слогам и громко в надежде, что так ему будет понятнее, хотя бедный иностранец не знает по-русски ни слова.

Иногда меня забавляет то, что при разговоре с иностранцем люди начинают говорить по слогам и громко

О, знакомая ситуация. Меня тоже это забавляло всегда.

"ГОР-ДОН! Э-ТО -- ЗОН-ТИК, ТЫ ЕГО ДОЛ-ЖЕН ВЗ-ЯТЬ, ПОТО-МУ ЧТО ТАМ ИДЕТ ДОЖДЬ!"

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by Basil77

I'm native russian speaker, but also had problems with rolling my 'r's till I was 17 y.o.
Then I decided for myself - it's stupid to speak the way I spoke and I fixed my problem. It's only one way - practice, practice and practice...

О! Спасибо за исправления, Басуреро! Я уже совсем забыл про этот свой пост!

Originally Posted by Vincent Tailors

Иногда меня забавляет то, что при разговоре с иностранцем люди начинают говорить по слогам и громко

О, знакомая ситуация. Меня тоже это забавляло всегда.

"ГОР-ДОН! Э-ТО -- ЗОН-ТИК, ТЫ ЕГО ДОЛ-ЖЕН ВЗ-ЯТЬ, ПОТО-МУ ЧТО ТАМ ИДЕТ ДОЖДЬ!"

ШЬ-ЁРТ ПОБЪ-Я-РИ!

Я согласен! Меня бесит, когда люди говорят со мной, как если бы я был носителем языка! Но меня раздражало бы намного больше, если бы они переключились на английский, потому что думали бы (just "думая" is much better), что я ничего не понимаю.

Спасибо за исправления!

ШЬ-ЁРТ ПОБЪ-Я-РИ!

Да, все так и говорят и по-английски когда обращаются к иностранцам! Забавно, что сперва используют обычные слова, а потом используют разговорные варианты!

DO YOU HAVE MON-EY?? YOU KNOW, CASH? DOSH? DOUGH?

Если иностранец не понимает "money" , скорее всего, не поймет другие слова...