Thread: Starting out in Russian

Hello everyone. I am a 16 year old High School student with a passion for languages. I've finally decided to learn Russian, starting with the Russian alphabet then moving on. There is one question that I would like to be answered, though. I realize that the Russian "r" sound is rolled. Unfortunately, I can't roll an "r". My question is, and this may sound stupid, but can I be understood by Russian speakers even if I can't roll an "r"?

Yes, but you will sound like you are from New Jersey.

Originally Posted by DDT

Yes, but you will sound like you are from New Jersey.

Lenin sounded like he was from New Jersey?

I think without an unrolled r you could be understandable but it depends on how you pronounce everything else.

Well, I suppose all I can do is practice rolling an "r" until I get it right, but for now, I'll have to live with my non-rolling ability. If anyone has any tips on learning to roll an "r", I'd be grateful to hear them.

I can't roll my Rs and people understand me fine.

You could just pronounce it like an "L." Some people think they can't roll their r's and finally get it, and some physically can't. Doesn't really matter.

I often wonder how people whose native tounge is Chinese get by in Russian. You know, with the rolling of the "Rs".

Considering that there isn't a language called "Chinese," I'd imagine they have a rather difficult time. What with speaking a nonexistent language and all.

That's a BIG relief to hear that you can still be understood without rolling an "r", Линдзи. Now I can stop worrying about the whole rolled "r" thing and focus on the alphabet.

Originally Posted by Fuzzylanguage

That's a BIG relief to hear that you can still be understood without rolling an "r", Линдзи. Now I can stop worrying about the whole rolled "r" thing and focus on the alphabet.

A percentage of Russians can't even roll Rs. It's basically a speech impediment. It's possible that you'll eventually pick it up if you're actually physically capable, but it's better to use your time concentrating on the difficult pronunciations that CAN be learned, like ы.

I know americans who have trouble saying R in english.

R just seems like one of those letters not everyone can say. Oh well, live with it.

My friend's little brother Тёма speaks Russian fine and he can't roll his r's.

Originally Posted by DDT

I often wonder how people whose native tounge is Chinese get by in Russian. You know, with the rolling of the "Rs".

The first day I heard a Chinese person speak Russian my brain nearly exploded. Seriously.

'r's .. I'm not sure .. I'll listen carefully next time. Not too good, though.

Lindzi, you're a little tough there. Admittedly the pu tong hua and Cantonese are a way off from each other, but all the same, in common parlance ..

Surprisingly enough, I know two native Chinese speakers who speak excellent German. They started learning it at a young age at some language school(in China) and had teachers from Germany. And JJ says the Japanese he's heard can speak good Russian. It depends on the person.

Hopefully you all don't mind answering another question. I've just started on the alphabet, and I want to get everything down pat, so I was wondering....are the letters joined in cursive script in a certain way, or is it just what feels comfortable? I noticed on one site that some letters had an extra little thing to separate them when written in cursive. If someone could give me some guidelines on the cursive script, it would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, they are joined a certain way. If the tiny spiky humpy thingy is there in the workbook, it needs to be there when you write.

I get myself confused a lot because I worry too much.....I need to just relax and learn......sorry about bugging you with these questions.

Originally Posted by Fuzzylanguage

I get myself confused a lot because I worry too much.....I need to just relax and learn......sorry about bugging you with these questions.

If you were bugging me, I wouldn't bother answering you.

Or I'd answer nastily.

It's fine.

Man, for the longest time I didn't know you had to write the little spike in front of "Л" and "Я" and so on. I know it now, but according to Russians I still have handwriting like a second-grader(of course, my handwriting in English is not that fantastic either).