baffled native speaker

[-->nicole.]

i have trouble pronouncing certain words..it doesn't sound terrible, my mistakes are kinda subtle but i'm very self consciencous about them.
problem words and fragments
--------------
sleep
slide
slip
english class
ashley (the name)
ask (depends on what's before it..i say ax sometimes)
asked
*fragment* wants to take class (saying that fast is hard)
and others....

L's are mean to me...why?? it sounds like i have a lot of spit in my mouth or something when saying those words. please help

[Tdol]

I know it's difficult, but can you try to describe the position of your tongue when you say the letter L? With 'ax', many English speakers do that- I hear it a lot in the UK, where I'm from. I also hear 'tex' for 'text'.

[-->nicole.]

it seems like the back of my tongue quickly touches the back of the roof of my mouth....i can kinda hear air going through my back teeth...ehhh

[Tdol]

It's too far back, but if you can say the sound elsewhere, then you should be able to retrain yourself to move the tongue further forward. Have you any chance of seeing a speech therapist at all?

[-->nicole.]

wow thank you very much..that helps. i just have to think about it a little bit but i'm sure with time it will be more natural. i spoke with my mom about going to a speech therapist, but she thinks i'm crazy b/c she can't really hear it. it's a subtle sound but it's there...hopefully with your tip it will disappear. thx a bunch

[Red5]

Originally Posted by tdol

II also hear 'tex' for 'text'.

It's becomming quite common here.

[Red5]

Originally Posted by -->nicole.

it's a subtle sound but it's there...hopefully with your tip it will disappear.

If it's a subtle sound, why do you worry about it so much?

[-->nicole.]

i know...i'm just really self-conscious i guess

[-->nicole.]

after doing a bit of research, i think i may have a slight lateral lisp

[Tdol]

Have you tried speaking in front of the bathroom mirror- it's private and normally brightly lit, so you can look closely at the shape of your mouth and how your saying things?