[General] Pronouncing "R"- tongue touches back molar

[Chiyokz]

Pronouncing "R" is always an important subject for Japanese.
I found new info related this, saying:
When pronounce"R", the base of the tongue should touch the both of upper back molar.

Is this right for English speaking people ?:shock:

 

[BobK]

Pronouncing "R" is always an important subject for Japanese.
I found new info related this, saying:
When pronounce"R", the base of the tongue should touch the both of upper back molar.

Is this right for English speaking people ?:shock:

I've never heard it put like this, but there's an element of truth in it. For Japanese people who fail to distinguish between /l/ and /r/, I'd say the most important thing to remember about upper back molars (if anything - I can't imagine this advice being of any practical use, but still...) is that if the base of the tongue touches the upper back molars when you make a consonant sound, it's NOT /l/ ;-)

b

 

[5jj]

Don't forget that /r/ is pronounced differently in different dialects and in different words within a single dialect. "There are more phonetic variants of the /r/ phoneme than of any other English consonant." Cruttenden Alan (2001) Gimson's Pronunciation of English, London: Arnold.

It's dangerous to generalise.

 

[TheParser]

Pronouncing "R" is always an important subject for Japanese.
I found new info related this, saying:
When pronounce"R", the base of the tongue should touch the both of upper back molar.

Is this right for English speaking people ?:shock:

***** NOT A TEACHER *****
************************


Chiyokz,

(1) I am not clear as to whether members are allowed to

recommend books. IF I am allowed to do so, I wish to recommend

a book called Realistically Speaking by Ms. Planaria Price. If you google

the book's title, you will find information about the book and how to

obtain it. I personally know her, and I can attest to the fact that she

is a super teacher of pronunciation. Even if you cannot attend her

classes in Los Angeles, her book has very clear instructions. I cannot

tell you what it she says about pronouncing r because I do not have a

copy of the book. I can tell you one piece of advice that she tells

her students: OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDE. She points out that learners

often forget that English -- unlike many other languages -- requires a

wide mouth.

GOOD LUCK

 

[Chiyokz]

Thank you for all replies and info. I have investigated and practiced pronouncing R and L, and to some extent I have confidence with R. But because this idea was new, I wanted to confirm. From the suggestion, I might as well not stick to this idea.
Thanks to info on Realistically Speaking by Ms. Planaria Price. I will try the book.
Thank you again.