A charming shop in Paris
ricain(e) (ree-kah(n) ree-kahn)
: American (slang)
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French lyrics to the famous song, below: Download MP3 or Wav file
Si les Ricains n'étaient pas là, vous seriez tous en Germanie. If the Americans weren't there, you'd all be in Germany. -Michel Sardou, French singer
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
Ricane English and Hound dog French
The other night I received an unusual request from my daughter. Standing in the doorway, her voice was soft: "Can we practice English?"
"Bien sûr!" I said, patting the cushion beside me. We've come a long way since elementary school days, when my kids would stop me at the gates of their école maternelle: "Please don't talk, Mom. Pas un mot!"
What had been embarrassment has turned, over the past few years, into fierté. "I am so lucky to have a mom who speaks English!" Jackie acknowledged, entering my bedroom.
Seated beside me now, my 15-year-old is determined. "I want to pronounce my r's like an American!"
"Really?" I say, beginning our lesson.
"Weally!" Jackie smiles, happy to jump in.
"No, rrreally," I correct her.
"WWWeally," Jackie tries again, clearly struggling. Funny how that R humbles both of us, Jackie in English—and me in French!
"Not 'wheely'."A wheely, I point out, "is something you do to show off on your bike! Try again. Rrrreally… rrrraspberry… rrrrow… row row row your boat."
Jackie laughs. She doesn't recognize Row Your Boat, but the rhyme is funny all the same. My daughter repeats the words, impatient when I don't respond right away.
"Corrige-moi!" She pleads, reminding me of her summer plans. She'll spend a month in Idaho, at her grandparents', and she wants to lose her accent, rrrrapidos!
"OK. Listen up: rrrred… rrrromania… rrrrachel… rah rah rah shish boom bah! "
My student laughs. The pop culture reference escapes her, but silliness is universal, and that she gets.
Enough silliness, Jackie reminds me this is serious business! She only has 5 months to learn to speak like a star-spangled ricaine!
"But you don't have to sound like an American. Everyone will love your French accent!" I assure her.
Jackie shakes her head, and the look on her face is slang for nothin' doin! "I need to learn argot, too!" my daughter adds.
Jackie's wish to conquer her thick accent and to speak street English reminds me of my own aspirations to sound like a native. As an American, I have always wanted to speak French like Jodie Foster!
Jackie urges me to talk in full sentences now, for more repetition and comprehension.
"OK," I agree, wondering what to talk about….
"It is a gift to be bilingual…" I begin.
(Jackie smiles, as she repeats)
Encouraged, I keep the drill going, sneaking in a few affirmations… Jackie repeats each line:
Speaking French and English will open many doors for me…
I enjoy studying language….
…and math, too!!… (Jackie shoots me a sarcastic look, but is obligated to repeat my English words… Which reinforces my idea…)
I know that the more education I get, the more opportunities I will have in life…
I organize my school supplies…. And enjoy keeping my room tidy…. I make my bed each morning…
Jackie shakes her head as she repeats the last sentences. "OK, Mom. Can we work on the r's again?"
As we go through Roxanne, row row, and raspberry shish boom bah, I steal glances at my daughter, admiring her profile as she twists her lips, trying to find the American r channel. If she keeps twisting, she just might reach it! Her silky hair cascades off her shoulder in a fountain of brown and blond. "What is it you call that style?" I ask, referring to her recent trip to the hairdresser's.
"Tie and dye."
The tie and dyed hair looks great on her; but the brown-roots-blond-ends wouldn't work for me, though. I go to the salon to reverse that effect!
As Jackie struggles with the string of "r" words, I reach over and pat her on the shoulder, sweeping her bottle-blond ends aside.
"Don't worry, Jackie. I am incapable of pronouncing certain words, too."
"Weally?"
"The French word for 'truffle'… Impossible for me to pronounce it!
"Vas-y! Let me hear you say it!"
I shake my ahead, ashamed.
"Truffe! Go ahead, say it!"
I can't! I can't say the word. To say it is to appear a fool in front of my student. To say it is to lower oneself below even the Parisian mud puddles. To say it is to eat humble pie…. To say it is to sound like a hound dog. I don't want to sound like a hound dog in French! I want to sound like Jodie Foster!
"Say it, Mom! Come on, truffe!"
"You really want to hear it?"
"Weally!"
"Twoof."
***
French Vocabulary
bien sûr = of course
une école maternelle = preschool
pas un mot = not a word
corrige-moi = correct me
la fierté = pride
ricain(e) = slang for American
l'argot (m) = slang
vas-y! = go ahead!
une truffe = truffle
Our daughter, Jackie. Highlights à la "tie and dye" or "ombré" hair is all the rage in France at the moment.
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Delightful story!!!! 🙂 🙂
My daughter, when she was little, had trouble with her “L’s”. We used to practice saying “lovely little lolly legs” over and over…she still giggles when I call her this at times!
Delightful story!!!! 🙂 🙂
My daughter, when she was little, had trouble with her “L’s”. We used to practice saying “lovely little lolly legs” over and over…she still giggles when I call her this at times!
Now I know why my 14 year old greeted me tonight with “Bonjour maman!” (He reads your post which we both love!) My mum is Scottish and promised my dying father that my brother and I would always continue to study in French in Canada. I remember thanking her at the age of 16 because I never had a problem getting a summer job and I knew it was a blessing! In school, I had teachers of all accents: Quebec, Swiss, French, Belgian, Moroccan, Haitian. It gave me a wonderful ear for all French accents! It’s sad that, too often, the French language is rated, by some, instead of celebrated. We all speak the language of “Moliere”!
Here is a good exercise for Jackie that our French exchange student had to say before dinner every night. “The Three Trees” until it does not sound like “De Dree Drees”!
Now I know why my 14 year old greeted me tonight with “Bonjour maman!” (He reads your post which we both love!) My mum is Scottish and promised my dying father that my brother and I would always continue to study in French in Canada. I remember thanking her at the age of 16 because I never had a problem getting a summer job and I knew it was a blessing! In school, I had teachers of all accents: Quebec, Swiss, French, Belgian, Moroccan, Haitian. It gave me a wonderful ear for all French accents! It’s sad that, too often, the French language is rated, by some, instead of celebrated. We all speak the language of “Moliere”!
Here is a good exercise for Jackie that our French exchange student had to say before dinner every night. “The Three Trees” until it does not sound like “De Dree Drees”!
What a wonderfully sweet and tender story today. Jackie is going to have so much fun visiting with her grandparents in Idaho! She will be the “queen bee” from morning ’til night. Here is a sentence for her to practice: AROUND THE RUGGED ROCK THE RAGGED ROBIN RAN. ….lots of R’s and two TH’s thrown in for good measure.
Mille mercis et bon week-end, Cynthia (It’s snowing tonight in Maryland.)
What a wonderfully sweet and tender story today. Jackie is going to have so much fun visiting with her grandparents in Idaho! She will be the “queen bee” from morning ’til night. Here is a sentence for her to practice: AROUND THE RUGGED ROCK THE RAGGED ROBIN RAN. ….lots of R’s and two TH’s thrown in for good measure.
Mille mercis et bon week-end, Cynthia (It’s snowing tonight in Maryland.)
Kristin I relate to you and Jackie in this story. The “r” sound in both English and French present problems for non-native speakers. I am a native English speaker, FYI. Please share with Jackie that I admire her desire to perfect the way she speaks English. Speaking like a native regardless of the language in questions is never easy but the natives will appreciate and respect the effort. Of course, they will also love her French accent!
Kristin I relate to you and Jackie in this story. The “r” sound in both English and French present problems for non-native speakers. I am a native English speaker, FYI. Please share with Jackie that I admire her desire to perfect the way she speaks English. Speaking like a native regardless of the language in questions is never easy but the natives will appreciate and respect the effort. Of course, they will also love her French accent!
Second the advice to think about–and describe –where the tongue is. I taught a young français to say the American “th” instead of the “zz” sound by pointing out that the tongue touches the tip of the teeth not the ridge of the mouth. For me, the hard distinction is «dessus» versus «dessous» which really matters since they mean the opposite!
Second the advice to think about–and describe –where the tongue is. I taught a young français to say the American “th” instead of the “zz” sound by pointing out that the tongue touches the tip of the teeth not the ridge of the mouth. For me, the hard distinction is «dessus» versus «dessous» which really matters since they mean the opposite!
I always thought that ricaine was a pejoritive term. Is that incorrect?
Thx
I always thought that ricaine was a pejoritive term. Is that incorrect?
Thx
As an ex pat canadian raising a little one (also named Kristi)born in New Zealand..I found she dould NOT pronounce her R’s (They came out as “ah”….showah, cah, fah (similar to the british )She tried So hard but always sounded silly…would say “showerrr…carrr” Till wehen she was 6 yrs old we spent 6 weeks in Canada and she came back with a perfect Canadian accent…(which she then got teased for once back home. I hope Jackie doesnt loose “all” her french accent on her american holiday….
As an ex pat canadian raising a little one (also named Kristi)born in New Zealand..I found she dould NOT pronounce her R’s (They came out as “ah”….showah, cah, fah (similar to the british )She tried So hard but always sounded silly…would say “showerrr…carrr” Till wehen she was 6 yrs old we spent 6 weeks in Canada and she came back with a perfect Canadian accent…(which she then got teased for once back home. I hope Jackie doesnt loose “all” her french accent on her american holiday….
Jackie & Kristin! You had the right idea with Row Row Row Your Boat! As a language teacher (and student), I advise you to *sing* the difficult sounds — or everything you want to pronounce. For reasons I don’t know and perhaps linguists do, having the tune and the rhythm along with the words does help our brains arrive at the pronunciation we seek. But I agree with the people who say: *Don’t* lose your French accent. First, it is nearly impossible after puberty due to our brain’s structure at that point. Second: many accents are considered charming in the U.S., and French diction is surely paramount among those. But mostly: it’s a waste of time if you are 13 or older: concentrate on *intonation,* which is crucial for people to comprehend you in English: much more important than the pronunciation of isolated sounds. Get the rhythm, the emphasis on syllables: You’ll be much better understood!
Jackie & Kristin! You had the right idea with Row Row Row Your Boat! As a language teacher (and student), I advise you to *sing* the difficult sounds — or everything you want to pronounce. For reasons I don’t know and perhaps linguists do, having the tune and the rhythm along with the words does help our brains arrive at the pronunciation we seek. But I agree with the people who say: *Don’t* lose your French accent. First, it is nearly impossible after puberty due to our brain’s structure at that point. Second: many accents are considered charming in the U.S., and French diction is surely paramount among those. But mostly: it’s a waste of time if you are 13 or older: concentrate on *intonation,* which is crucial for people to comprehend you in English: much more important than the pronunciation of isolated sounds. Get the rhythm, the emphasis on syllables: You’ll be much better understood!
Kristin, I have a story about how being bilingual worked in reverse for my dad during WWII. He grew up in a a Canadian-French-speaking home and when he was ready to ship out after basic training they pulled him aside and told him that, because of his French background, they wanted him to go for more training. He learned Parisian French, including technical language for the army, and became a member of the Second Signal Corps where he would be an interpreter between the American and the French brass in France. When he eventually arrived in France (4 days after D-Day), his group made their way in time across France (They were actually billeted in the palace of Versailles for 2 weeks!) It turns out that the group with whom he had done basic training ended up going to north Africa and most of them were killed in action. When I was teaching French to middle-schoolers, I used to share this story with them as an example of how you never know how learning another can be useful to you… Truly, I believed it saved his life!
Kristin, I have a story about how being bilingual worked in reverse for my dad during WWII. He grew up in a a Canadian-French-speaking home and when he was ready to ship out after basic training they pulled him aside and told him that, because of his French background, they wanted him to go for more training. He learned Parisian French, including technical language for the army, and became a member of the Second Signal Corps where he would be an interpreter between the American and the French brass in France. When he eventually arrived in France (4 days after D-Day), his group made their way in time across France (They were actually billeted in the palace of Versailles for 2 weeks!) It turns out that the group with whom he had done basic training ended up going to north Africa and most of them were killed in action. When I was teaching French to middle-schoolers, I used to share this story with them as an example of how you never know how learning another can be useful to you… Truly, I believed it saved his life!
I hope your daughter learns to speak American like a native, just as she speaks French like a native — which seems to be what she wants to do.
Hearing it from you with plenty of feedback may be the fastest way.
Of course the internet is full of help.
This site tries to show by diagram, and plays short tapes of the sound.
http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/frameset.html
The woman on this you tube video describes the American English liquid consonant r more the way I would — maybe it is helpful.
Repetition is the sure way to success, really.
Very lovely story, on all counts.
I hope your daughter learns to speak American like a native, just as she speaks French like a native — which seems to be what she wants to do.
Hearing it from you with plenty of feedback may be the fastest way.
Of course the internet is full of help.
This site tries to show by diagram, and plays short tapes of the sound.
http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/frameset.html
The woman on this you tube video describes the American English liquid consonant r more the way I would — maybe it is helpful.
Repetition is the sure way to success, really.
Very lovely story, on all counts.
Hi Kristi,
What a lovely post!
I just can suggest for both of you, mother and daughter, speak only English at home every day all day long. You still have plenty of time (5 month). And , Kristi, you should speak real conversational American English to her, with all slang words you would usually use, speaking normally there, in the U.S. The more she practice the more she will master her English. I came through that stuff myself.
Jackie, you’ll be just fine here, in America, honey. You have nothing to worry about. Most people in the U.S. love accents. They usually ask me:” Where your accent came from? I love it!”
I know, that I will never get rid of my accent, but it does not bother me at all.
You speak two languages and this is a real gift!
Hi Kristi,
What a lovely post!
I just can suggest for both of you, mother and daughter, speak only English at home every day all day long. You still have plenty of time (5 month). And , Kristi, you should speak real conversational American English to her, with all slang words you would usually use, speaking normally there, in the U.S. The more she practice the more she will master her English. I came through that stuff myself.
Jackie, you’ll be just fine here, in America, honey. You have nothing to worry about. Most people in the U.S. love accents. They usually ask me:” Where your accent came from? I love it!”
I know, that I will never get rid of my accent, but it does not bother me at all.
You speak two languages and this is a real gift!
Bonne chance, Jackie. C’est toujours difficile de parler une autre langue. We learned a line in college illustrating the many “u” sounds in French: “Je ne sais pas ou se trouve le tutu de tulle rouge de Lulu d’Honolulu.” So we Americans are always impressed with someone’s attempts to speak our language. The r’s in Spanish are very hard for us also. And the speed with which foreign languages are spoken is very difficult for us to follow. Someone told me once that our English seems that rapid to a non-English speaker. I have to play your Papa’s language bit two or three times to follow it.
Keep “rowing” your boat and by this summer you will be way ahead of us in our attempts to speak French!
Bonne chance, Jackie. C’est toujours difficile de parler une autre langue. We learned a line in college illustrating the many “u” sounds in French: “Je ne sais pas ou se trouve le tutu de tulle rouge de Lulu d’Honolulu.” So we Americans are always impressed with someone’s attempts to speak our language. The r’s in Spanish are very hard for us also. And the speed with which foreign languages are spoken is very difficult for us to follow. Someone told me once that our English seems that rapid to a non-English speaker. I have to play your Papa’s language bit two or three times to follow it.
Keep “rowing” your boat and by this summer you will be way ahead of us in our attempts to speak French!
Cher Kristi, Nancy’s helping me with this on her iPhone. I am recovering from major surgery to repair my abdominal aortic aneurism. I’ll write you when I get home from this rehab. Comme toujours, Fred
Cher Kristi, Nancy’s helping me with this on her iPhone. I am recovering from major surgery to repair my abdominal aortic aneurism. I’ll write you when I get home from this rehab. Comme toujours, Fred
What a ’rounderful’ story! When I took French in college, years ago, I had a professor who stressed the tongue and mouth position – it really helped with the ou, u, and the r. What a wonderful experience for you and Jackie! I recently met a high school exchange student from Vienne, France, and she was really surprised when her peers at the American high school wanted her to ‘say something in French’ and then would tell her how much they LOVED to hear her speak French – so sexy! It is much admired in America. But, she thought it was just ‘normal’ and nothing special. Jackie will have so much fun – what a great experience! I really admire her desire to learn another language – she’s lucky to have such a good teacher!
What a ’rounderful’ story! When I took French in college, years ago, I had a professor who stressed the tongue and mouth position – it really helped with the ou, u, and the r. What a wonderful experience for you and Jackie! I recently met a high school exchange student from Vienne, France, and she was really surprised when her peers at the American high school wanted her to ‘say something in French’ and then would tell her how much they LOVED to hear her speak French – so sexy! It is much admired in America. But, she thought it was just ‘normal’ and nothing special. Jackie will have so much fun – what a great experience! I really admire her desire to learn another language – she’s lucky to have such a good teacher!
Hi Jackie and Kristi:
I am an avid reader and Speech Therapist. Try starting with “gr” words like “great”. Words that have an “r” plus “o” are the most difficult so try words like “”rind”, “read” first. Then when Jackie has mastered that, don’t forget the words that end in “r’: bear, oar, ire, ear”. Bonne chance!
Hi Jackie and Kristi:
I am an avid reader and Speech Therapist. Try starting with “gr” words like “great”. Words that have an “r” plus “o” are the most difficult so try words like “”rind”, “read” first. Then when Jackie has mastered that, don’t forget the words that end in “r’: bear, oar, ire, ear”. Bonne chance!
Bonjour from St. Louis!
So many posts! If you get to read this, Merrill Hakim’s post has sound advice. One of my previous occupations was elementary school speech pathologist. The best method I found to correct the w for r pronunciation taught us to start with words ending in the ar and er sounds. You reinforce the feel of the position of the tongue, jaw, mouth; whatever connects in their brain. Once ar, er sounds are mastered, you begin to pair with words beginning with r – essentially rolling into the word. (car/ride, winter/race). The pairs don’t have to make sense together, it’s just a drill exercise. Eventually you take away the ar & er words. Saying er-red, ar-round, er-race, etc., getting the feel for that, then dropping the er part. Words with r in the middle are good to practice at this stage too. Anyway it was a very successful technique for me. Developmentally children shouldn’t be expected to master correct r pronunciation until around the age of second grade. I had quite a few 2nd grade parents think I was some kind of miracle worker, as they had been trying to help their kids before they were physiologically ready! So dear Kristin, try this & your darling capable Jackie will have success and think you a miracle worker! P.S. consonant blends are the hardest, recommend not starting with any of those r words. Bonne chance!
Bonjour from St. Louis!
So many posts! If you get to read this, Merrill Hakim’s post has sound advice. One of my previous occupations was elementary school speech pathologist. The best method I found to correct the w for r pronunciation taught us to start with words ending in the ar and er sounds. You reinforce the feel of the position of the tongue, jaw, mouth; whatever connects in their brain. Once ar, er sounds are mastered, you begin to pair with words beginning with r – essentially rolling into the word. (car/ride, winter/race). The pairs don’t have to make sense together, it’s just a drill exercise. Eventually you take away the ar & er words. Saying er-red, ar-round, er-race, etc., getting the feel for that, then dropping the er part. Words with r in the middle are good to practice at this stage too. Anyway it was a very successful technique for me. Developmentally children shouldn’t be expected to master correct r pronunciation until around the age of second grade. I had quite a few 2nd grade parents think I was some kind of miracle worker, as they had been trying to help their kids before they were physiologically ready! So dear Kristin, try this & your darling capable Jackie will have success and think you a miracle worker! P.S. consonant blends are the hardest, recommend not starting with any of those r words. Bonne chance!
Great post! I have trouble with the French word for “squirrel”, ecureuil. My French son-in-law the opposite problem. We share a lot of laughter trying to teach each other those words. I also have trouble pronouncing the French word for “yogurt”. As I continue to study French, I am certain there will be many more words for me to stumble over!
Great post! I have trouble with the French word for “squirrel”, ecureuil. My French son-in-law the opposite problem. We share a lot of laughter trying to teach each other those words. I also have trouble pronouncing the French word for “yogurt”. As I continue to study French, I am certain there will be many more words for me to stumble over!
Wonderful story! 🙂 thank you Kristi.
Here are a few tongue-twisters my English professor gave me long time ago when I needed to make a transition from previously learned British to American pronunciation. In any case, I still have the slight Russian accent peeking through as I have been told on occasion, but those drRilling exercises (and boy! did he make sure they were drilling!) helped me learn rather a nicely resonated American “Rrr” I have right now:
Oh! No need to type them at all! I forgot a few words, and the mighty internet delivered upon my request just in a couple of seconds: http://festival.1september.ru/articles/513522/
And here’s the one that is not listed there:
Trouble
by David Keppel
Never trouble trouble
Until trouble troubles you;
For you only make your trouble
Double-trouble when you do;
And the trouble — like a bubble —
That you’re troubling about,
May be nothing but a zero
With its rim rubbed out.
There are of course some self-help “learn accents” cds of all kinds, which with some, perhaps, considerable (for some folks) effort could definitely help to chisel any accent to perfection! As I have also noticed, some people with any strong musical background usually able to hone any accent in no time.
Hope it helps.
Wonderful story! 🙂 thank you Kristi.
Here are a few tongue-twisters my English professor gave me long time ago when I needed to make a transition from previously learned British to American pronunciation. In any case, I still have the slight Russian accent peeking through as I have been told on occasion, but those drRilling exercises (and boy! did he make sure they were drilling!) helped me learn rather a nicely resonated American “Rrr” I have right now:
Oh! No need to type them at all! I forgot a few words, and the mighty internet delivered upon my request just in a couple of seconds: http://festival.1september.ru/articles/513522/
And here’s the one that is not listed there:
Trouble
by David Keppel
Never trouble trouble
Until trouble troubles you;
For you only make your trouble
Double-trouble when you do;
And the trouble — like a bubble —
That you’re troubling about,
May be nothing but a zero
With its rim rubbed out.
There are of course some self-help “learn accents” cds of all kinds, which with some, perhaps, considerable (for some folks) effort could definitely help to chisel any accent to perfection! As I have also noticed, some people with any strong musical background usually able to hone any accent in no time.
Hope it helps.
Thank you very much for these latest tips. Jackie got back from two days away (staying at a friends). She said she MISSED our English lessons and couldnt wait to get back to them tonight!
Merci encore for taking the time to share these links and the helpful ideas.
Thank you very much for these latest tips. Jackie got back from two days away (staying at a friends). She said she MISSED our English lessons and couldnt wait to get back to them tonight!
Merci encore for taking the time to share these links and the helpful ideas.
Connie, I have chills after reading the story about your dad! Thanks for sharing!
Connie, I have chills after reading the story about your dad! Thanks for sharing!
My oh my, I do love it when I hear about our children appreciating the things in us that they formally did not appreciate.
What an excellent essay today…I laughed out loud several times! Love your writing.
My hair is naturally ombre (an American/French argot?) or “tie and dyed” hair. It’s a combo of grey and blond and brown.
I hope Jackie has a wonderful visit this summer.
My oh my, I do love it when I hear about our children appreciating the things in us that they formally did not appreciate.
What an excellent essay today…I laughed out loud several times! Love your writing.
My hair is naturally ombre (an American/French argot?) or “tie and dyed” hair. It’s a combo of grey and blond and brown.
I hope Jackie has a wonderful visit this summer.
Sorry to answer these out of order, again, but I enjoyed what you shared, Vera,( about: before a baby learns to speak–when they are practicing sounds–they eventually make every sound that is used in every language! Too bad we loose the ability.) Fascinating!
Thank you all for taking the time to comment. It is a pleasure to read your words.
Sorry to answer these out of order, again, but I enjoyed what you shared, Vera,( about: before a baby learns to speak–when they are practicing sounds–they eventually make every sound that is used in every language! Too bad we loose the ability.) Fascinating!
Thank you all for taking the time to comment. It is a pleasure to read your words.
I have cousins who live in France, and I find their accents extremely adorable when they speak English or any other language. Of course they always have trouble pronouncing the TH sound. It’s more prominent than the R. For me, my doing the French R sound is passable. It’s the Spanish trilled R that I can never get. It always feels like I’m choking or something.
As someone who has been in a similar situation like your daughter, growing up bilingual is a huge gift. She might not realize yet but one day it will all come to her.
I have cousins who live in France, and I find their accents extremely adorable when they speak English or any other language. Of course they always have trouble pronouncing the TH sound. It’s more prominent than the R. For me, my doing the French R sound is passable. It’s the Spanish trilled R that I can never get. It always feels like I’m choking or something.
As someone who has been in a similar situation like your daughter, growing up bilingual is a huge gift. She might not realize yet but one day it will all come to her.
I cannot for the life of me do the French “r”, Spanish “r” or even the Finnish “r”. but then again many people of the fore mentioned nationalities cannot do a proper “th” as in Kathy. Many of us have difficulty with pronouncing foreign words unless we were taught at an early age so that our tongues could form the proper sounds.
Kathleen
I cannot for the life of me do the French “r”, Spanish “r” or even the Finnish “r”. but then again many people of the fore mentioned nationalities cannot do a proper “th” as in Kathy. Many of us have difficulty with pronouncing foreign words unless we were taught at an early age so that our tongues could form the proper sounds.
Kathleen
Great post, thank you Kristin; your understated humour shines.
Loved the stories and suggestions and tongue twisters…
It seems so many FWAD readers are “bilingguists”!
A Belgian friend of mine married to an aussie brought up her 4 boys as bilinguists. She spoke only French to them while daddy spoke only English to them… It worked a treat!
After 40 odd (!) years in Australia I still can’t say kookaburra….:)
Jacqueline in post-Oswald hot n humid Brisbane
Great post, thank you Kristin; your understated humour shines.
Loved the stories and suggestions and tongue twisters…
It seems so many FWAD readers are “bilingguists”!
A Belgian friend of mine married to an aussie brought up her 4 boys as bilinguists. She spoke only French to them while daddy spoke only English to them… It worked a treat!
After 40 odd (!) years in Australia I still can’t say kookaburra….:)
Jacqueline in post-Oswald hot n humid Brisbane