I have a speech problem :(...

[Knowledge_Seeker]

This Saturday I'm supposed to make a big graduation speech at a program I have been going to for the last two years, and it is a big deal. But my problem is that I have a speech impedement* and I cannot pronounce my R's.

I was never refered to any speech therapist in school (i am currently in 8th grade) because i was to embarassed to say anything. but now as i grow older, i realize that i will eventually have to talk in front of people.

So my question is, how do you pronouce your R's? For me, its that when i pronounce the "R" sounds is i put the edges of my tounge (the back part of my tounge) one underneath my top molars in the back and then i finish off the r sound by moving my tounge similarly the way you do when you say the letter "O".

Does anyone think they can help me? Any diagrams, or VIDEOS, would be nice. And I would really appreciate it

[Tog]

I put the sides of my tongue just about where my upper cnnine teeth meet the bicuspids, with the tip of my tongue touching my pallet, just behind my inscisors. My lips are closed sort of like with an O. As the sound completes, my mouth opens to make the shape used for an 'ahh' sound.

One of the guys from Monty Python cannot pronounce his Rs either. They come out similar to a W.

Good luck with the speech.

[Jeff Root]

I think you need to work with someone in person.

I can say a few things about how I make the "R" sound, though:
I don't change the position of my tongue or lips or anything else
while making the sound. Whether it starts out from a sudden,
sharp release of breath from the lungs through the larynx, as in
the word "earth", or starts softly, as in the word "run", once the
"R" sound starts, I don't move anything until the sound ends.

The second thing is that the "R" sound seems to come from the
front of my mouth, not far behind my front teeth, as contrasted
with the "L" sound which seems to come from a little farther
back, in the middle of my mouth, between my molars and around
the sides of my tongue.

A third thing is that it is impossible to make either "R" or "L"
sounds with my mouth wide open. I can do both with my teeth
together, but most natural is for them to be a millimeter apart
or so.

Can you make the "L" sound without any problem?

-- Jeff, in Minneapolis

[Knowledge_Seeker]

I put the sides of my tongue just about where my upper cnnine teeth meet the bicuspids, with the tip of my tongue touching my pallet, just behind my inscisors. My lips are closed sort of like with an O. As the sound completes, my mouth opens to make the shape used for an 'ahh' sound.

One of the guys from Monty Python cannot pronounce his Rs either. They come out similar to a W.

Good luck with the speech.

do you think you could explain without the technical terms?

and for me when i say the letter 'r' it comes out sounding like the letter 'i'

and yes i can say the letter 'l' perfectly.

[Tog]

do you think you could explain without the technical terms?

and for me when i say the letter 'r' it comes out sounding like the letter 'i'

and yes i can say the letter 'l' perfectly.

So, how does a word like "art" come out come out when you say it?

The canine teeth are the Vampire teeth. Starting in the middle, the first two teeth are the flat ones. The third one over is longer and more triangular. It's the canine, The fourth one back is the the first bicuspid. That's where the edge of my tongue rests when I say an R as in Rear. the pallate is th eroof of your mouth. The ti of my tongue rests just behind my upper front teeth, touchig the roof of my mouth.

Try this. Can you mimic tha purr of a cat? The easiest way to do this is to flick your tongue back and forth on the roof of your mouth. This is the same basic spot used to make the R sound. THere was a TV Ad here years ago where the slogan was Ruffle have ridges. It was for potato chips/crisps. The way the phrase was said in the add was by rolling or trilling the R. R-R-R-Ruffles have R-R-R-Ridges. The R-R-R-R part was done tha same way as the purring sound.

[Doodler]

This Saturday I'm supposed to make a big graduation speech at a program I have been going to for the last two years, and it is a big deal. But my problem is that I have a speech impedement* and I cannot pronounce my R's.

I was never refered to any speech therapist in school (i am currently in 8th grade) because i was to embarassed to say anything. but now as i grow older, i realize that i will eventually have to talk in front of people.

So my question is, how do you pronouce your R's? For me, its that when i pronounce the "R" sounds is i put the edges of my tounge (the back part of my tounge) one underneath my top molars in the back and then i finish off the r sound by moving my tounge similarly the way you do when you say the letter "O".

Does anyone think they can help me? Any diagrams, or VIDEOS, would be nice. And I would really appreciate it

If you can complete a sentence without tripping over your words, then I'll be happy to swap speach impediments with you.

In all seriousness, fuhgettaboutit. Consider it a signature aspect of your speach and roll with it. Given the number of ways I hear English pronounced on a given day, a single sound dropped is insignificant compared to some of the damage I've seen done to enunciation from people without any legitimate excuse.

One phoneme that's difficult for you to pronounce is not going to throw your message to the wind, not by a long shot. Run with what you have, and if anyone gives you a moment's grief, throw'em a rude gesture and tell them to grow the heck up.

[Maksutov]

Then there was the young lady from Edinburgh who went to a job interview in New York. As she sat down in front of the HR manager's desk, one of the heels of her shoes let go and fell away.

The interview was a success and the HR manager, who was quite taken with her accent, assured her that she had got the job. They shook hands and she started to leave, showing the effects of having one shoe's heel different from the other.

At this point the HR manager ad libbed, "BTW, miss, I love the way you roll your Rs!"

To which she replied, "I canna help it, I brrrroke the heel a me shoe!"

[JohnD]

KS,
I fear you won't solve your problem in just a few days.
I suggest that you confront it, or rather confront your listeners, by telling them about it first of all. If you can make a joke about it - Matsutovs is good! Naughty, but nice!
Then give your speech.
You will get top marks for being up front with your speech problem, being relaxed about (even if you aren't) and your listeners will be on your side.

And be like the woman who asked a cabbie the way to get to Carnegie Hall.
"You gotta practice, lady, practice!"
Have friends, family, flatmates, listen to you give your speech. Until they scream for mercy!

Lastly, have you ever heard the speeches of Winston Churchill? He had a problem with the letter 's' - he lisped. How did he overcome his problem,and become one of the iconic public speakers of the 20th Century? Practice, practice, practice.

Good luck! Or rather, break a leg!

John

[farmerjumperdon]

My tongue doesn't touch any part of the inside of my mouth when I pronounce an R. The sound starts with my lips pursed almost as if I'm going to whistle, then proceeds to a small puff of air that transitions into the next sound.

That being said, I agree with Doodler. With so many different accents and personal nuances of speech out there, I think the average person won't think about it twice. Focus on, and draw your confidence from, the content.

BTW, one of the development teams I've been working with a lot lately has quite a diverse population - 1 Vietnamese, 2 Indians, and 3 Russians; with 3 or 4 others that speak what most would call "normal" English. I find their varied styles of speech pretty interesting. I especially enjoy the very liberal use of the ZE sound by the Russians.

[Knowledge_Seeker]

thanx for the support

[Nicolas]

I have a very small speech problem. I have trouble pronouncing the "r" in words ending on "ier". Nobody really noticed it when I was speaking. Until I moved to Lier.

true story

[jrkeller]

KS,

Here's my advice/story.

My oldest child has Down Sydrome and has been in speach therapy since birth. She's 14 now. At different times, I have had her in public and private speach therapy. Your school district should provide you with free speach therapy. One or two visits maybe all you need. And do what they tell you to do. I don't know how many times I've seen a parent scratching their head wondering why their kid isn't making any progress. The answer is that they didn't work on their lessons.

I know it's probably embarassing to go to speach therapy during the school day, but maybe there is something before or after school for you. I work with several adults who have speaking problems, and I think it is far more embarassing as an adult than as a kid.

You can also go the private speach therapy route too. Many health insurance companies will pay for it, all they need is a doctor's OK. They call it a quality of life issue. Try the summertime when school is out, that way they can't say, the school should be doing this.

As a kid I used to stutter when I spoke publically. One on one was no problem. Of course girls made it really bad. I still do on occasion stutter when I get really nervous. I overcame my problem by becoming a teaching assistant in college. I got lots of practice speaking (2-4 a week) and quickly the problem went away. Now I love speaking in front of large groups on people. I've spoke to as many as 200 people at once and for a while ended up being an adjunct college professor.

[jrkeller]

One other thing I thought of. Just ask your parents or friends to make "r" sound and watch how they do it. I've gotten my daughter to make several sounds by simply watching me do it correctly.

[MrClean]

just remember, a speech impedement has never stopped Barbarra Walters. I had problems with my R's early on as well but had therapy to help. I still do not speak well, even though I do too much of it.

Initially folks might focus on your ability, so plan on a little fluff at the first, not much, then start onto the message. They'll focus on the message and not your R's.

Good luck.

[qrius]

John Stossel from 20/20 also was a stutterer. Don't know that I have any additional suggestions. Good luck.