BajaNomad

Trilling rr. HELP!

shnookey - 1-1-2009 at 07:40 AM

I'm just beginning to learn Spanish and I've been walking around my house for days :) trying to purr like a cat to try to trill my r's.
And yet, to no avail, I trill rr not. Any tips on how to trill rr?
Super-dee-dupperty gracias!

Russ - 1-1-2009 at 07:45 AM

That's a tough one. You should shoot a video of yourself walking around the house making funny sounds:lol: Then maybe we could help you. Should at least give us all a good laugh.

shnookey - 1-1-2009 at 07:50 AM

Yeah, I figure you guys could have a hay day with this one :)

longlegsinlapaz - 1-1-2009 at 08:22 AM

Purring like a cat to perfect rolling your R's is the best technique I can think of....and carry the R sound out as through it were 3-4 letters as opposed to 1-2:bounce: Or duplicate the sound of a dog growling...Grrrrrrr;) To me, it's more a sound than pronunciation....if that makes any sense.

DENNIS - 1-1-2009 at 08:36 AM

In learning my rudimentary Spanish, I had the same problem. I found it easier to stop concentrating on the technique and let it develop through time which it has, somewhat. The word with the untrilled Rs will be more clearly understood than one with an R that has been slaughtered.
Mexicans are unbelievebly gracious and will make the compensation required to communicate. In their mind, they will trill your Rs for you. Don't worry about it. Too much concern will only slow down your ability to learn a new way of speaking.

shnookey - 1-1-2009 at 08:50 AM

Thanks- I can't seem to growl like a dog, but I'm tyring to get my husband to growl for me so I can try to duplicate it. So, I'm still purring like a cat-
or trying to. It seems to take a good deal of breath to purr. Do you know how to purr without it taking so much breath?

Oso - 1-1-2009 at 09:22 AM

An American tourist in Scotland is greeted by a waitress in a cafe:

"Good evening Sirrrr, and what arrrrre ye having tonight?"

"My, you sure do roll your R's!"

"Ach, it's these high heels I'm wearrrrring."

lizard lips - 1-1-2009 at 09:31 AM

Oso, I'm bustin a gut on that one!

Back in my pirate days we would all get drunk and if something made us mad we would just say "RRRRRRRRR".

Now get drunk like a pirate, get mad, say "RRRRRRRR" and then whilst doing this put your tongue at the top of your inner mouth and there ya go. Do it all day and practice by saying RRRRRRRRRRRRRock and RRRRRRRRRRoll.

shnookey - 1-1-2009 at 10:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
An American tourist in Scotland is greeted by a waitress in a cafe:

"Good evening Sirrrr, and what arrrrre ye having tonight?"

"My, you sure do roll your R's!"

"Ach, it's these high heels I'm wearrrrring."


Thanks! The scottish approach helps, especially if I say,
"If it's not Scottish, it's KRaaap". :spingrin:

rr

tehag - 1-1-2009 at 10:10 AM

Use a soft D in place of a single r and kind of drag your tongue for the rr. Both sound much better than a standard English r.

DENNIS - 1-1-2009 at 10:22 AM

And, who could trill an R as well as Eartha Kitt.......

DEP

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=6528459

Mulegena - 1-1-2009 at 10:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
And, who could trill an R as well as Eartha Kitt.......
Quote:


Nobody, but Nobody... Saw her in San Francisco with Mickey Rooney in The Wizard of Oz. She was 70+ years old and came sweeping through the air on a bicycle suspended 20 feet above the semi-darkened stage calling out,
"I'm still heeeerrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!" Now that was an Entrance Grande indeed.

[Edited on 1-1-2009 by Mulegena]

so as not to be seen as hijacking a thread...

Mulegena - 1-1-2009 at 10:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by tehag
Use a soft D in place of a single r and kind of drag your tongue for the rr. Both sound much better than a standard English r.


Yes, as my yet limited understanding goes, a softened D-sound is actually more accurate than a trilled R-sound when pronouncing Spanish words with the letters rr. Sorta like walking on a tile floor with soft-soled deck shoes vs. stiletto heels... that being said, it is fun to trill rrrr's, but you won't be so easily understood in my experience.

ckiefer - 1-1-2009 at 04:51 PM

it always tickles the roof of my mouth...:P

Mulegena - 1-1-2009 at 09:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ckiefer
it always tickles the roof of my mouth...:P


So, you liked Oso's little Scottish ditty, did you?;D

duke62 - 1-1-2009 at 10:59 PM

Mi esposa thinks Oso is oh so funny.

I do too, but won't admit as much in her presence. Pride. Standing. All that.

Carry on.

ckiefer - 1-1-2009 at 11:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mulegena
Quote:
Originally posted by ckiefer
it always tickles the roof of my mouth...:P


So, you liked Oso's little Scottish ditty, did you?;D
:lol:

shnookey - 1-2-2009 at 04:22 AM

Thanks all for the tips and the entertainment as well!