tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Wed Jun 28 06:17:31 1995
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Re: That's my name, don't use it up.
>Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 15:35:16 -0400
>Originator: [email protected]
>From: "Elizabeth C. Hoyt" <[email protected]>
>Could someone explain the terms you're using to describe the rolled `r'?
>I've always had trouble with that sound, the only time I get close is
>when I sort of growl in the back of my throat and try to say `er' at the
>same time.
If I'm understanding you right, that's a uvular trill. Your uvula, the
little flap of skin at the back of your throat, is what's doing the
flapping. That's the kind of trill I can do okay; I think part of why I
have trouble with other trills is that I thought they were uvular. This is
the trill used in French.
The trill Okrand is talking about, and most people mean when they say
"trilled" or "rolled" r, is a lingual trill. This is done with the tip of
the tongue on the hard palate, and it's the tip of the tongue that does the
flapping. You might recall the old American commercials for Ruffles potato
chips, talking about how Rrrrruffles have rrrrrridges; that was a lingual
trill. Or watch the movie "Singin' in the Rain" and look for the scene
with Gene Kelly practicing his diction and his coach corrects him to trill
his r's in "Around the rocks the rugged rascal ran." (actually, go and
watch the movie anyway; it's a great movie).
~mark