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If you're a Japanese speaker learning English, the sounds /l/ and /r/ can be tricky. That’s because in Japanese, these two sounds don’t exist as separate phonemes (a sound that can change the meaning of a word). Instead, they’re allophones (different versions of the same sound that don’t change a word’s meaning). For example, the Japanese ら (ra), り (ri), る (ru), れ (re), ろ (ro) is pronounced somewhere between an English /l/ and /r/, depending on the context.
But in English, /l/ and /r/ are contrastive phonemes. That means switching one for the other can change a word's meaning completely! Check out these pairs:
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light /laɪt/ vs right /raɪt/
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lead /liːd/ vs read /riːd/
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glass /ɡlæs/ vs grass /ɡræs/
To English ears, mixing these up sounds like a different word — sometimes with confusing (or funny!) results.
To improve, try minimal pairs: say “light, right, light, right” slowly. For /l/, your tongue touches just behind your upper teeth. For /r/, curl your tongue slightly back — but don’t let it touch! Check out this video from Seeing Speech (the University of Glasgow) to see how the /r/ sound is made: https://seeingspeech.ac.uk/ipa-charts/?chart=1&datatype=3&speaker=1#location=635
Practice makes perfect. Keep at it, and you’ll be on the right track in no time!-----------------
Which English words do you find most difficult to pronounce? Which minimal pairs do you practice?Share your experiences in the comments, along with any helpful tips!
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About me: I am a professional English teacher with 15 years experience. I specialise in Business Communication, phonology, and exam preparation
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