Cookies are required for login or registration. Please read and agree to our cookie policy to continue.

Newest Member: Starrystarrynight

Off Topic :
Italian - that damn "R" is getting on my last nerve!

This Topic is Archived
default

 frigidfire86 (original poster member #32324) posted at 8:54 PM on Monday, August 19th, 2013

I'm in school (again) and taking Italian this semester. I don't find most of it to be difficult, so far, except pronouncing that stupid R. I just can't roll my tongue...never have been able to. Spanish in high school? Couldn't do the R then either. I've been sitting here for the last two hours practicing and so far have only managed to sound like a complete idiot. Ugh!

D-Day: 2011

posts: 688   ·   registered: May. 31st, 2011   ·   location: Minnesota
id 6454813
default

clralb ( member #17185) posted at 9:04 PM on Monday, August 19th, 2013

I hear ya. I've always and still have problems rolling my R's. I've given up.

Good luck!

"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."
Buddha

posts: 682   ·   registered: Nov. 27th, 2007   ·   location: southeast
id 6454833
default

Crescita ( member #32616) posted at 9:25 PM on Monday, August 19th, 2013

So you'll have an accent. As long as people can understand you it doesn't really matter. Although software programs might give you fits

“Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

posts: 3640   ·   registered: Jun. 28th, 2011   ·   location: The Valley of the Sun
id 6454854
default

Sad in AZ ( member #24239) posted at 9:44 PM on Monday, August 19th, 2013

I'm of Italian descent and can't do it, so don't feel bad.

You are important and you matter. Your feelings matter. Your voice matters. Your story matters. Your life matters. Always.

Me: FBS (no longer betrayed nor a spouse)-63
D-day: 2007 (two years before finding SI)
S: 6/2010; D: 3/2011

posts: 25351   ·   registered: Jun. 3rd, 2009   ·   location: Arizona
id 6454877
default

click4it ( member #209) posted at 9:49 PM on Monday, August 19th, 2013

You are giving your tongue a workout. Time to reward it with some Italian ice cream.

Me: 45
Two boys: 20 and 17
Divorced 12-13-05
d-day 10-02-01

Laughter will cure life's ills. Have you had your laugh today?

posts: 25706   ·   registered: Jun. 21st, 2002   ·   location: California
id 6454889
default

bluelady ( member #11061) posted at 2:43 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

I grew up learning French in school. I remember in Grade 2, there was heavy emphasis placed on us learning to properly roll our "R"s.

Fastforward 15 years and I start taking Spanish in university. My prof would get so frustrated with me because she said I rolled my "R"s "too French". I remember sitting in her office one afternoon with her trying to get me to do it the Spanish way. She would roll and R and I would try and match it. I thought I was doing great, but she was getting more and more frustrated.

Don't sweat it. It'll come.

Me (BS): 35

Divorced

posts: 1501   ·   registered: Jun. 21st, 2006   ·   location: a little bit of everywhere
id 6455703
default

EvenKeel ( member #24210) posted at 7:47 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

Ohhhh - you are bringing back memories of HS Spanish. She would have us practice that "Pot of tea" saying until we got the rolling down. I can do a MINI roll when I say pot of tea but can't incorporate it into real words. LOL

posts: 6985   ·   registered: May. 31st, 2009   ·   location: Pennsylvania
id 6456203
default

Crescita ( member #32616) posted at 8:01 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

I can do a MINI roll when I say pot of tea but can't incorporate it into real words.

I was like that learning Armenian. There is a letter that sounds like the French guttural R. I was so proud of myself for learning how to pronounce it, but couldn't use it in a word to save my life. There was another girl in the class who was also learning Spanish and she couldn't stop rolling her R's

“Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

posts: 3640   ·   registered: Jun. 28th, 2011   ·   location: The Valley of the Sun
id 6456221
default

 frigidfire86 (original poster member #32324) posted at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

I'm curious. I've been practicing this for hours every day and am still horrible at it. If I can't get it right I'm worried I will get docked a crap ton of points in my speaking assignments. I don't want to get a worse grade because of a stupid letter. Please tell me teachers/professors are somewhat lenient. It's stressing me out. I'm already not a huge fan of my professor. The semester doesn't even technically start until Thursday and he's already given us a ton of work to do (23 assignments due by Sunday, 7 due on Thursday alone ).

[This message edited by frigidfire86 at 6:01 PM, August 20th (Tuesday)]

D-Day: 2011

posts: 688   ·   registered: May. 31st, 2011   ·   location: Minnesota
id 6456532
default

bluelady ( member #11061) posted at 12:19 AM on Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

I'm a second language teacher (French) and I certainly wouldn't dock a bunch of points for one letter. I don't know Italian, but based on my knowledge of French and Spanish, rolling an R is probably the hardest thing to pronounce, and your prof knows that. I'm sure that as long as he sees that you're trying, it'll be ok.

It's really, really hard to learn another language as an adult. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Me (BS): 35

Divorced

posts: 1501   ·   registered: Jun. 21st, 2006   ·   location: a little bit of everywhere
id 6456560
default

Crescita ( member #32616) posted at 12:26 AM on Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

Teachers in my experience have been been pretty lenient with this kind of thing. They will correct you and try to make you work on it more, but it is a small part of grading.

“Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

posts: 3640   ·   registered: Jun. 28th, 2011   ·   location: The Valley of the Sun
id 6456565
This Topic is Archived
Cookies on SurvivingInfidelity.com®

SurvivingInfidelity.com® uses cookies to enhance your visit to our website. This is a requirement for participants to login, post and use other features. Visitors may opt out, but the website will be less functional for you.

v.1.001.20250404a 2002-2025 SurvivingInfidelity.com® All Rights Reserved. • Privacy Policy