Can you roll your Rs?

[Davidius]

I really want to be able to roll my Rs but for some reason it seems impossible for me! Starting in the Fall I'll need to be able to recite Latin poetry well and I'd like to be able to get the pronunciations as correct as possible. Has anyone else ever been able to do it after not being about to previously?


By the way, I was born with a condition commonly referred to as being "tongue tied" where the piece of skin under my tongue was grown too far forward, significantly restricting my tongue's movement. I had it cut back a little when I was 14 but I'm wondering if it wasn't cut far enough; I still have much less movement in my tongue than most people. Perhaps this could be at least partially the problem?

 

[Dagmire]

I wouldn't think that your condition would stop you. I find that the position that my tongue is in when I roll Rs is very nearly its resting position.


Try not making any sound and just making the tip of your tongue flap by blowing out air. If you can manage to do that, then all you have to do is add the R sound behind it.

 

[Herald]

Having been raised in Northern New Jersey (15W was my exit) the last thing I worry about is whether I can roll my R's. I have my hands full not pronouncing "ou" (as in "you") as "ouse" (as in "youse").

Forgedabodit.

 

[Davidius]

Having been raised in Northern New Jersey (15W was my exit) the last thing I worry about is whether I can roll my R's. I have my hands full not pronouncing "ou" (as in "you") as "ouse" (as in "youse").

Forgedabodit.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Kind of. My wife thinks my R-rolling sounds a bit slow. She learned Italian while living there for a number of years.

I sound like a white boy when I speak Spanish.

 

[jfschultz]

By the way, I was born with a condition commonly referred to as being "tongue tied" where the piece of skin under my tongue was grown too far forward, significantly restricting my tongue's movement. I had it cut back a little when I was 14 but I'm wondering if it wasn't cut far enough; I still have much less movement in my tongue than most people. Perhaps this could be at least partially the problem?

I was also tongue tied and had it cut back when I was young and have no problem rolling my R's. (But my early years in Peru may have helped. )

My son was also tongue tied. The "experts" were concerned about the "trauma" so it was cut only a little. A few years later we had it done again.

 

[Davidius]

I was also tongue tied and had it cut back when I was young and have no problem rolling my R's. (But my early years in Peru may have helped. )

My son was also tongue tied. The "experts" were concerned about the "trauma" so it was cut only a little. A few years later we had it done again.

Interesting! I definitely would like to go have it done again just in case that's contributing to the problem.