Row, Raw, Low, Law
Nov 29th 2009 22:42
Row, Raw, Low, Law... I have been studying English for a long time, but I still struggle with them.
When hearing them, it's completely impossible for me to distinguish them. Of course native English speakers can distinguish the pronunciation between R and L, I think they never mishear Row/Raw and Low/Law. But, have you ever mishear Row and Raw, or Low and Law?
Not only I can't hear them correctly, but also I can't use them correctly. Whenever I try to use one of them, I have no idea which I should use. It's as if my brain refused to remember them...
Do you have a similar experience in the language you are learning?
For my info:
The word, the pronunciation and the meaning
Row [rou] 列
Raw [ro:] 生の
Low [lou] 低い
Law [lo:] 法律
When hearing them, it's completely impossible for me to distinguish them. Of course native English speakers can distinguish the pronunciation between R and L, I think they never mishear Row/Raw and Low/Law. But, have you ever mishear Row and Raw, or Low and Law?
Not only I can't hear them correctly, but also I can't use them correctly. Whenever I try to use one of them, I have no idea which I should use. It's as if my brain refused to remember them...
Do you have a similar experience in the language you are learning?
For my info:
The word, the pronunciation and the meaning
Row [rou] 列
Raw [ro:] 生の
Low [lou] 低い
Law [lo:] 法律
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But, have you ever misheard Row and Raw, or Low and Law?
Not only do I not hear them correctly, but I also I can't use them correctly. [I didn't even notice the first mistake when I first read it -- see comment. Also, the second isn't a mistake, it's just more natural in that order.]
It's as if my brain refuses to remember them... [more natural]
Do you have a similar experiences in the language you are learning? [more natural]
But when you're native, your brain usually picks it out from context... It's almost like you don't hear the sounds at all, you hear the whole sentence at once.
Also, your writing is quite good. Even though there are mistakes, they are very minor, and I don't even notice them reading unless I stop and look.
With Low and Law the "ow" and "aw" sounds stay the same but you just need to make it an L instead of an R.
Row, Low, Raw, Law Originally, it sounds as if you are having trouble with the "aw" and "ow" sounds.
Row, Low, Raw, Law Originally, it sounds as if you are having trouble with the "aw" and "ow" sounds.
When hearing them, it's completely impossible for me to distinguish between them.
Of course native English speakers can distinguish the pronunciation between R and L, I think they never mishear Row/Low and Raw/Law.
But, do you ever mishear Row and Low, or Raw and Law? "Do you ever mishear..." is the present tense form. "Have you ever misheard..." is the past tense form. Both are correct.
Not only can't I hear them correctly, but also I can't use them correctly either. This is another way to describe two things you can't do or want. "I don't want to go to work today, but I don't want to miss a day's pay either."
The family has to go to a Chinese restaurant after some dogs ruin
thier home cooked Christmas meal.
The waiters are trying to sing Christmas songs but are having trouble
pronouncing "L" in the song "Deck The Halls".
Some people might think this is racist, but it's not meant that way.
I'm sure English speakers trying to speak in other languages sound
just as funny.
"Not only do I not hear ---"!? I didn't know this form. It's new for me. It's good to know!
Thank you for your corrections and comment!
> Shin,
やっぱりネイティブにとってはまったく違う発音なんですね。そう思ったんだ・・・。(^^;)
Thank you for your comment!
> デレック,
Oh, Row sounds like ろ and Raw sounds like ら. I see. I'll try to notice them.
Thank you for your explanation!
> madao,
I'll try to do that!
Thank you for your advice!
> EroOyaji,
Actually I can't distinguish not only "R" and "L", but also "aw" and "ow."
Thank you for your corrections and the funny video!
I agree with madao. Don't try to use Japanese to make English sounds. There are some sounds that just aren't the same.
I've helped my Chinese g/f with her pronunciation and it's tricky to get right. Generally speaking, English requires you to move your jaw and tongue a lot. If you don't move your mouth quite right, it won't sound right.
For "row", you have to really push your lips forward when you make the "oh" sound.
For "raw", you have to relax your mouth and drop your jaw when you make the "aw" sound.
We found this guy to be pretty good: http://www.pronunciationworkshop.com/
Here's a sample video...
Good luck!
Oh, you gave the good explanation about how to pronounce "aw" and "ow." The video is also very helpful. I'll practice them repeatedly.
Thank you for your advice!