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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:14:56
Does anyone else experience this?
I'm horrible at pronouncing words. I can recognize and understand most words, but there are many I cannot pronounce. I think it is because I hardly ever speak and because my parents don't really speak English.
Some days I speak only two or three sentences. I really don't talk much at all.
Anyways, is this some sort of learning disability or something? Or is it just that I suck at pronunciation? A lot of the times I find my p-doc (the one on leave) finishes my words for me. I know the word, but I just can't pronounce it with confidence.
Deneb
Posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:28:43
In reply to I have a hard time pronouncing words, posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:14:56
Some examples of words I have trouble pronouncing...
I was talking with the pdoc about transference and then I realized that I wasn't sure if I was pronouncing the word right...it turns out I don't think I was! Eeek. I kept saying transference the way one says interference...you know like in the interference between waves.
Also, I cannot, for the life of me seem to be able to pronounce the word Mitsubishi! No matter how many times others help me with it, I just cannot say it! Ahhh! It is sooo weird.
Deneb
Posted by lynn970 on September 25, 2005, at 21:28:53
In reply to I have a hard time pronouncing words, posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:14:56
My little cousin has a hard time pronouncing words too. I think that he has a learning disability because he has a hard time with language arts. Reading, spelling, language.
He is awsome in math though.
Do you have a hard time with reading and spelling?
Posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:33:23
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words, posted by lynn970 on September 25, 2005, at 21:28:53
I don't think I have a hard time with reading, but I'm absolutely horrible at spelling and at pronunciation. I have to use spell check all the time!
Posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:39:33
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words » lynn970, posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:33:23
Hmmm...well...not *absolutely* horrible I guess...
I tend to see other people's spelling mistakes on occasion and I was good enough at pronunciation to work as an interviewer for this market research place. I had to phone people up and read this script...I did OK and I was a fast reader!
I dunno, I'm not perfect. I don't know what is normal and what is not, maybe I'm making "mountains out of molehills."
Deneb
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 25, 2005, at 22:07:20
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words, posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:39:33
>
> I dunno, I'm not perfect. I don't know what is normal and what is not, maybe I'm making "mountains out of molehills."
>
> Deneb
HI denebI heavebt notised an aparant visabl speling prblam withe yor postz and I thinc I spel well :-)
BUt seriously, I think it may be a confidence and a lack of practice thing. There are so many people who have specific words that they can't say. I fumble with one in particular myself and I dont have a pronuciation prblem. Just try to practice saying them more. I dont think its anything to worry about.
Posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2005, at 22:16:53
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words » Deneb, posted by rainbowbrite on September 25, 2005, at 22:07:20
And then there are accents in different parts of the country ya all. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Cass on September 25, 2005, at 22:56:30
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words, posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2005, at 22:16:53
I've always been an excellent speller and a good writer, but I also have a hard time pronouncing words sometimes. I think it has to do with being quiet. I was always very quiet growing up and into my adulthood. I think it's just lack of practice verbalizing.
Posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 23:09:32
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words--Deneb, posted by Cass on September 25, 2005, at 22:56:30
> I think it's just lack of practice verbalizing.
I think so too now. I'm used to reading words and writing them, but I hardly ever get to actually say them.
Yikes...this kind of shows just how quiet I really am! I bet I could go days without talking, literally!
Deneb
Posted by 10derHeart on September 25, 2005, at 23:43:26
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words » Deneb, posted by rainbowbrite on September 25, 2005, at 22:07:20
Posted by JenStar on September 26, 2005, at 0:10:35
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words, posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:39:33
a lot of people stumble over words, especially long ones or words that are foreign to their first language. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have any disability at all!
My best friend in college routinely mispronounced lots of words....and she's a doctor today. :) My husband says a lot of words wrong but he's super-smart.
I'm sure that you could improve it if you wanted to...read a good novel aloud to yourself, or listen to spoken words -- national public radio or books on tape or something where people have good diction.
It's also possible that in the presence of "important" people you stumble over words more than usual? I know I sometimes feel that simple tasks elude me when I'm nervous in someone's presence!
JenStar
Posted by Damos on September 26, 2005, at 0:29:55
In reply to RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) (nm) » rainbowbrite, posted by 10derHeart on September 25, 2005, at 23:43:26
Aw 10der, you and Rain are just the best day brightenerupperas there is.
Posted by gardenergirl on September 26, 2005, at 7:35:40
In reply to Re: RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) » 10derHeart, posted by Damos on September 26, 2005, at 0:29:55
Noooook you lerr
um, it's Noo clee er, Mr. President.
So look how far you can go, and not pronounce words "correctly"!
gg
Posted by lynn970 on September 26, 2005, at 7:36:28
In reply to Re: I have a hard time pronouncing words, posted by Deneb on September 25, 2005, at 21:39:33
Deneb, maybe you are just not sure of yourself. I have that problem too. I am a horrible speller, but when I use spell check I am amazed when "spell check is complete" pops up and I have no errors. I think I am just afraid that I mispelled words. I much prefer Math.
Math is what I teach.
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 26, 2005, at 9:05:17
In reply to RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) (nm) » rainbowbrite, posted by 10derHeart on September 25, 2005, at 23:43:26
Im wus the natianul spullinng champian in mi towne!! Fur 3 yeers strate!!!
lmao
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 26, 2005, at 9:08:41
In reply to Re: RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) » 10derHeart, posted by Damos on September 26, 2005, at 0:29:55
> Aw 10der, you and Rain are just the best day brightenerupperas there is.
Damos, you have the exact same effect on me!
And "brightenerupperas" IS MY NEW FAVORITE WORD!!! :-)
-RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE :-P
Posted by Damos on September 26, 2005, at 17:19:05
In reply to Re: RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) » Damos, posted by rainbowbrite on September 26, 2005, at 9:08:41
> And "brightenerupperas" IS MY NEW FAVORITE WORD!!! :-)
>
>
> -RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE :-PWell I imagine that between you and 10der you can infinitely improve the spelling of it ;-)
And I thought you tag was Reinbohbreight :-D
Posted by JenStar on September 26, 2005, at 20:55:00
In reply to Hey, even our president has trouble, posted by gardenergirl on September 26, 2005, at 7:35:40
I hate it when he says "nucular!"
I had a biology teacher in HS who always said "nucular" instead of "nuclear."
Nuculus of a cell
nucular meiosis
nucular membraneaaarrrggghhh! It drove me nuts!
JenStar
Posted by gardenergirl on September 26, 2005, at 21:20:38
In reply to i hate nucular! » gardenergirl, posted by JenStar on September 26, 2005, at 20:55:00
Posted by rainbowbrite on September 26, 2005, at 22:02:56
In reply to Re: RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) » rainbowbrite, posted by Damos on September 26, 2005, at 17:19:05
> > And "brightenerupperas" IS MY NEW FAVORITE WORD!!! :-)
> >
> >
> > -RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE :-P
>
> Well I imagine that between you and 10der you can infinitely improve the spelling of it ;-)
>I like how you did it but 10der definatly has a way with spelling lol
> And I thought you tag was Reinbohbreight :-D
>
>Its R*a*Y*n*e*B*e*A*U*b*r*Y*t*E lol I just love those stars!! :-D
Posted by ramsea on October 1, 2005, at 1:25:30
In reply to Re: RANEBEAUBRIIIGHTE...SHE SPULS REEL GRATE!! ;-) » Damos, posted by rainbowbrite on September 26, 2005, at 22:02:56
Having been a foreigner in other places, I know what it is like to constantly have people "correct" you or have a giggle at one's pronuniation of words. And I have learned first hand that people become very attached to their own way of pronouncing words and find deviations jar their ear at worst and at best, amuse.
But it isn't a black and white matter. Dialects always create differences. Have you ever seen the pronunciation chart of sounds? It uses a variety of symbols in addition to familiar vowels/consonants to demonstrate more scientifically "how" people are sounding out their words. Even the Queen's English is not considered "correct" these days. All speakers shorten one sound, or add a kind of extra syllablic sound---it's just what human speakers do with words. All speakers "slur" some of their words, or, for example, their "hard T" sound might actually sound like a "soft d". But if their community does the same, then no one thinks anything of it--it is the correct way to speak.
If a stranger comes along and sounds somehow unlike themselves, there is a kind of internal alarm. Maybe it's biology, but there's this great urge on people's part to laugh at difference or hate it. If you can get hold of one of these charts (easily available) listen to TV or radio and try writing phonetically how you hear the words. It will soon become obvious that there are many varieties of perfectly "correct" pronunciation of English words.
Spelling only very recently in human history became uniform. Shakespeare spelled his own name seemingly a myriad of different ways. Many famous, profound writers have been poor spellers.
It's just a thought--but could you have a session with a speech therapist? Tell them your worries. Maybe they can help you gain greater confidence. Feeling able to speak without undue self-consciousness is an important step.My bet is that you sound just fine. But a professional might be able to reassure you and even help you speak even more clearly, if that is what you wish. Please write again if you like, best, ramsea
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