The Norwegian "u" (Specific Languages) Language Learning Forum

The Norwegian "u"
Tags: Norwegian \| Listening \| Pronunciation
Share with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon
Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages

11 messages over 2 pages: 1 2

michau
Tetraglot
Groupie
Norway
lang-8.com/member/49
Joined 6217 days ago
86 posts - 135 votes

Speaks: Polish*, English, Norwegian^C1, Mandarin
Studies: Spanish, Sign Language
Studies: Burmese, Toki Pona, Greenlandic

Message 9 of 11

07 May 2009 at 8:15pm | IP Logged

couragepiece93 wrote:

I'm having trouble pronouncing the Norwegian long "u". It sounds to me like the "oo" sound in English (IPA: u) but according to IPA, it is a seperate sound. I've heard that it is a rounded version of the russian "ы" (which I also can't pronounce, aha). Can a speaker help me out with this?

First learn to pronounce Norwegian long "y". That's pretty straightforward for an English speaker. Say "ee" (IPA: i), and round your lips. That's it.

Norwegian long "y" (IPA: y) is the close front rounded vowel. English "oo" (IPA: u) is the close back rounded vowel. Try to pronounce the following (IPA) continously: yyyuuuyyyuuuyyyuuu and pay attention what happens with your tongue. You'll notice that it is moving inside your mouth, with one extreme position when you say "y" and another when you say "u". Try to stop your tongue just in the middle of these two positions. You'll end up pronouncing close central rounded vowel, a.k.a. Norwegian "u" (IPA: ʉ). Then you can try stop rounding your lips, and you'll see how to produce Russian "ы" and Polish "y" (IPA: ɨ).

AnneNedjma wrote:

couragepiece93 Have a look at the Dutch Alphabet on YouTube, they pronounce the letter U just like we do in Norwegian.

No, Dutch "u" can be pronounced as IPA ʏ or y, but not as ʉ.

PS. I'm trying to improve my English. Please PM me if you see any mistakes in my post.
1 person has voted this message useful

couragepiece93
Groupie
United States
Joined 5759 days ago
77 posts - 78 votes

Speaks: English*
Studies: Norwegian, Latin

Message 10 of 11

09 May 2009 at 4:55am | IP Logged

This helped a lot, thanks! Though I still find it a little tricky to differentiate between the two u-ish sounds, I think I can pronounce the ʉ pretty well =)
1 person has voted this message useful

michau
Tetraglot
Groupie
Norway
lang-8.com/member/49
Joined 6217 days ago
86 posts - 135 votes

Speaks: Polish*, English, Norwegian^C1, Mandarin
Studies: Spanish, Sign Language
Studies: Burmese, Toki Pona, Greenlandic

Message 11 of 11

09 May 2009 at 8:17pm | IP Logged

I don't think you need to care about differentiation between them while you're listening. In more than 90% of situations context makes it obvious which word is used. I can't think of a sentence where it is possible to substitute "hus" for "hos" without making it nonsense.

I would guess that since you are aware of the difference, you will start differentiate the sounds after some time, you just need to listen a lot of Norwegian.

PS. I'm trying to improve my English. Please PM me if you see any mistakes in my post.

Edited by michau on 09 May 2009 at 8:19pm

1 person has voted this message useful

This discussion contains 11 messages over 2 pages: << Prev 1 2

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login. If you are not already registered you must first register

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum - You cannot reply to topics in this forum - You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum - You cannot create polls in this forum - You cannot vote in polls in this forum

This page was generated in 0.2070 seconds.