Re: watch your language!

Lawrence Watt-Evans <lwe@xxxxxxx> wrote in
news:8itff35l1jfkdgjo09stm4f9irjtas92rr@xxxxxxxxxxxx:

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:23:26 -0000, No 33 Secretary
<terry.notaniceperson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

When a young child learns language, the brain physically wires
itself to the language(s) learned, to the point where one
literally cannot correctly hear phonetics that are not part of
one's native language. The l/r thing for chinese/english is one
of these. The "l" phonetic apparently isn't used in at least
some oriental languages, so someone who grew up speaking only
those language(s) cannot hear it as a distinct sound from the
"r".

Thing is, the L/R distinction is very much present in Chinese;
the idea that it isn't is a myth. I have no idea where it came
from.

On the other hand, Japanese has no L sound, so to Japanese
listeners, L and R usually _are_ indistinguishable. If the Claw
was Japanese, then that "the Craw" joke made sense; Chinese, not
so much.

I stand corrected. But basic point, however, is that not all
languages use the same phonetic sounds, and the brain wires itself
to what it hears at a very young age, and just can't hear other
phonetics.

--
"You weren't born prematurely, son. You just survived the
abortion."

Terry Austin
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: watch your language!
    ... the L/R distinction is very much present in Chinese; ... On the other hand, Japanese has no L sound, so to Japanese ... other phonetics. ... Perhaps one child hear foreign language TV programs as a child, ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: Plausibility Check
    ... while other languages are written more ... or have writing systems ... phonetics and existing spelling. ... Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: watch your language!
    ... literally cannot correctly hear phonetics that are not part of ... the L/R distinction is very much present in Chinese; ... On the other hand, Japanese has no L sound, so to Japanese ... phones (including both the ones in your own language, ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: how much is a circumcision?
    ... languages, including Polish and Cantonese. ... that's bloody close to Russian. ... poorly-remembered phonetics). ...
    (uk.rec.motorcycles)
  • Re: Phonetics is not Linguistics
    ... crucial to a truly fundamental understanding of phonology. ... there's no phonetics involved in the analysis, ... some languages. ... entity in linguistics departments. ...
    (sci.lang)