10.6: The rr
- Page ID
- 173771
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The RR in Spanish
The sound made by the RR in Spanish is not one that we use in English. When we see RR in a word or an R at the beginning of a word, Spanish-speakers roll it. This is a distinct sound in Spanish that evolved from Latin. The ability to differentiate between the two letters and sounds is important because it can change a word’s meaning. For example:
Pero is but and perro is dog.
Caro is expensive and carro is a car.
It is not necessary to be able to roll an RR to speak Spanish, but a lot of native Spanish-speakers can roll their RRs, so you might want to be able to do so, too. You can learn to roll an RR by practicing in a few ways. To start, you want to think about blowing air out of your mouth. Then, you want to blow air out while putting your tongue behind your teeth. Instead of holding your tongue firmly behind your teeth, let it slide down a bit and then blow air out of your mouth. In short, the rolling sound requires the tip of the tongue to vibrate rapidly against the alveolar ridge, the bump at the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth. This will require more practice for some than for others but, with patience and practice, you can learn to roll your RR, or to pronounce the sound that the RR represents in Spanish.
Here are two “fun” ways to practice making this sound. You can pretend you are playing with a toy car. All babies are born with the ability roll their RRs, but through the process of extinction where you don’t practice, you lose it, or through the process of reinforcement you keep it. So, pretend you are a young child playing with a car and make the sound of a car. Or, you can hold a pencil or pen between your teeth, put your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind your teeth, and then try to say the RR sound.
Some words you can say to practice are:
arroz rice
carro car
chamarra jacket
correo mail
correr to run
error error
ferrocarril railway
guitarra guitar
horrible horrible
rapidez speed
rápido(a) fast
rápidamente quickly
rata rat
ratón mouse
reloj watch, clock
rico rich
rincón corner
río river
rojo red
rosa rose
rosado(a) pink
tierra earth
It is not necessary to be able to roll a RR, but you might feel better about speaking Spanish if you can. If you can’t roll your RR, just keep practicing and with time and patience you will be able to combine the tongue position, airflow, and muscle control to be able to produce the RR sound.
Read the Spanish words in the list again. Then, answer the questions.
Which word(s) have you heard before?
Which word(s) is/are the most useful for you? Why?
Which word(s) is/are the least useful for you? Why?
Which word(s) is the most fun to say? Why?