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Some languages just lack the phonemes and unless the speaker practices a lot, there is no way they will pronounce foreign names correctly, even relatively simpl
by mc32 4y ago
Some languages just lack the phonemes and unless the speaker practices a lot, there is no way they will pronounce foreign names correctly, even relatively simple ones. Other languages blur certain phonemes and while they have separate sounds the speakers cannot tell the difference between the two [dark L and clear L in English for example].
So I think this is asking too much of a speaker who does not speak the foreign language. Just imagine an English or Spanish speaker landing in Podunk China. Very few of their names will be approximated by people who have not studied the foreign language.
- bradknowles 4y agoAs a native English speaker for over fifty years, I have never before heard the terms "dark L" and "clear L". Could you ELI5?