Does anyone know how the very English name Llewelyn is pronounced? I've come across it over the years in reading novels, but don't think I have ever heard someone say it.
According to The Welsh Studies Institute in North America, the ll is "an aspirated 'l' which does not occur in English, sounded by placing the tongue so as to say 'l' and hissing out of one side of the mouth".
That probably doesn't help much but there seems to be a bit of a debate on the old 'net as to how to explain its pronunciation the best.
As one person said, "Um, how to explain the pronunciation of the Welsh 'll'... OK, sort of put your tongue in the position to pronounce the letter 'l', as normal, then while pronouncing it sort of try to pronounce the letter 'h' at the same time. If you manage this, you will have an approximation of 'll' in Welsh. Oh dear, it's a lot more difficult to describe than it is to do. Anyway, have plenty of kitchen roll handy for bystanders at your first attempts :-)".
As an aside, I think "kitchen roll" is considerably more charming than "paper towels".
I believe it's actually Welsh, not English.
ReplyDeleteAccording to The Welsh Studies Institute in North America, the ll is "an aspirated 'l' which does not occur in English, sounded by placing the tongue so as to say 'l' and hissing out of one side of the mouth".
That probably doesn't help much but there seems to be a bit of a debate on the old 'net as to how to explain its pronunciation the best.
As one person said, "Um, how to explain the pronunciation of the Welsh 'll'... OK, sort of put your tongue in the position to pronounce the letter 'l', as normal, then while pronouncing it sort of try to pronounce the letter 'h' at the same time. If you manage this, you will have an approximation of 'll' in Welsh. Oh dear, it's a lot more difficult to describe than it is to do. Anyway, have plenty of kitchen roll handy for bystanders at your first attempts :-)".
As an aside, I think "kitchen roll" is considerably more charming than "paper towels".