For years I have been studying Spanish, French and Catalan, and also observing other languages. Over that time I have made detailed notes and can now share my insights to make learning a language and its correct pronounciation easier.
French – Purse your lips together and make various buzzing sounds.
Spanish – bash two stones together energetically
Catalan – try to speak with a bee, chicken and grasshopper in you mouth; bash two stones together at the same time
Italian – bash two stones together energetically, but with rhythm
Galician Spanish – bash two stones together like Italian, but with softer and slower rhythm
South American/Andalusian/Canaries Spanish – bash two stones together covered with lots of talcum powder; with each “crack” the sound disintegrates into a soft breathing
Portugal Portuguese – make buzzing noises with a wide open mouth, and with a rhythm like Galician Spanish
Brasilian Portuguese – make buzzing sounds with a wide open mouth, as if you have a party popping in your mouth
German – make noises but with no facial movement and a minimum of lip movement
South-East England English (mine) – lose control of lips and tongue, and just “flap” them
Posh English – Purse lips together, but with less buzzing sounds than French
American English – open mouth wide with each syllable, like you’re chewing gum
I hope that helps. 😉
