While I was watching different video-presentations from tutors online, few highlighted this difficult sound and gave an advice to understand and pronounce it, which was (it’s quite popular on the Internet technique, although I wouldn’t call it a technique): “Imagine being punched in the stomach”. Now, really, would you use that to practice this sound? Punch yourself every time you want to pronounce it? And would be imagination of being punched useful to practice a sound? Let’s talk about that more.
Imagination can do little to help you practice a sound, about 10% maximum. What would help?Adapt your articulatory system (mouth and all what’s inside + air) and practice the sound in different positions in the word. You’ll need:1. Free time (with no neighbors around if you’re shy).2. A mirror to look at yourself while pronouncing.3. A pencil (clean).Now, technique of practicing the sound [ы]:In the beginning of learning a new language, qualified tutors start with phonetical base (pronunciation), so by the time you meet “Ы” for the first time, you should’ve already met “И” with couple of other vowels. И plays a great role here, as it is a good neighbor of “Ы”.1. Look at the mirror.2. Pronounce [И].3. Put a pencil between lips horizontally (as in picture) and pronounce [И] again
When you pronounce [и] with a pencil in your mouth what you get is the sound [ы]. To make it for yourself more useful and clearer to hear, record your practice and listen to it. You will hear the sound [ы] in your voice which will help your listening skill recognize the sound of [ы] and your mind as well will hear the sound in its owner’s voice.Now, you’ll have a question: DO I HAVE TO DO THIS EVERYTIME I WANT TO PRONOUNCE [ы]?The answer is: No, of course not, but by this practice your mind and articulatory system adapts and gets used to pronouncing this sound, by some little time (a week worked with most students) you’ll be able to make this sound by yourself without any help.If you have any questions or comments, dont hesitate and type in comments below or in any way of getting in touch.
© Dalal Ismail, 2020