[neilep (OP)]

This quality query is brought to you by me.

I can't roll my 'R's....do you know what I mean by that ?...y'know, when people say things like' around the rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran' and every 'R' is pronounced like a rolling sound !!!..I can do the gutteral version no problem.....I mention this because I just spoke to someone who did it and they said that it's something that can't be taught, he said it's genetic !!!..well I think that's a load of crap!!!...however, I want to know...can someone tell me whether he's right or wrong please ?...and if he is wrong can you teach me how to do it ?

Ta.

Neil

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[tweener]

I never could do that, but my daughter could from the first time she heard it.  My son too!  Maybe you just have to start young.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

[Exodus]

I can roll my Rs damn well, but then i started singing in a choir when i was 7... so had plenty of practice.

Resident Tour Operator - The Naked Scientists

[neilep (OP)]

so...can it be taught or not ?...from what you'rrrrrrrrrrrrre saying I suspect it can ...grrrrrrrrrrrr !!!

John, you're always young enough to learn something eh ?

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[bezoar]

I heard once that it was gnentic too, but I don't believe it, because all those Hispanic children can roll their r's, regardless of genetics.

The other thing I heard was that we learn language "units", meaning types of sounds that are specific to certain languages, and they have to be learned at a young age, or you might not ever be able to make the sounds when you get older.  Therefore, the more language units you learn as a child, the easier it is for you to speak several languages as you get older.  That made a little more sense to me.

[neilep (OP)]

Thanks Nancy....your reasoning sounds completely plausible.......as a Naked Scientists live experiment I will spend a good part of tomorrow trying to learn how to roll my 'R's...and will report on my progress within 24 hours.

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[MayoFlyFarmer]

I think it can be taught to anyone, but the younger you start the easier it is

We don't want the loonies taking over!

[neilep (OP)]

Cheers for your support Justin.....still, as promised here is my report at trying to learn to roll my R's today........Complete and total failure !!...end of report:

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[neilep (OP)]

Well, I must thank Rich for bringing up every topic that ever was (which is nice) as it gives me this opportunity to once and for all finally conclude my report. And that is that I never managed to roll my RRRRS...instead I have taken to rolling my Arse down hills with my kids doing roly-polys..........anyone else ever done that as kids ?...great fun !!

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'