English Pronunciation for Japanese People
Japanese people are known for struggling with the /l/ and /r/ sounds when speaking English. However, it is not a lack of ability; it is a conflict of mechanical habits.
In the Japanese phonetic system, there is no distinct /l/ or /r/. Instead, there is a single set of sounds found in the “Ra” column:
ラ (Ra) リ (Ri) ル (Ru) レ (Re) ロ (Ro)
Mechanically, these sounds are produced as an alveolar tap. The tongue quickly “flicks” the roof of the mouth. It is light, fast, and transient.
The problem arises because English requires duration and tension, not a quick flick.
The English /l/: Requires firm, sustained contact between the tongue tip and the alveolar ridge.
The English /r/: Requires the tongue to pull back and hold tension without touching the roof of the mouth.
When a Japanese speaker attempts words like “Library”, “Really”, or “Brilliant”, their muscle memory defaults to the “Ra” flick. This creates a sound that is neither L nor R, confusing the listener.
The Solution: Re-wiring the Muscle Memory
To fix this, we cannot rely on “listening and repeating”. We must override the habit of the Japanese tongue.
This is why I created English Pronunciation for Japanese People: Master the /l/ & /r/ Sounds.
This course treats the mouth like a machine that needs recalibration through a series of muscle memory and repetition exercises.
Phase 1: Static Positioning
We start by freezing the mechanism.
We drill the hard contact of the /l/ (locking the tongue to the ridge).
We drill the retraction of the /r/ (curling the tongue back without contact). You must learn to hold these positions under tension, stopping the Japanese urge to “flap”.
Phase 2: Muscle Memory & Transition
Once the positions are set, we introduce motion. We use isolation exercises to switch between /l/ and /r/ without defaulting back to the Japanese “Ra” sound.
Example: Controlling the transition in “Parallel” or “Rural”.
Phase 3: Controlled Velocity
Finally, we apply this to vocabulary and sentences. We use Spaced Repetition to ensure that when you speak at normal speed, your tongue hits the correct position every time.
Stop Guessing. Start Training.
If you are tired of confusing “Rice” with “Lice” or struggling with the word “World”, you need to fix the mechanism.
Start the specialized Japanese module here:
https://receivedpronunciation.thinkific.com/courses/japanese_one
