# 2.2.14. `l`, `r`

`l` 发声时起始的舌尖位置与 `t/d` 相同 —— 即，位置 ③（参见 [1.4](1.4-articulators)）。

When pronouncing the 'l' sound, the tip of the tongue starts in the same position as it does for 't/d', i.e. position ③ (as described in [1.4](1.4-articulators)).

![articulator-tongue-tip-td](/images/articulator-tongue-tip-td.svg)

`r` 发声时起始的舌尖位置相对更加靠后 —— 即，位置 ④（参见 [1.4](1.4-articulators)）

For the 'r' sound, the tongue's tip begins a bit further back, i.e. position ④ (as described in [1.4](1.4-articulators)).

![articulator-tongue-tip-r](/images/articulator-tongue-tip-r.svg)

`l` 和 `r` 处于音节开头的时候，人们一般不会觉得困难，比如 *lot* `/lɑːt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/lot-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/lot-us-female.mp3"></span> 或者 *rot* `/rɑːt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/rot-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/rot-us-female.mp3"></span>……

Pronouncing `l` and `r` at the beginning of syllables usually is of no difficulty at all, for example in words like *lot*' `/lɑːt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/lot-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/lot-us-female.mp3"></span> or *rot* `/rɑːt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/rot-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/rot-us-female.mp3"></span>…

`l` 的困难总是来自于它们处在音节末尾的时候。

The difficulty with `l` often arises when it's at the end of a syllable.

不妨尝试着先读一下 *milk* `/mɪlk/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/milk-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/milk-us-female.mp3"></span>…… 很多人读出来的实际上是 `/mjʊk/`……

Feel free to give the word *milk* `/mɪlk/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/milk-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/students-us-female.mp3"></span> a try... Many people actually pronounce it more like `/mjʊk/`...

`l` 在音节末尾的时候，有一个看不到的动作，舌尖会向前向上移动直至贴到龈脊。于是，音节末尾的 `l` 会掺杂着一个轻微的 `ə` 的元音音色。

There's a hidden motion when the `l` is at the end of a syllable. The tip of the tongue moves forward and upward until it touches the *alveolar ridge*. Therefore, the `l` at the end of a syllable has a slight vowel sound `ə`  mixed in.

说实话，倒也不是特别难，这只不过是几分钟就可以解决的问题。

Actually, it's not too challenging. With just a few minutes, it can be easily corrected.

> * 先反复说 `ə... əl... ə... əl...` 这里格外需要注意：嘴唇张开之后没有其它动作，**不要带嘴唇变化造成的 `ʊ` 的音色**；从 `ə` 到 `l` 的过程中，保持声带振动，剩余的全靠舌尖移动完成……
> * Start by repeating `ə... əl... ə... əl...` Here's a crucial point: after opening lips, make *no* other movements. Avoid adding the sound of `ʊ` caused by lip changes. During the transition from `ə` to `əl`, while maintaining vocal cord vibration, let the tip of your tongue handle the rest...
> * 接着直接反复说 `əl... əl...`
> * Next, repeating `əl... əl...`
> * 再反复说 `əlk... əlk...`
> * Follow with repeating `əlk... əlk...`
> * 现在反复说 `mɪəlk... mɪəlk...` 现在需要格外注意：为了 `m` 发声所以需要张开嘴唇，但，**此后嘴唇没有其他动作，否则会带着 `ʊ` 的音色**……
> * Now, keep saying `mɪəlk... mɪəlk...`. Again, pay special attention here: lips are opened to make the `m` sound, but after that, there should be no other lip movement, thus avoiding unnecessary `ʊ` sound.

再用同样的方式练练 *girl* `/ɡɝːl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/girl-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/girl-us-female.mp3"></span>（常常会被误读成 `/gəʊ/`）, *world* `/wɝːld/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/world-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/world-us-female.mp3"></span>（常常会被误读成 `/wəʊd/`）。

Practice pronouncing *girl* `/ɡɝːl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/girl-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/girl-us-female.mp3"></span> (often mispronounced as `/gəʊl/`) and *world* `/wɝːld/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/world-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/world-us-female.mp3"></span> (often mispronounced as `/wəʊd/`) the same way.

以 `l` 处于音节末尾的常用词汇很多，读得时候要注意，要加上 `ə`，比如：

There are many common words where `l` ends the syllable. Be sure to include the `ə` sound when pronouncing them. For example:

> *fail* `/feɪl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/fail-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/fail-us-female.mp3"></span>, *file* `/faɪl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/file-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/file-us-female.mp3"></span>, *sell* `/sel/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/sell-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/sell-us-female.mp3"></span>, *sale* `/seɪl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/sale-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/sale-us-female.mp3"></span>, *tell* `/tel/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/tell-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/tell-us-female.mp3"></span>, *tale* `/teɪl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/tale-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/tale-us-female.mp3"></span>, *trail* `/treɪl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/trail-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/trail-us-female.mp3"></span>, *drill* `/drɪl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/drill-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/drill-us-female.mp3"></span>...

注意，`/ʌl/` 没有 `ə` 的加音，因为 `ʌ` 和 `ə` 原本就非常相近。比如，*ultimate* `/ˈʌltɪmət/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/ultimate-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/ultimate-us-female.mp3"></span>，或者 *result* `/rɪˈzəlt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/result-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/result-us-female.mp3"></span>。另外，在自然语音中，`/iːl/` 要注意。比如， *reveal*，词典里的音标是 `/rɪˈviːl/`， 但它的确读做 `/rɪˈviːəl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/reveal-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/reveal-us-female.mp3"></span>，有加音 `ə`，但，*revealing*，读作 `/rɪˈviːlɪŋ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/revealing-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/revealing-us-female.mp3"></span>，没有加音 `ə`，可能是因为 `l` 被挪到后面和 `ɪŋ` 构成了第三个音节 `/lɪŋ/`……

Note that `/ʌl/` doesn't have the schwa (`ə`) sound added, since `/ʌ/` and `ə` are already very similar. For instance, *ultimate* `/ˈəltəmət/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/ultimate-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/ultimate-us-female.mp3"></span>, or *result* `/rɪˈzəlt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/result-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/result-us-female.mp3"></span>. Also, pay attention to `/iːl/` in natural speech. For example, while *reveal* is noted as `/rɪˈviːl/` in dictionary, and indeed pronounced as `/rɪˈviːəl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/reveal-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/reveal-us-female.mp3"></span>, with the schwa sound, *revealing* is pronounced as `/rɪˈviːlɪŋ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/revealing-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/revealing-us-female.mp3"></span>, without the schwa. This change might be due to the fact that the `l` sound has been moved to form a third syllable with `ɪŋ` as `/lɪŋ/`.

`l` 在语言学里有个专门的称呼，叫做**音节辅音**，就是因为它的发声动作如果完整的话，前面就会自然附加着一个轻微的元音 `ə` 的音色。比如，*little* `/ˈlɪtl̩/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/little-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/little-us-female.mp3"></span> —— `l` 下面多出的那一个点 `l̩` 的意思是说，这里的 `l̩` 是个**音节辅音**，相当于 `/ᵊl/`…… 当然，很多词典干脆就直接标注成了 `/ˈlɪtᵊl/` 或者 `/ˈlɪtəl/`。CEPD 里标注的是 `/ˈlɪt̬əl/`，因为 `t` 夹在两个元音之间，变成了弹舌音 `t̬`。

In linguistics, the letter `l` has a particular name - it's called a *syllabic consonant*. This is because when it is fully pronounced, a subtle vowel sound `ə` naturally attaches to the front of it. For example, in the word *little* `/ˈlɪtl̩/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/little-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/little-us-female.mp3"></span>, the dot under the `l` (`l̩`) indicates that this `l` is a *syllabic consonant*. It's equivalent to `/ᵊl/`. And many dictionaries simply denote it as `/ˈlɪtəl/`. The pronunciation indicated in the CEPD is `/ˈlɪt̬əl/`, for the `t` is sandwiched between two vowels, which in this case becomes a flapped `t̬`.

英文中另外一个**音节辅**音是 `m`。例如，*chasm* `/ˈkæzm̩/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/chasm-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/chasm-us-female.mp3"></span>，相当于 `/ˈkæzəm/`, *prism* `/ˈprɪzm̩/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/prism-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/prism-us-female.mp3"></span>，相当于 `/ˈprɪzəm/`。

Another *syllabic consonant* in English is `m`. For example, *chasm* `/ˈkæzm̩/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/chasm-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/chasm-us-female.mp3"></span>，equivalent to `/ˈkæzəm/`, and *prism* `/ˈprɪzm̩/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/prism-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/prism-us-female.mp3"></span>，equivalent to `/ˈprɪzəm/`.