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[lojban-beginners] Re: Pronouncing "x"



Evan Wilson wrote:
Ronald (I hope you don't mind that I address you rather informally),

I took a different approach on learning how to pronounce the Lojban "x". I happen to have studied the Persian (Farsi) alphabet, and it has the character "خ" or "khe" which seems to be similar if not exact to the Lojban "x". A sound recording of "خ" can be found here: http:// easypersian.com/W4/khe_4.mp3
(Reminds me a bit of Hebrew)

Even if you do already have that confidently figured out, perhaps it will help in confirmation?

I knew a Persian named Farrokh, and he ended his name with that sound.

I pronounce it as either ach-Laut or ich-Laut, depending on nearby vowels, except in the combination "xr", which I pronounce as a single sound, a voiceless uvular and alveolar trill (i.e. ach-Laut and rolled r at the same time). If you heard my turkey tonguetwister at jbonunsla, you know what that sounds like. But if the "r" of "xr" is vocalic, it's the voiced double trill. So:
marxa - ach-Laut
darxi - ich-Laut
maxri - double trill
rirxrxrazdani - just keep trying ;)
(This last word means "is the river Hrazdan". You probably don't need it unless you're going to Armenia ;))

As to Hebrew, I pronounce (when I'm careful) chet as ach-Laut and khaf as ich-Laut.

phma