The Russian Yery


The Russian yery (Ù) is a sound which is made by raising your tongue to a position in your mouth exactly between the positions of the sound of 'i' in bit and that of 'ou' in should. Practice it by first pronouncing the English sounds, one after another, until you are conscious of where your tongue is when you pronounce them. Your tongue should be rather high in your mouth in either case, but when you pronounce the 'i' in bit your tongue should be in the front of your mouth while it is in the back when you pronounce the 'ou' of should. When you become aware of these positions, force your tongue to a position exactly at the midpoint between these two positions and, without rounding your lips, make the sound. That is a Russian yery.



© 1996 Robert Beard