When we learn a new language as adults, we often struggle with articulating the sounds.
What is relatively easy for children whose palate is still soft, becomes increasingly difficult the older we get. Usually, when children hit puberty, their palate hardens which makes it a bit more difficult for them to articulate new sounds.
Against common assumptions that adults can not become as phonetically fluent as children, it needs to be said that it is possible, if we have the right training and invest enough time to learn.
A simplified cross section that might help to get started:
This interactive IPA chart can help you practice articulating sounds.
Ute Limacher-Riebold
Ute Limacher-Riebold, PhD, is the founder of Multilingual-Families.com and Owner of Ute’s International Lounge & Academy.
She empowers internationals to maintain their languages and cultures effectively while embracing new ones whilst living “abroad”.
She grew up with multiple languages, holds a PhD in Romance Studies and has worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Zurich (Department of Italian Historical Linguistics). She taught Italian historical linguistics, researched Italian dialects and minority languages, and contributed to and led various academic projects.
Driven by her passion for successful language development and maintenance, and personal experiences with language shifts, Ute supports multilingual families worldwide in nurturing their languages and cultural identities in the most effective and healthy way.
