In Spanish, often rolled r's require a trill. Are trills hereditary? Genes? Or can it be learned? Thanks!?

Question

Basically, I can't pronounces trills and rolled r's in Spanish class and so I lose a good deal of points. However, I believe this is hereditary and that I can't learn it. I can't roll my tongue or do anything like that either, so perhaps I just can't learn it.

But I'd appreciate if someone could help me to whether trills are really hereditary or learned or what.

Answer 1

u can learn to roll. it's not hereditary.

Answer 2

There might be a possibility of genes that decide whether you can roll your Rs, but it has to be recessive gene or something, because my dad can't but my mom can! Because I couldn't roll my Rs, I dropped out of Spanish, since the teacher took off so many points on talking part, and now I'm taking French!

I'm really not 100% sure. Some people can't fold their tongue in half due to heredity, so if that was the same thing with rolling the R, then it's probably hereditary!

I heard that you could with practice, but some can never do it. According to the other Spanish teacher, some people can't because their tongues are shorter than average. She also said it depends on what language you spoke when growing up, because some languages just don't have any R pronunciation or anything related to it.

Answer 3

Since languages are typically learned within the first 3 years of a person's life, the brain trims away unnecessary types of pronounciations and keeps what is used in everyday communication. Although it is true that genetics can influence the physical structure of the oral cavity itself, the pronounciation is the primary issue, because it is an activity controlled by the brain. The same can be said for people who cannot whistle, like myself!

However, you might try this before giving up: place your tongue about one inch behind and above your front teeth, letting the tip of the tongue flatten on the surface of the gums, which ultimately borders the beginning of the curve that leads to the arch of the roof the mouth. Remember, just about one inch above the beginning of the two front teeth!

Now, what you want to do is make a sound that resembles a helicopter sound by creating a loose, relaxed physical vibration of the tongue against the upper-rear portion of the upper gums (behind the front teeth). Also, it helps to have the mouth open approximately 3/4 of an inch, with the corners of the mouth spread wide (like one would see in an ear-to-ear smile :-) with the jaw dropped about .5 inches.

Its very important not to place TOO MUCH PRESURE from the tongue on the gums of the upper-rear part of the front teeth; instead, the tongue kind of flaps rapidly against the upper gums, with the STEADY FLOW OF AIR EXHALED from the lungs (this is very important).

Good luck in your quest to trill rr's and r's !

Answer 4

It is a learned behavior. My father is Hungarian, and trills are used. I learned how to trill from his accent, yet I can speak perfect Ameri-English.
Try making a motor boat noise with your tongue held on your top teeth or upper palate and exhaling- it's the same thing, only adding the "r" sound, and cutting the motion it off after the first 2 or 3 tongue flops ( that the best way I can describe it). Hope that helps.

Answer 5

The double R 'rr' is always rolled. Some dialects also roll the 'r' at the start of a word, but some don't. Some only roll the 'r' at the start of a proper name (so 'Rodrigo' would get the first R rolled, but 'rotor' would not.) Dialects are tricky things with languages. Pronunciation can vary greatly. For example: some of the English speaking world pronounces the G at the end of 'washing', some say 'washin', and I grew up in a part of Ohio where it's pronounced 'warshin'.

Answer 6

I speak Spanish with a speech impediment. I also can't roll my rrs. I've been trying to for more than 30 years. I've just run through the list of helpful suggestions here and still sound like I'm gargling. Talk to your teacher and explain that you know when words have rrs rather than rs, but that for some reason, no matter how hard you try, you cannot pronounce them. I end up just pronouncing both rs... For example per ro... I sound strange, but at least people have an idea of what I mean. I also find myself avoiding words with rrs. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

My Spanish professor (years and years ago) told me that if you are over the age of 18 and you haven't learned to roll your Rs, you're probably never going to. He also said that if you learn it and you're older than 21 when you do it, he would be very interested in hearing about it.

One thing you might try is speaking with a Bolivian accent. They do something a little different with their RRs... I can't describe it in writing. Find a Bolivian person to show you. I did, and it was kind of cool, but I already done learned Mexican Spanish... lol

Answer 8

I learned them. I don't think it is hereditary, although it is more difficult for some people to learn them than others. I have no Spainish heritage, so I do not think it hereditary. Just lots of practice.

Answer 9

I would think that this would be a multifactorial trait, influenced by both genetics and the environment (practice). My mom is Hispanic, so I think the rolling of the r's comes a little easier to me, but I definitely think it can be practiced also.

Answer 10

Its not hereditary..it just takes alot of practice...
my grandma can say this in spanish real well..i guess you can use this to practice

erre con erre, guitarra
erre con erre, barril
mira que rápido ruedan
las ruedas del ferrocarril.