I have a speech problem

[vladm1994]

Hi mates, don't know why I post this on SS.org but perhaps because there are some helpful people here. Have more chances of getting help here more than anywhere else.

So as the title says I have a speech problem. Well what's the problem, many people do! Well, I have THE WORST speech problem ever. Everybody kind of laughs when they hear me pronounce CH (like in charlie chaplin or chill - which is even worse) or ge (like gel) or even j and sh sometimes. Do you know some good excercises for that? I can take it no longer, it's really embarassing. WHat I feel when trying to say them is like a lot of shit in the back of my mouth that interferes with the correct saying of these groups of letters. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I can't say "speech" either XD

[vladm1994]

btw I can't seem to get comfortable with it because I am quite shy and not self confident.

[poopyalligator]

That sucks man. I am sorry. You could go to a speech therapist. They could help you try and fix that.

[Murmel]

You have this problem in your native tongue as well? Which I assume is Romanian from your location.

[vladm1994]

Originally Posted by Murmel

You have this problem in your native tongue as well? Which I assume is Romanian from your location.

in absolutely all languages.

[caskettheclown]

All I can say is if you don't wanna go to a specialist


Just when you are alone try and sound out the syllables slowly and hopefully within time it will become easier

[GATA4]

Otherwise, I would also recommend that you practice on your own, and that you seek care from a professional. Perhaps they could diagnose the nature of your speech difficulty and put you on the right track to overcoming it. Have you had any experiences with a speech therapist before?

EDIT - my bad caskettheclown, I completely misread the first part of your post as saying "all i can say is you don't wanna go to a specialist"

[s_k_mullins]

Hey I hope I can offer some helpful advice... I actually am a speech-language pathologist, and I do speech therapy at our university's clinic here.

From your OP, it sounds like you are having problems with "affricates", which is pretty common. Affricates are a specific class of sounds, and includes the "ch" and "j" sounds. These sounds are unique because they are actually a combination of two sounds. Affricates begin as a "stop" sound, and then release as a "fricative" sound. For example, the "ch" begins as a "t" sound (a stop), then releases as an "sh" (a fricative). The dual phonemic nature of affricate sounds are what makes them difficult for many speakers, because essentially they are requiring the oral-motor structures (tongue, palate) to coordinate two separate movements and placements at once.

Some advice would be to go for a visit with a specialist. You don't necessarily have to keep attending sessions, because they can be quiet pricey...But at least a few sessions would be beneficial because you can learn some helpful compensatory techniques, oral-motor exercises, etc.

Also, most speech specialists/clinics offer diagnostic services. This means that the first time you meet with the speech therapist, he or she will give you an articulation test, perform an oral-motor examination of all the structures of your mouth, etc. A good in-depth diagnostic session with an oral motor examination will allow the speech therapist to identify the exact cause of your problem. Most likely it is just a problem of "lingual function", meaning that your tongue is not moving correctly to make proper articulatory contacts... In simpler terms, your tongue isn't moving the correct way, and it is not touching the correct positions on the alveolar ridge and palate.

If that's too long and you didn't read... just go see a speech therapist and learn some speech techniques.

[fwd0120]

dude, I feel your pain. I got some weird issues with certain syllables as well. I just shut up and let my guitar do all the talking. I was always at the bottom of my peer group until I could melt faces with my anointed solos.

It gets better!!

[Antimatter]

I hate to be pedantic mullins but the English 'ch' sound is a little further back than alveolar, it's a lot closer to palatal (with most speakers at least).
And yeah your best bet is to just go to a speech therapist.

[s_k_mullins]

Originally Posted by Antimatter

I hate to be pedantic mullins but the English 'ch' sound is a little further back than alveolar, it's a lot closer to palatal (with most speakers at least).

True, technically the "ch" is a "postalveolar" sound, on the back side of the alveolar ridge, but not completely palatal either. Sometimes the descriptions for articulatory placement can have sort of a gray area...not quiet alveolar, but not quiet palatal. This is why it can be so hard to explain placement for correct production to clients.

[vladm1994]

Thank you all guys, I'll try all your advices ! rep for everyone xD