The sound of ä and e

[Nikama]

Hello,

In a word like järjestelmä, does a native speaker hear a clear difference between the ä-s and the e-s? I don't, really.

I can't think of an example just now, but I believe there are other words where the distinction sounds more clearly... because the e is pronounced differently? Or the ä? How many ways of pronouncing them are there?

thanks!

[Upphew]

Hello,

In a word like järjestelmä, does a native speaker hear a clear difference between the ä-s and the e-s?

Yup. Wouldn't write järjästelmä if someone told to write it down.

[Nikama]

Hello,

In a word like järjestelmä, does a native speaker hear a clear difference between the ä-s and the e-s?

Yup. Wouldn't write järjästelmä if someone told to write it down.

Oh, ok. I suppose I hoped you'd find it hard too

Maybe it's related to the syllable being open or closed. In that sample of järjestelmä I don't hear much difference; the e-s are in closed syllables. In this kävelevät (open e-syllables) however I can clearly hear a difference, with the ä sounding more or less like German ä and the e like French é.

Then again, in the following pronunciations of ehkä and mennä, I do hear a difference... even though hey have closed e-syllables.

[Upphew]

Oh, ok. I suppose I hoped you'd find it hard too

Sorry, native, most of the time when I hear things wrong, I do it on purpose

[Nikama]

Oh, ok. I suppose I hoped you'd find it hard too

Sorry, native, most of the time when I hear things wrong, I do it on purpose

[Bavarian]

Oh, ok. I suppose I hoped you'd find it hard too

Sorry, native, most of the time when I hear things wrong, I do it on purpose

When you're trying to ignore the wife?

[Upphew]

Sorry, native, most of the time when I hear things wrong, I do it on purpose

When you're trying to ignore the wife?

That is excellent time to practice as the feedback is instant and loud.

[Bavarian]

[Pursuivant]

Dunno, but lip-reading "järjestelmä" the ä is mouth open and e is mouth halfway shut in a smile. O and ö are more difficult as thats only the jaw moving slightly back and forth... I'd be mistaking e and i, rather than ä...