I can't pronounce the name of the place where I live...

smoo · Post by **smoo** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:08 pm

Pihlajamäki

I know it means "Rowan Hill" and have no problem with the mäki, but whenever I try to pronounce "Pihlaja" I just trip up on the syllables. The word seems to be designed to be unpronouncable. I think the biggest problem I have is that I still don't quite understand how it's possible to pronounce "hl" unless someone is strangling you at the time. Could someone at least show me where the junctions between the syllables are in "Pihlaja"?

Ok, I know it's not the poshest area but the rent's cheap and the drunks seem moderately well behaved...

**Sponsor:**

Andrew_S · Post by **Andrew_S** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:36 pm

Pih-la-ja

"h" at the end of a syllable is hard for many people. Keep trying though. And it helps to try to say each syllable separately. Then you don't stumble.

Pih

la

ja

Stress on the first syllable.

smoo · Post by **smoo** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:50 pm

Thanks! I think I'd being trying to pronounce it Pi-hla-ja, which creates a wonderful tongue twister...

...although now I'm trying it the correct way I'm still tripping up.

"Pih" is obviously the key. That and the transition from the h sound to the l without a cheating and introducing a gluttural stop. So far the nearest I can get is something like "Pich-la", with the "ch" as in the Scots "loch".

khu · Post by **khu** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:13 pm

Yeah, don't get caught up on what two letters are next to each other. If you look at it only like that then even the letters 'ct' in 'selected' look weird.

Pih ja la.

If it helps, you can imagine the hj to sound something like 'hyah' as in, giddyup horsey.

smoo · Post by **smoo** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:33 pm

Pih ja la.

If it helps, you can imagine the hj to sound something like 'hyah' as in, giddyup horsey.

Except it's Pihlaya, not Pihyala! It does seem to want to be pronounced that way, though. As I say, the word seems subtly designed to confuse...

smoo · Post by **smoo** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:38 pm

Except it's Pihlaya, not Pihyala! It does seem to want to be pronounced that way, though. As I say, the word seems subtly designed to confuse...

As does my spelling... I meant "Pihlaja, not Pihjala", not "Pihlaya, not Pihyala" obviously!!!

khu · Post by **khu** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:49 pm

Haha

Yes, I confused myself.

You may safely ignore me now.

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:31 pm

smoo

Write "pih" and "pihlaja" in the text field of this speech synthesizer of Finnish, then click on "Kuuntele puhe" ! :

http://www.mikropuhe.com/demo.asp

If you listen to the word being pronounced several times ( and try to pronounce it after the synthesizer ) you will probably get it right at the end.

Andrew_S · Post by **Andrew_S** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:59 pm

smoo wrote:
"Pih" is obviously the key. That and the transition from the h sound to the l without a cheating and introducing a gluttural stop. So far the nearest I can get is something like "Pich-la", with the "ch" as in the Scots "loch".

I almost suggested that. It's a good way to start. Now soften the "ch" until it's like "h".

Jarkka · Post by **Jarkka** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:24 am

If you want to cheat a bit, just say "Piilajamäki". I've heard that quite often.

Xochiquetzal · Post by **Xochiquetzal** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:47 am

The streets closest to me are ÄYRÄPÄÄNTIE and Jaakkimaantie. Try those for unpronunciable - even for Finns!

smoo · Post by **smoo** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:50 am

Thanks everyone!

If you want to cheat a bit, just say "Piilajamäki". I've heard that quite often.

This will be my default emergency option for the time being while I work oh the "Pih"...

Write "pih" and "pihlaja" in the text field of this speech synthesizer of Finnish, then click on "Kuuntele puhe" ! :

http://www.mikropuhe.com/demo.asp

What an incredibly useful program! I will talk to it and it will be my first Finnish friend.

khu · Post by **khu** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:33 pm

Yeah there ARE words that Finns don't even say 'right' -- try Lappeenranta for example. Finns say it 'La-ppee-ranta' and leave out that first n, because the n->r transition is pretty hard.

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:15 pm

khu wrote:Yeah there ARE words that Finns don't even say 'right' -- try Lappeenranta for example. Finns say it 'La-ppee-ranta' and leave out that first n, because the n->r transition is pretty hard.

All Finns do not say "Lappeeranta", many Finns pronounce "Lappeenranta" properly. I do not know where the sloppy translation comes from. ( dialect ? )

"Lappeenranta" is not a difficult word for Finns to pronounce.

kalmisto · Post by **kalmisto** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:23 pm

Xochiquetzal wrote:The streets closest to me are ÄYRÄPÄÄNTIE and Jaakkimaantie. Try those for unpronunciable - even for Finns!

We Finns do not find "Äyräpääntie" or "Jaakkimaantie" difficult to pronounce.

I have met some older Finns who can not pronounce the letter "d" because they do not have it in their dialect of Finnish.

I believe that the word "virtsa" ( urine ) is difficullt for Finnish children to pronounce.

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