Answers
Dec 24, 2011 - 07:54 PM
Oh gosh. I'm having a tough go of it too. Sometimes it sounds like an X and sometimes it sounds like blowing bubbles through the back of clenched teeth. I'm on lesson 26 now and Nora ALWAYS sounds different than the workouts, but she's slow motioning the dialect and it changes on where it is in the word. It becomes more clear, I assure you, and my German friends think I'm doing well.
Feb 21, 2013 - 10:17 PM
I think it varies a little depending on what word it's in AND it's said slightly differently in different parts of Germany, sort of like we say our vowels differently in New York or South Carolina. I do already speak a little German (two years in high school), and my brother lives there.... but then again I know just enough to be dangerous, and that's why i'm taking this course! Anybody out there that knows more than me, go for it!
Apr 06, 2013 - 07:03 PM
The lessons provide a formula: 'ch' is pronounced as a soft sound (more like English 'shoe') when it follows i or e, or the letter S. After a, u, o, or au, it is a hard and more gutteral sound, as in the English 'ache'. So, icy sounds more like isn, as in the word English, and auch sounds more like auck, as at the end of the name of the composer, Bach.
Apr 06, 2013 - 07:04 PM
Sorry about the typo. It should read ich sounds more like an isn as in the word, English.
Apr 28, 2013 - 09:34 PM
There are two "ch" sounds in German. The hard "ch" in the back of the throat and then the soft "sh/ch" sound at the roof of your mouth. The rule is: The hard "ch" sound comes after a, o, u and au. And the soft "ch" at the roof of your mouth comes after äu, e, ei, eu, i, ie and ö. German has two "ch" sounds because after a certain vowel, one is easier to pronounce than the other. Example: The word "ich", you probably know that you pronounce the softer "ch" instead of the hard "ch". But if you try to switch it around and pronounce it with a hard "ch" you'll notice it's a whole lot harder to say it that way than the other way around. Now try saying "Bach" with the soft "ch" instead. See! It's pretty difficult! Do you get what I'm saying? :] Hope this helped!
Dec 19, 2015 - 05:18 PM
The best description I've ever heard of how to learn it pronounce the 'ch' in 'ich' is to first make the sound of a cat hissing with the back of your tongue up to the roof of your mouth. Then do it with your face and tongue relaxed a bit (it's kind of hard to describe it in writing, but hopefully you'll get the idea). When you're comfortable with that, then try 'ich'. Also, think of the Kennedyesque 'ish' or the 'ick' that I've heard a lot of people say- it's sort of half way between the two of those.