Should it be voice or unvoiced (clear L / dark L?)
Can some body tell me the clue of whether the l sound should be clear or dark? Thx
Can some body tell me the clue of whether the l sound should be clear or dark? Thx
the last L in little
depends on whether you want to sound American or British.
if you want to sound like an American, use Dark L, other wise use Clear L.
Either is acceptable as far as being understood
if you want to sound like an American, use Dark L, other wise use Clear L.
Either is acceptable as far as being understood
The difference between the "clear" L and the "dark" L is not one of voicing, but rather one of velarization; the "clear" L is just an alveolar lateral approximant whereas the "dark" L is a velarized alveolar lateral approximant.
In General American and Received Pronunciation, one would have [5=] (a syllabic "dark" L) in the second syllable of "little". However, one can easily have vowels in that position due to L-vocalization. For instance, in the dialect here "little" is pronouned ["M\I4_0M:], ["M\IM:], or just ["M\I:M_^] due to such (combined with flap elision).
In General American and Received Pronunciation, one would have [5=] (a syllabic "dark" L) in the second syllable of "little". However, one can easily have vowels in that position due to L-vocalization. For instance, in the dialect here "little" is pronouned ["M\I4_0M:], ["M\IM:], or just ["M\I:M_^] due to such (combined with flap elision).
Here is a link to Microsoft's Encarta On-Line dictionary.
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/little.html
Click the icon of the "speaker" and it will pronounce the word "little" for you as it is normal spoken in American English.
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/little.html
Click the icon of the "speaker" and it will pronounce the word "little" for you as it is normal spoken in American English.