- As you start learning how to speak Lao, keep several things in
mind.
(1) The more you sound like a Lao, the easier it will be for you to communicate.
(2) Although a few sounds are almost the same in Lao as in English, most of them are different.
(3) Learn the new sound system. Avoid English intonation. Don't wind up at the end knowing all the Lao words but "singing them with English music". If need be, go back to the preliminary lessons for extra study of difficult sounds. Listen to a new word or phrase several times before you try to say it. In this way, you are more likely to say it right the first time. Insist that your teacher correct you if your pronunciation is unacceptable.
- Some short syllables do not have a tone mark. They are said with a neutral tone. "saba4ay" lt[kp? "comfortable".
- If you have difficulty saying the sound written "c" 9, practice by putting the tip of you tongue against the roof of you mouth when you say it. Remember that it does not sound like English "ch" in "church" nor like the "j" in "joy".
- Note that the lips must be rounded for the vowels "u" XR5? "uu" XR6?, "o" X3{t? "oo" X3?, and "?O" Xg{kt? "?OO" vv. They must be unrounded for "y" X{b? "yy" X{n?, "e" X{y? "ee" X{u?, and "a" Xg{t? "aa" Xg{?.
- The sounds written "ph" Xr?, "th" Xm?, and "kh" X7? are aspirated.
That is, there is a noticeable puff of air from the mouth. This feature is
absented from the sounds written "p" Xx?, "t" X8?, "c" X-?, and "k" Xd?. Note "kaafe2e" Xdkg2?, not "khaaafe2e"
X7kg2?.
- Note that words like "cay" X.9?, "pha4y" Xwzb?, and "ma#y" Xw,?
have short vowels. Do not hold the "a"
long.
- If the word "su#u" X-nj? "name", gives you difficulty, remember that your lips must be
unrounded. Try saying "Sue" smiling. The result should be something
like "su#u".
- The rhythm of a Lao sentence depends on short and long
vowels. Try humming a sentence before you say it. This will help you say the
tones correctly and keep the rhythm. In the sentence "ca1w su#u n2a4N" Xg9qhk-njspa'?, the rhythm is short, long, and
short. Be sure you say the word with the proper length.
- To help you pronounce the vowel of "se2en" Xg-uo?, say the English word "son" but prolong the vowel.
Remember the lips should be unrounded (Try saying the English word "sown"
smiling). Do not substitute "-er-" in the English word
"concern".
- The vowel in "mE#E#n" Xc,jo? sounds something
like vowel in the English word "man". In the phrase "mE#En lE1Ew" Xc,joc]h;? be sure the vowel in
"lE1Ew" Xc]h;? is the same as that
in "mE#En" Xc,jo? Try not to say "mE#En
li2aw" or "mE#En le1ew".
- Here are some phrases to help you pronounce the sound written as "p" Xx?. Use the final "p" Xx? of the first word to
help you say the initial "p" Xx?
of the second word. Remember, there should be no puff
of air as with "ph" XzF r?. "p" Xx? is unaspirated. First
listen to your teacher say each phrase several times, then repeat. Finally, try to
say the words which begin with "p" Xx?.
For example,
da[wx 
ka2p pay to return 9a[gxaf ca2p pe2t catch a duck oa[cxf na#p pE3Et count eight Ia[xkd la#p pa3ak to agree fy[wx di2p pay too green too raw g9a[x;f ce2p pu3at ache and hurt c[[xhk bE3Ep pa1a auntie's kind ]k[xk la1ap paa fish salad - "su2k" Xl5d? in "su2kso4mboon" Xl5dl,[6o?
has a short, rounded vowel. It sounds more
like the English word "look" than "Luke".
