Pronunciations Problem

[AngelofDeath]

I have problems pronouncing words beginning with "ย" and words that just glide when you pronounce it. My pronunciation of words like ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก ผู้หญิง ยิ้ม will sound like อินดีที่ได้รู้จัก ผู้อิ๋ง อิ๊ม respectivly. I looked in the mirror and one difference is that you don't widen your lips when you pronounce ย words. However, knowing this still doesn't help with my pronunciation so there must be something, maybe the tongue and jaw? I tried watching shows where I look at the way people pronounce ย words but I can't get it right.

The second issues would be gliding words. If you were to listen to the first sentence of Thai national anthem, you will notice that the word in bold ประเทศไทยรวมเลือดเนื้อชาติเชื้อไทย is pronounced very rapidly. This also happens in speech. Which part of the syllables do you stress for gliding words?

PS: The first question is more important though.

[krading]

It's the same sound as when saying 'you' or 'your' etc in English.

The edges of my tongue touch my upper molars at the set up and moves off them slightly when producing the 'yaw' sound. The tongue stays in contact with the molars when making the 'yin' sound and touches the upper front teeth at the gums for the 'n' part .

I can't think of any 'yin' soundind words in English.

[kokesaat]

If your ยิน (yin) sounds like อิน (in), then it seems to me a simple matter of putting a bit more emphasis on your y. I do have an occasional problem with Thais not understanding me when I say 21 (ยี่สิบเอ็ด) as I tend to drag the บ over to the เอด making it sound more like ยี่สิบแปด. Other than that, I'd pronounce ยิน the same way in Thai as I'd pronounce yin in English.

As for the เลือด question, a Thai would probably make it sound like a one-syllable word and maybe swallow half of the ล as well. For me, I'd be distinct with the ล and make the sound more like a 2-syllable word than one.....and that makes me think of the conversation I had with a Thai friend last night about the word 'temperature'

it's a 4-syllable word but said as three.

I'm a Thai language rookie, but the above works for me.

[bytebuster]

I can't think of any 'yin' soundind words in English.

"Yield" might be a good example.