pronunciation - Confusion about how to pronounce the "dark L" consonant sound


"Dark L" is "L" at the end of the word or after a vowel sound. Example: ball, pull.


"Light L" is "L" at the beginning or before a vowel sound. Example: light, love.


There are 4 explanations of how to pronounce "dark L":




  • 1st explanation: the tongue tip must contact the ridge right behind the upper teeth.




  • 2nd explanation: before the tongue tip must contact the ridge right behind the upper teeth, you must curl the tongue and make sound like /r/ before make the /l/ as in the 1st explanation.




  • 3rd explanation: just put the tongue between upper and lower teeth is enough to make the dark L




  • 4th explanation: the tongue tip must contact the ridge right behind the upper teeth & the back of the tongue raises up (a British teacher teaches that).




see this vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pejo6YC_BnM and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4En7vG1wV4 for more info


So what is the correct way to make the "dark L"?




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