Japanese speaking english

[HogF]

I have heard that when speaking english japanese people have a tendency to pronounce R as an L and vice versa. proving that they can pronounce each sound perfectly well, so why do they have this problem of saying these letters the long way lound!

[shybearuk]

This is because the R and L sounds don't exist in Japanese, according to the information I can find, so their ears are not trained to be able to differentiate. See here:
http://japanese.about.com/blqow13.htm
Hope this helps

[HogF]

Thanks Shybear, I'm still somewhat confused though because if you can say Lice and mean Rice or say Rice and mean Lice why not simply say Rice and mean Rice etc

[darth vader]

they're more likely to say "fwy wice" these days - i've noticed that far eastern people have replaced R and L in speech with the W - i assume they're (quite rightly) fed up with english taking the p1$$ out of their transposing the R and L

[sft42]

And just how's you Japanese language skills these days then HogF? Perhaps it would be better not to generalise an ethnic group as I have heard many orientals with a far better grasp of english than most neds on street corners.

[HogF]

Grow up sft42

[sft42]

You know there's nothing quite like a well thought out cognisant, reasoned arguement point well debated between mature adults...and that last posting was nothing like a........ad infinitum.....don't pass comment on others if you can't hack critisism yourself!

[HogF]

My dear sft, I suspect you have far too much spare time on your hands. Lighten up a little.