Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 7:48 am

xandreu wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2024 10:23 pm
A couple of things I worked out pretty quickly is that consonants seem to fall into two categories. Those that end with an 'awww' sound and those that end with an 'owe / oh' sound.

These Oh and awe sounds are only used when reading the alphabet, and they do indeed have a function to distinguish two groups of consonants.
Compare it to English, when someone lives on number 2B we will pronounce it as 'two bee'. A vowel is used behind the consonant for ease and clarity. In Khmer there's the distinction as an extra ...

Yes, it's similar to English in that the sounds made when reciting the alphabet are not necessarily the sounds made when using them in words, but I'm working from the official government Grade 1 Khmer language book, the one they use in primary school, so unfortunately, just like English, it's all about just learning the alphabet at this stage.

xandreu wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 11:34 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 7:48 am

xandreu wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2024 10:23 pm
A couple of things I worked out pretty quickly is that consonants seem to fall into two categories. Those that end with an 'awww' sound and those that end with an 'owe / oh' sound.

These Oh and awe sounds are only used when reading the alphabet, and they do indeed have a function to distinguish two groups of consonants.
Compare it to English, when someone lives on number 2B we will pronounce it as 'two bee'. A vowel is used behind the consonant for ease and clarity. In Khmer there's the distinction as an extra ...

Yes, it's similar to English in that the sounds made when reciting the alphabet are not necessarily the sounds made when using them in words, but I'm working from the official government Grade 1 Khmer language book, the one they use in primary school, so unfortunately, just like English, it's all about just learning the alphabet at this stage.

Do you have the book with the pictures? For every consonant it has a simple word to associate with the consonant.

For instance, ទ --> ទា (tea, duck)

If not, buy one, and bring it with you the next time.

@ school the kids will call out the consonant, followed by the (simple) word starting with that consonant associated with the consonant. There's a set of words used nationwide for this. Big plus is you learn simple words with the consonant and learn to read and speak simple words. A bit more exiting than just the consonants and you get the feeling the knowledge is of instant use (because you learn a word with it as well).

Happy studies!

khmerhamster wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 1:09 pm Online and books can be useful but only as a supplement to daily use of the language.

I reckon about practical usage 70% and 30% study (online or by book) to pick up the language well.
I’ve had friends who picked up a functional level of language without ever looking at a book, and have had others who invested more in study and next to nothing with usage (saying that ‘I’ll speak more when I have good foundations…’) They were book smart but could hardly string a few words together and understood little.

In short, there is no better way than getting out there, listening, speaking, making mistakes and learning. IMO.

Different people, different learning styles. Finding out your own style can safe you a lot time and frustration.