being able to hear the difference between them really varies, based on what dialect you(they) are speaking, and also what dialect(s) you(they) are used to listening to. there are sounds in some that aren't in others. applied on a larger level, this is the basis for the whole japanese-->english l/r issue-- japanese has only one letter where we have two, and it's located solidly between l and r. so frequently, they can't hear the l/r difference, because they hear the japanese sound instead, and when they make that sound, english speakers can only tell that it's not the sound that they would say, so they assume it's the other one.
huh. with a brief brushup on my phonology terminology and without this damn cold i could likely explain that better. but for now, that's it.
my theory on correcting such things at work is if it's in a presentation, or in a situation where me correcting it could allow the person to make a useful change in it (reading a draft, etcetera), then i'll point it out. other than that, i let it slide, unless it's completely egregious.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2006-06-10 05:53 pm (UTC)huh. with a brief brushup on my phonology terminology and without this damn cold i could likely explain that better. but for now, that's it.
my theory on correcting such things at work is if it's in a presentation, or in a situation where me correcting it could allow the person to make a useful change in it (reading a draft, etcetera), then i'll point it out. other than that, i let it slide, unless it's completely egregious.