The svarabhakti vowel in the Dutch language: adding a non-written vowel in the pronunciation.

[@Oomdaan11]

This was now brilliant. I'm learning Dutch, and I picked up an extra sound, but didn't understand what it was. You've now made life much easier for me. Thanks!

[@frankhooper7871]

I first noticed this in the difference in pronunciation of 'elf' between German and Dutch. I always feel there's a slight svarabhakti schwa at the end of Englsh words that finish with a voiced consonant like made, bird, gag etc.

[@jesusloaiza3032]

Truly helpful. I really like your explanations, and love the fact that there is no music intro and you go direct to the point, with a short introduction of yourself afterwards. THANKS!!!

[@pioneer7161]

Hey thanks. I am learning Dutch too and already know Sanskrit. So it’s quite easy for me to learn.

[@joalexsg9741]

Excellent lesson. Although I must confess the svarabhakti phenomenon sounds quite unpleasant to my ear in any language it happens, it´s important to know that it´s a trait of the pronunciation of many native speakers. Thank you so much to you and the kind teacher who's prepared the lessons!

[@m.lukana2575]

This is totally correct for people who speak 'conservative Dutch'. Those who speak 'Poldernederlands', thus: those who speak a 'new' variety initiated by professional women, mostly speak as it is written, because of their 'Gooise R'. But people who speak 'conservative Dutch', those of the working class and elite, still use the svarabhakti vowel. But the "middle classes' do not pronounce it anymore. This is an unicum in sociolinguistics, because it are mostly the well-educated women who pronounce a language very well, but this is not the case for Dutch.

[@sjuns5159]

That's not a very good representation of sociolinguistics

[@henryfigueroazambrano1602]

Jb

[@miglenastefanova1156]

Jullie zijn super goed leraren.Ik ben blij dat ik jullie heb gevonden ❤️

[@dipanjanasinha5853]

Many a time, speakers in my country tend to have this slight " bend ", as I like to call, in their English pronunciation. It is mostly present at the end of the word, however, unlike in this case. It sounds almost exactly like this! Now I think I know why. Because Sanskrit is involved. ( Maybe) I'm from India btw. I am no expert on languages but just here stating an observation.

[@devfaulter]

Interesting - I'll listen out for this sound the next time I listen to native Dutch speakers!

[@paulchristofersen8281]

My mother asking at a pharmacy in South Africa for film. After the third try the woman says, “Oh, you mean fullum!”

[@edwardamosbrandwein3583]

This "extra schwa" is also present amongst speakers of Afrikaans

[@JohnMoseley]

I once had a little debate with my German teacher about whether the Germans were doing this with 'Problem'. She was saying 'Probli-em' without even realising it.

[@elisabird6245]

English speakers also use this, especially people with Irish connections. I would say "fil...m" in the same way.

[@fibonaccisusan]

in Dutch, may native speakers also pronounce film like fillum. There was a children's TV show in the 1980's named "The film van Ome Willem".

[@richardpitwood2421]

Similarly the Irish say filǝm and Glaswegians say burǝgǝlar alarǝm

[@eduardobraivein8496]

Richard Pitwood Some South Africans also do.

[@ahmadalali7945]

Dankjewel Bart ;)

[@NoHealerJustPain]

Thank you!

[@elianacabras9156]

Dank je wel!

[@tarekmourad9494]

In The Name of GOD. Thank you sir, It's very useful lesson.

[@mikequinn]

Dank je wel Bart. Ik vroeg me af erover.

[@infoai]

im Dutch but i never even noticed putting the u there xd

[@Orenotter]

English speakers keep putting this at the beginning of my wife's name, Fnaire.

[@kartik8704]

Interesting that the Sanskrit word is used for this! 🙂

[@thehiatusprt]

sounds even more difficult I just stick with the melk instead of melke 😅

[@legaleagle46]

"Melek," not "melke." And I agree with you. I know that the idea was to make the pronunciation of certain consonant combinations easier, but in practice, I don't really see much of a difference.

[@Anhonime]

"Melek" is one of possible ways to pronounce "Moloch" in Hebrew, so I'd rather stick to "melk". I don't want to evoke some demon.

[@kitchfacepalm]

This is not unusual in the English spoken in Scotland.

[@nanshijaejoong]

Dag! ik vraag me af of dat ook in het Nederlands van België bestaat… Ik heb het nooit hier gehoord :/

[@richamo13]

Hallo Nancy, ik woon dicht bij de grens van België, maar in België en in het zuiden van Nederland wordt deze uitspraak niet vaak gebruikt. Wanneer ik dit hoor denk ik eerder aan een echt Hollands accent. Zo zullen mensen uit Amsterdam en Den Haag vaker "Hellup" zeggen. In België zul je eerder "Help" horen.

[@jean-pierreluyten535]

Hallo Nancy, hallo Mous! Als we dialect spreken dan hoor je het ook wel bij ons in België. Maar ik heb op school geleerd dat "mellek" een slordige uitspraak is. Op "Onze Taal" (onzetaal.nl/taaladvies/svarabhaktivocaal) staat dat we het allemaal doen. Dat is niet waar!

[@kirstendesimone8769]

funny...:-) it reminds me of some german dialects

[@artistadavide]

I understand, but it’s really annoying as is not pronouncing the n in words ending in -en.

[@mariadebake5483]

Ik doe het helaas ook

[@mariadebake5483]

Gelukkig niet altijd!

[@ronaldderooij1774]

That svarabhakti vowel is a lazy way of speaking Dutch. I am Dutch and I hope I don't do it, but to be honest, I don't know for sure that sometimes I might have that laziness too. It sounds awful.

[@MextizaCalifa]

Worse part when ur teacher yells at u for saying Elf and not Elef x.x

[@InfiniteUniverse88]

Ancient Phoenician was the first language to have vowels that aren't pronounced.

[@MextizaCalifa]

Ffs...like it wasnt hard enough..jeeezzzs.. I knew something was up because i cant understand SHHHHT In dutch sometimes because im like wtf is this why do ppl say Tweelaf n stuff and when i legit say it as i believe it should be proper they don understand me fo shiz x.x im dead..

[@borisplegt1908]

Of als je gewoon normaal bent spreek je het uit hoe het er staat

[@nicolegroothuis1067]

This is totely wrong

[@andylee8632]

At least spell totally correctly

[@EvenRoyalsNeedToUrinate]

@@andylee8632 no she actually meant that this is the wrong spelling of totally! thanks nicole, indeed it is!

[@zkateyguy]

Wat een nonsens. "de meeste Nederlanders gebruiken dit". Niet dus. Warm is bij mij gewoon warm. (met een zachte r) En niet waRRem. (met een strotte r of rollende r). "why do we do this? To make life easier". Ehh nee, dat is gewoon accent.