Mick wrote:
On a more serious note, herself says I could do with a few lessons on where to stick my tongue.

More innuendo on an innocent thread about phonology. Alert the village elders!
Quote:
I'd be interested in any information about those other R sounds if it wouldn't be too much trouble.
Sure! There are four types of broad r and two types of slender r.
Broad r:1. The basic broad r sound is a tap, basically the front of the tongue taps against the aveolar ridge.
Similar to the r in
oro in Spanish. However unlike Spanish and a good few other languages the
back of the tongue is raised when you make this sound.
2. Before slender t, d, l and n, you don't raise the back of the tongue, you only do the tap.
Example: Comhairle.
3. In songs sometimes the English style r is used.
4. Again in songs, sometime the English style r with the back of the tongue raised is used.
Slender r:1. After other slender consonanats, you use the tapped r, but with the front of the tongue raised.
2. Otherwise you use the z-like sound for slender r. I don't know how to describe it in a simple fashion.