I am an American learning European Portuguese, and I am struggling to figure out how to roll my r’s. I have *never* been able to roll my r’s, or even make any other similar sound like a cat purr. I’ve watched a dozen or so YouTube videos and read as many online articles about exercises I can do to try to get better at it - tongue placement exercises, tongue twisters, word games - but almost nothing has worked. The most success I’ve had has come from this video’s “pause” exercise (https://youtu.be/9Sid6MQvTRQ?si=iyr0lTsU4VHa5STY) using the word “carro”. I can now do two quick alveolar taps in succession on some words, but I can’t sustain it for any longer than that. Plus it takes conscious movement of my tongue to do it; I’m not vibrating my tongue, I’m making two American “d” sounds in a row.
Based on everything I’ve seen, you’re supposed to place the tip of your tongue just slightly off of the alveolar ridge and blow air over it. But every time I try, either nothing happens, or it makes a spitty hissing sound.
I’ve been at this for weeks - or years counting prior failed attempts - and at this point I am losing my mind. I’m hoping somebody here can let me know if I’m doing something wrong, or if there’s an easier way to do this that I’m missing. Any help would be very, very much appreciated. Muito obrigado!