Very hard to sing the song "Row Row Row Your Boat" when pronounce "t" of "gently"

[EngFan]

Very hard to sing the song "Row Row Row Your Boat" when pronounce "t" of "gently"

Hi All,

I really want to know if the "t" sound of "gently" is necessary to be sounded? When singing the song, Row Row Row Your Boat, it's very hard to pronounce it....can I use glottal stop for the "t" sound of "gently?

Lyrics

Row row row your boat
Gently down to stream
Merrily Merrily Merrily
Life is but a dream

EngFan

 

[NorwichEnglish]

Re: Very hard to sing the song "Row Row Row Your Boat" when pronounce "t" of "gently"

It's fine to glottal-stop the t in 'gently'. A lot of native speakers, though not all, would do this. Regarding the other t's: the t in 'boat' can also be skipped, if you like, because it merges nicely into 'gently'; but it's better to pronounce the t in 'but'.

I've attached a recording of me singing the verse twice! First time with a t in 'gently', second time without.

 

[Tdol]

Re: Very hard to sing the song "Row Row Row Your Boat" when pronounce "t" of "gently"

I won't record myself doing it, but I tried it and using glottal stops for both came more naturally.

I've attached a recording of me singing the verse twice​

:up:

 

[5jj]

Re: Very hard to sing the song "Row Row Row Your Boat" when pronounce "t" of "gently"

I won't record myself doing it

Thank heavens for small mercies.

 

[Tdol]

Re: Very hard to sing the song "Row Row Row Your Boat" when pronounce "t" of "gently"

And you haven't heard me sing. :lol: