I am aware how difficult it is to pronounce different sounds in different languages, yes. They’re difficult, but not impossible (tongue between the teeth!) and often require practise. I would never criticize someone for trying to make a sound and replacing it with an alternative. Marie doesn’t do that, but even if she did, I wouldn’t say she had a speech disorder. (A speech deficit is a neutral pedagogical term with its own meaning.) I enjoy dialects and accents. It’s difficult for me to roll my ‘r’ s when I speak French, but I try! I like to be understood in the language in which I’m speaking or writing; it’s worth the effort.I thought I wouldn't comment on the issue anymore but here we go.
The English so-called th sound (or dental fricative) is extremely rarely found in other languages and is often very difficult phoneme for non-native speakers to produce. There are millions of non-native English speakers who never learn how to produce it and have to replace it with alternatives. Call that a speech disorder if you will.
There are also English native dialects that do not use the th sound. For example, traditionally east Londoners replace the voiced and voiceless dental fricative with v and f sounds respectively. Would you tell a Londoner that they are making a mistake by not pronouncing the th in the same way as you do? You don't need to like it but having an accent is encouraged these days.
Now when it comes to FRK's choice of subject matter and the way she presents herself... yeah, I'm ready to feed her to the wolves.
Even I would call that a mistake.
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