<p>I think I am able to pronounce words with correct tones when my nose is stuffed since the pronunciation doesn't really rely on nasal sound but rather the sudden change in pitch. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-20T14:38:40.510Z
2017-02-20T14:38:40.510Z
Oscar
<p>As far as I understand the Chinese language makes heave use of tones and inclinations for oral conversation. How do people who have a stuffed nose or sore throat deal with the tones then? Do they become hard to understand to their peers?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-20T12:34:55.603Z
Biologically, a stuffed nose only influences nasal consonants and vowels. I don't imagine Chinese tones, which are basically only pitch-based, are affected either way. A sore throat affects sounds in various different ways: are you able to be more specific about which?
Michaelyus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-19T21:21:34.813Z
Yes, pretty certainly. I am a foreigner and during the first few years such problems gave me a lot of trouble when speaking Chinese. After about 3 years the effects where comparable to the effects on my native language, i.e. beauty is affected, intelligibility isn't. Of course there are levels of hoarseness that make any language impossible to speak...
Ludi
<pronunciation>
Can Chinese people pronounce the tones correctly with a stuffed nose or soar throat?
# Can Chinese people pronounce the tones correctly with a stuffed nose or soar throat?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-20)

As far as I understand the Chinese language makes heave use of tones and inclinations for oral conversation. How do people who have a stuffed nose or sore throat deal with the tones then? Do they become hard to understand to their peers?

**Tags:** pronunciation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Biologically, a stuffed nose only influences nasal consonants and vowels. I don't imagine Chinese tones, which are basically only pitch-based, are affected either way. A sore throat affects sounds in various different ways: are you able to be more specific about which?  
> **username_2**: Yes, pretty certainly. I am a foreigner and during the first few years such problems gave me a lot of trouble when speaking Chinese. After about 3 years the effects where comparable to the effects on my native language, i.e. beauty is affected, intelligibility isn't. Of course there are levels of hoarseness that make any language impossible to speak...  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-02-20. Score: 2

I think I am able to pronounce words with correct tones when my nose is stuffed since the pronunciation doesn't really rely on nasal sound but rather the sudden change in pitch.


---

