2010-03-10

Childrens Learning DVDs?

I would like to know if anyone knows of any learning movies or shows for toddlers that are in Russian? I want DVDs that teach the alphabet, numbers, colors, etc.  I have already purchased 2 DVDs but my daughter doesn't show much of an interest because they are not cartoons. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Russian soft consonants

I just got back a phonetics assignment where we had to transcribe Russian words from a recording. My instructor doesn't speak Russian and graded according to a key, so she couldn't answer my questions about the parts that were marked wrong.

I've uploaded some small sound files and if any native speakers would be willing to listen to them and answer my questions, I would really appreciate it.

1. Clip 1: Is this woman saying будь, буд, or something else?

2. Clip 2: I've removed the last part of this word so that you don't know what it's supposed to be. Did she say ди or джи?

3. Clip 3: Again, I've removed the last part of this word. Is she saying чу or тю?

4. I can't provide a sound file for this one. When you hear the syllables си and сы, do you perceive the difference between them to be in the consonant, in the vowel, or in both?

Edit: Thank you for your help, everyone! I'm much less confused now than I was.