Mate:
> I started as retroflex /s./ but now I would say it is generally
> /S/, at least in Central Sweden.
Ugh, more complexity. Well, if this helps, my greatgrandparents
came from Stockholm around 1900-something. Something tells me
that this [s.], even if it is retroflex isn't terribly so.
Otherwise, I'd imagine it sounding more Hindi :) All I remember
is a "softening" of /s/ to what sounded like an "s" with a
tip or flat tongue further behind the teeth than normal but only
by a few millimeters or so. I suppose that can be called
"retroflex" but not very much and the tongue wasn't curled back,
I don't think.
= gLeN