My First American Accent Training Audio

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English

Jun 30th 2012 22:28

Hi my friends, I just began my American accent training today. This is my first audio:

http://audioboo.fm/boos/867857-my-1st-training

I hope you can understand me, and I also hope to listen well and sound good. I will appreciate it so much if you could give me any suggestions.

Thank you. :))

ryan0270

Jun 30th 2012 23:37

I can understand you very easily :) In my experience talking with foreigners, the most important things are:

- Make sure to use the correct number of syllables when pronouncing each word. This is a big problem here in Korea where they keep adding syllables. When they use the wrong number of syllables it is much harder to easily know which word they mean.

- Make the phrasing natural, i.e. inside of 1 sentence make sure to group the words together properly while speaking. If there are unnatural breaks our brain can't do the normal pattern for listening.

I think these problems are common for all non-native speakers trying to speak a new language. If you do these right the accent is less of a problem.

Jul 01st 2012 00:28 Kita

Thank you very much Ryan. :))

The correct number of syllables? I don't know what syllables is. What does "add syllables" mean? Do you mean pronouncing each word correctly?

Jul 01st 2012 06:20 ryan0270

A syllable is a single sound. For example, "big" has 1 syllable and "bigger" has two syllables. "Kita" also has 2 syllables.

"Add syllables" means to add extra sounds. For example, "catch" is supposed to be 1 syllable but here in Korea they would pronounce it as two syllables, "cat-chuh". This is confusing for native listeners since it would sound more like "catcher" than "catch".

Jul 01st 2012 09:00 Kita

Thank you very much for you detailed explanation Ryan. I see. :))

Yes, it is difficult for me too, but I feel that maybe I often reduce syllables. For example, my book said "feel" should be said "fee/yuh/luh", this is really difficult for me.

:))

Jul 01st 2012 18:00 ryan0270

"feel" is only one syllable. "fee/yuh/luh" makes it look like three syllables which would be wrong and confusing for the listener.

Jul 01st 2012 18:13 Kita

Ahhh... Really?! My book says if we don't speak it as "fee/yuh/luh", it may sound like "fill".

Jul 01st 2012 18:14 Kita

Hmmm... May I ask if you are from America? My book is about America Accent.

Jul 01st 2012 19:19 ryan0270

Yes, I am from America. "feel" does sound very similar to "fill" when spoken at normal conversation speed. There is a difference, but it actually quite subtle.

Most English dictionaries give "phonetic" spellings of every word indicating what they sound like. Syllables are usually separated by a mark, such as a ' or ` or -

As examples, go to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ and look at:
1-syllable: "feel"
2-syllable: "feeling"
3-syllable: "syllable"

Jul 01st 2012 19:53 Kita

Thank you very much Ryan! I was puzzled by the mark ' and - , now I understand. Thank you. :))

Roybie

Jul 01st 2012 00:22

Sounds pretty good. Like you said, it just needs practice to make perfect! :)

Jul 01st 2012 00:30 Kita

Thank you Roy!

Hope you are having a great weekend. Send a big warm smile to you.

^________^

Jul 01st 2012 00:38 Roybie

Thanks, I am having an OK weekend.

Feeling a bit down though now for some reason.

Miyuki (美幸)

Jul 01st 2012 20:35

Wow, you have already started it! I also spoke this out over and over many years ago. OMG, I still can remember every single words. You are doing good!!!

Jul 01st 2012 21:09 Kita

Haha! It reminds you of the old time. :))

Thank you Miyuki. I really appreciate your recommendation. I like this book. :))

My First American Accent Training Audio

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