Online Accent Reduction for Non-native English Speakers
Hear and Feel the Difference between /n/ and /ng/
Monday, 23 August 2010 00:00
The /ng/ sound as in "song" is unique from /n/ because of the position of the tongue. The tongue blocks air in the back of the mouth and the airstream is directed through the nose. There is also a slight /g/ heard. There are three common problems associated with this sound. First of all, the /g/ is dropped completely ("going" becomes "goin"). Secondly, the /ng/ is substituted with /n/ (going=goween) and thirdly, the /g/ sound is heard too strongly, a problem common among both non-native speakers and native speakers. (going=going)
Practice these sets of words to feel and hear the difference between /n/ and /ng/:
- Thin-thing
- Pain-pang
- amazeen vs. amazing
- danceen vs. dancing
- doween vs. doing
The difference may be slight but you can feel the tongue on the roof of the mouth move as you say the /n/ and then the /ng/.
Omitting Syllables in Running Speech
Monday, 16 August 2010 00:00
Some three syllable words that have stress on the first syllable lose the second syllable or vowel sound in running speech. Say these words and notice how the second syllable is omitted:
chocolate, evening, conference, business, several, family, diamond, general, interest, and average.
Some longer words also lose a syllable: vegetable, laboratory, temperature and directory.
Pronouncing these words with the omission of these syllables actually aids in the natural flow of speech. It is not considered "sloppy speech" to omit them. However, the choice to omit the syllables depends largely upon the region where you live.
How to Think on Your Feet
Monday, 09 August 2010 00:00
Do you ever freeze when called upon to give your opinion? Use these techniques to become a master at "thinking on your feet."
- Take deep breaths to relax, if you are nervous.
- Look directly at the speaker to improve comprehension.
- Listen carefully to the question and the intent of the question.
- Buy some time before answering by pausing to organize your thoughts, or rephrase/repeat the question (more positively, if needed).
- Choose one main point with two or three supporting points. The first thought that comes to mind is often the best response.
Signal your conclusion by saying "Finally," like I just did, at the beginning of your final point.
Thinking on your feet and answering thoughtfully requires practice. One of the best ways to be prepared is to anticipate questions and practice the responses ahead of time. That way, you aren’t surprised by a question that comes your way.
Communicating Politely with Someone Who Stutters
Monday, 02 August 2010 00:00
About 1% of the adult population stutters. It's not uncommon to feel uncomfortable speaking to someone who stutters. Here are some suggestions to help you communicate with someone who is stuttering more effectively:
- Dismiss assumptions you may have about people who stutter.
- Don't provide suggestions to the speaker about how they can speak better ("slow down," "relax," etc.)
- Be an active listener by nodding your head and making eye contact.
- Don't finish the speaker's sentences when he/she gets stuck on a word.
Be open and honest. Let the speaker know that you are willing to listen and are patient about hearing what he/she has to say
Did you know that Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, James Earl Jones, Bruce Willis, Bob Love, John Stossel, and Carly Simon are all famous people who stuttered?
Would you like to learn more about stuttering? Visit http://www.stutteringhelp.org/ Look for the article:
Weightlifting May Be Damaging Your Voice
Monday, 26 July 2010 00:00
Do you spend a lot of time in the gym lifting weights? If you lift weights on a regular basis, you may be abusing your vocal cords. People who lift weights abruptly squeeze their vocal cords together with a lot of force and then grunt. This activity, over a period of time, may damage the vocal cords because the slamming together of the cords can cause a callous to build up, changing the mass of the vocal cords. This may cause a change in pitch and/or create vocal hoarseness. Extensive weight lifting should be avoided if you depend on a well-functioning voice in your work. Or be sure to ask a personal trainer how to lift weights without abusing the vocal cords. They may not know the answer so consult with an Ear, Nose or Throat doctor.
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