SPEECH MODIFICATION AMERICAN ACCENT TRAINING
  • Home
  • Our Training
    • What is Accent Modification?
    • Corporate Accent Training
    • Accent Training for Health Care Professionals
    • About
  • Online Courses
  • Free Resources
    • Podcast
    • Online Practice Free Trial
    • Blog
    • Free Screening
  • CLIENT AREA
    • Online Practice
    • Assessment
  • Contact
  • Store

How to Speak Like an American:  Using Contractions

12/24/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Americans use contractions frequently in everyday speech, conversation, formal written language, and all types of communication.  Contractions aren’t slang or for informal use, they’re standard American English.  Using contractions rather than the other language forms is one way to make your speech sound more American.  But sometimes the combinations of sounds in contractions can be difficult to pronounce if you have certain accent patterns, such as consonant cluster deletion or final consonant deletion.  Practice contractions by themselves and in short phrases to get used to using them in your speech, and to pronounce them correctly.

instead of I am, he is, etc.
say I’m, you’re, he’s, she’s, we’re, they’re

instead of I would, he would, etc.
say I’d, you’d, he’d she’d we’d they’d

Instead of I have got, he has got, etc.
say I’ve got, you’ve got, he’s got, she’s got, we’ve got, they’ve got

instead of can not, do not, etc.
say can’t, don’t, won’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t

instead of I have not, he has not, etc.
say I haven’t, you haven’t, he hasn’t, she hasn’t, we haven’t, they haven’t

instead of I am not, he is not, etc
say I’m not, you aren’t, he isn’t, she isn’t, we aren’t, they aren’t

instead of I will, he will, etc,
say I’ll, you’ll, he’ll, she’ll, we’ll, they’ll

Interested in hearing how these contractions sound in the standard American accent?  Try our SMART online practice.
0 Comments

Learning the American Accent: How to Pronounce Nouns and Verbs

10/2/2015

 
In some cases, the same word can be a noun or a verb.  We pronounce it differently depending on which way we are using it.  A rule that applies to some of these words is that the stress falls on the first syllable when it is a noun, such as in the word produce:  The produce is fresh at that store.  The stress falls on the second syllable with the word is used as a verb:  They produce microchips in Silicon Valley.  Because the stress pattern is different, the vowel will also sometimes change.  We use a vowel schwa (sounds like "uh" as in "cup") to mark an unstressed syllable.  Listen to the example below: 
Notice how in the first sentence, produce sounds like pro-dooce, but in the second sentence, it sounds like pruh-dooce.  We call this vowel clarity - the stressed syllable retains its vowel, whereas the unstressed syllable is reduced to a schwa vowel.  In addition, notice how the first syllable in the noun is much longer than in the verb.  We use a longer vowel on a stressed syllable than an unstressed syllable.  Try some of these phrases, making sure to use a long, clear vowel on the stressed syllable. 
Project:  I have to finish the project. (noun)
  I need to project my voice. (verb)
Increase:  We've seen an increase in sales.  (noun)
  I'd like to increase my salary. (verb)
Conflict:  I have a conflict at that time.  (noun)
  Their schedules conflict. (verb)
Details:  I sent the details via email. (noun)
  The book details the events of last year. (verb)
Here are some additional words which follow this noun/verb stress rule:
decrease
import
discount
desert
refund
present

object
subject
contract
protest
insult
permit

escort
upset
conduct
reject
record
contest

consult
convert
console
compound


When in doubt, it's a good idea to check the pronunciation using an online dictionary.
Picture
Like this video?  Subscribe to our S.M.A.R.T. Video Course!

Learning English:  a simple yes or no will do

7/13/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Have you heard the expression, "A simple yes or no will do?"  We say this when someone is giving us more information that we really wanted to know, or delivering a lecture when all we wanted was an answer.  In a recent study, it turns out that the words "yes" and "no" are not as simple as you would guess.  For example. in English, we can answer the question "you haven't fed the cat yet, have you?" with "no, I haven't," or "yes, I haven't."  These patterns are present in other languages, as well.  You can read more about the study here.


0 Comments

Grammar:  Using "A" and "The"

6/28/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
One of the challenges of speaking English is making sure to use the "little words" correctly:  articles, prepositions, and other grammatical markers.  There are many other languages that don't use articles (a, an, the), so it can be hard to remember them and to know which one to use.  These words are frequently unstressed in the sentence, which means they are also harder to notice when listening.  But if they are absent, it is very noticeable.

You can learn more about how to use articles correctly here.
0 Comments

Log In, Go Off, Hang Out - Which Preposition Should I use?

10/17/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
English prepositions have specific meanings in some contexts (out: from the inside to the outside of something), but how do you know which preposition to use in a verb phrases?  Errors in prepositions are common for non-native English speakers, because they are idiomatic and don’t necessarily follow a logical pattern.  Beyond memorizing, how can you figure out which word to use?  Don't stress out, there are ways to figure out what's up.
Picture

Over the long run, reading, listening for prepositions when talking with native speakers or watching tv or movies, and practicing their use will get you most of the way.  When you learn a new verb, adjective or noun, find out which prepositions are used with it and learn them as well.
Picture
When you encounter an immediate question, ask a native speaker, or use a learner’s dictionary that lists the prepositions together with the word in question.  Some useful resources are Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and the Collins Cobuild Dictionary.  Online, you can use http://www.learnersdictionary.com/ or http://www.ldoceonline.com/ to help you know which is the correct preposition.  Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it in no time!
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
    Subscribe to Speech Modification's YouTube Channel!
    Subscribe to this blog:

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    On Sale

    On Sale

    Trial Lesson

    Shop

    Individual Accent Training (4 session package)

    Shop

    Online Courses

    Shop

    Categories

    All
    Accent
    Accent And Career
    Accent And Technology
    Accent In The Media
    Accent Research
    Apps
    Arabic
    Audio Files
    Bias
    Business English
    Class Calendar
    Culture
    Grammar
    India
    Indian English
    Intonation
    Japanese
    Living Abroad
    Mandarin
    Nigerian English
    Online Resources
    Pop Culture
    Portuguese
    Pronunciation
    Regional Accents
    Russian
    Seattle Area Classes
    Spanish
    Ted Talks
    Tips And Tricks
    Videos
    Vocabulary
    Vowels

    Archives

    March 2021
    January 2021
    September 2020
    May 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Copyright 2020
    Christine Dunbar
    


    Want Feedback on Your Speech?  Take a Free Speech Screening Now!
    Free Screening

    Have Questions?
    Get A Free Consultation

    We offer a free 30-minute phone consultation. Schedule yours now.
    Schedule My Free Consultation
Privacy Policy
Copyright 2024 Christine Dunbar, All Rights Reserved
Terms and Conditions of Use
Photos from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District, Harshil.Shah, dno1967b, Mr Moss, garryknight, Cosmic Cine, niyam bhushan, Kris Krug, North Carolina National Guard, SJU Undergraduate Admissions, 13winds, waitscm
  • Home
  • Our Training
    • What is Accent Modification?
    • Corporate Accent Training
    • Accent Training for Health Care Professionals
    • About
  • Online Courses
  • Free Resources
    • Podcast
    • Online Practice Free Trial
    • Blog
    • Free Screening
  • CLIENT AREA
    • Online Practice
    • Assessment
  • Contact
  • Store