How do you pronounce new vocabulary correctly yourself?

Maggie

Hi,guys

I would pratice to speak some vocabulary to improve my English. I would look up the phonitc when I don't know how to speak,then try to speak it myself. Last time,I used the term,apprentice,to talk with somebody who didn't make sense what I said first time. I found out becasue I didn't speak the correct phonetics. That's why he didn't understand what I said. So would you please tell me how should I do to speak correct English myself ? Thanks in advance.

Greetings!

Maggie^^
_________________
In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

lost_soul

to improve my pronunciation I listen to Eminem. I just love his raps and he uses so many complicated words, and I learn how to pronounce them while enjoying his pieces of music. I even try to recite his raps, repeat them trying to go toe-to-toe with him.
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Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)

Englishuser

Hi lost_soul,

What a model for imitation you have chosen! A good pronouncing dictionary (Cambridge or Longman) would come in handy if you often get stuck with English words.

All the best

EU

prezbucky

okay

northern midwestern vowels are much like those of latin-based speakers:

A = Spanish E (Hay!)
E = Spanish I (We)
I = Spanish AI (Hi)
O = Spanish O (Yo -- bit longer than the Spanish O, maybe)
U = Spanish U (puke)
Ah = Spanish A (want; padre)

the point is that northern midwestern vowels and Spanish vowels are alike in that they are not rounded -- they are straight and hard.

there's no "ehoo, like I want to gehoo teew"

... which is "oh, I want to go too" in California

This treatment of vowels (northern midwest USA) is also said to be like that found in Scandinavia, Germany, and Holland (Dutch).
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

Jamie (K)

You probably need a book that not only teaches you phonetics, but also prosody. A good one for that would be Judy B. Gilbert's "Clear Speech". It has a practice CD in the back, but if you're REALLY serious, you can go out and spend a lot of money on the set of class CDs that help you with every exercise in the book.

lost_soul

The real problem with all those books is that you'll very soon get intolerably bored and be unable to go on. Why on earth dont they include real cuss words like ... you know.
I believe if my english teacher mixed his examples with swearing, my progress would be more noticeable Smile

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Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)

Jamie (K)

Part of progress in anything is the ability to tolerate boredom.

Maggie

Hi,lost_soul

Eminem's song is really not QUIET. Have you known some romantic or love songs? If yes, could you give me some? Thanks in advance.

Talk with you soon.

Maggie^^
_________________
In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

diverhank

Songs are not good source for correct pronunciation, imho. Often the singers are forced to pronounce words to fit the notes...distorting them some. That's why even native speakers have huge problems making out all of the words. Emimem tries to sound like a gang member and I don't think it's the best model to learn pronunciations Smile

....It's best to listen to TV shows (sitcoms).

Maggie

You meant like FRIENDS? Well,actually,I have heard people who probably are Taiwanese said that songs are good for learning English. Now I found out that maybe listening songs are not good for pronouncing English terms. But I think people could learn some English terms from listening songs. Cause they listen English songs means they like to listen longs. Then they would learn more English terms easier,definitely. That's my own idea.

Talk with you soon!
_________________
In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

diverhank

Maggie, very true...you can learn from songs...just not always pronunciations. One good thing about learning from songs is the motivation level. FRIENDS is good for pronunciations...that's how Americans talk.

prezbucky

prezbucky

Lost_Soul

Check out TI (pronounced "tee I" -- the initials) and his videos at the bottom of the above post.
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

Maggie

Hi,prezbucky

Thanks for giving us these links. I think they are probably great but I couldn't access them. I have tried some of them,and it shows 'Music Videos Are Accessible In The U.S. Only. Please Select Another Video Or Show!'. So I think probably we couldn't have the right to access in Taiwan. Well,I would try to find out this kind of video if I am free.

Greetings!

Maggie^^
_________________
In my view,the more mistakes someone else corrects me,the more I could learn.
And welcome to my blog: http://0rz.tw/793HL

lost_soul

Yo, Prezbucky Smile

I'd like to thank ya for them links Smile

Dat TI proves to be something funky, but Eminem will defeat 'im one-o-one without effort in a rap battle, if you know what i'm sayin.
I done seen how Em spits his raps - noone been able to stand up to 'im.
_________________
Alex

How much upchuck would a woodchuck upchuck if a woodchuck could upchuck ?

(a guy from Russia)

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