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Thu Sep 04, 2008 18:03 pm Feedback on audio recording (4 Articles, Charlie the Brave) |
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Hi Torsten
I'd recommend re-recording this one. The reason is this:
The focus of this lesson is articles -- the definite article (the) and the indefinite article (a/an). In my opinion, if you want to illustrate the use of these articles in an ESL recording, then ideally the recording should reflect the pronunciation that would normally be used in speech. However, in the recording the indefinite article "a" is repeatedly pronounced the same as "ey" rather than the usual schwa ("uh").
As far as I know, in both AmE as well as BE the "ey" pronunciation would only be used emphatically -- i.e. to emphasize that there is really only one of something, for example. The recording sends a confusing message to the ESL student with regard to the pronunciation of the article "a".
In addition, the very first mention of the word "the" gives the pronunciation as "thee". Last but not least, perhaps a small disturbance for my British cousins might be the pronunciation of the word "Thames".  .
. _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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Thu Sep 04, 2008 18:12 pm Feedback on audio recording (4 Articles, Charlie the Brave) |
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I agree with Amy. Re-record it.
Hey, Amy, what's your take on the underlined part of this?
| Quote: | "To add emphasis to a noun, the preceding indefinite article is often pronounced as a long a (just as the definite article would be pronounced as "thee" in such cases), whether or not the schwa, or even "an" would be the appropriate usage. In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend to pronouncing almost all indefinite articles in this way, especially in radio or television announcements or news-reading.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_and_an |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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Thu Sep 04, 2008 18:23 pm Feedback on audio recording (4 Articles, Charlie the Brave) |
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Hi Molly
I'd say people in my neck of the woods still use "uh" rather than "ey" for normal conversation. I'd tend to agree with the idea that some newscasters might use the "ey" pronunciation more often -- but would also suggest that this may simply reflect the fact that (1) they are reading and/or (2) they may unconsciously tend to try to emphasize things more often than your everyday, run-of-the-mill talker would. . _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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Stew.t. I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 514 Location: Leipzig, Germany
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Tue Nov 11, 2008 23:38 pm Feedback on audio recording (4 Articles, Charlie the Brave) |
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Hello Mr.Tarsten, Good after noon.It's 1 P.M.now in California, USA.Now I come to know properly abt " Articals".The story" Charlie the Brave" is full of with definite "the" & indefinit "a, an" articles.First of all I'm reading the whole lesson or artical 2-3 times & then i'm listening to the audio lesson sent by u.This time I was able to understand Brandee's speech John's compnay is going to give a $1000 bonus this year. The Himalaya is the highest mountain in the world. The sun gives us energy. I'm afraid of the roaring lion who is seating under the tree. Mohan is a boy but Sheela is a girl. Plz eat an orange.It's a health fruit. It's a rainy season. take an umbrella when u r out of the house. i need a few girls 4 help in the kitchen. An American English is hard to understand. You are decorated as a bride but where is the groom? I need an active person for my" Great Clips" shop. The lady who is standing besides u is my mother. An animal, an elephant, an apple, an Ink-pot, the Indians, a merchant, a driver, an artist, the moon, the sky etc. Plez tell me if there is any mistake. Yashomati |
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Yashomati I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 14
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