how to improve my pronunciation

[blacknomi]

BTW, don't stick on a new vocab too hard. There is a whole lot of fun simply reading a sentence.

Other than pronunciation, you have a set of games to play too!
1. intonation
2. facial expression
3. eye contact
4. gestures

Have fun!

[Marylin]

The intonation in nouns that are two syllable often falls. The preposition/adverb, or particle, of a phrasal verb is usually accented somewhat. It receives stress - sentence stress that is.

I_asked them_to_look_it up_in_the_index.

Repeat the syllables that are darkened at an even pace. Do this slowly at an even and consistent tempo. After you've done that, add in the rest of the syllables. Tap your fingers on a table, desk or a book each time you say the syllables that are darkened. These syllables receive sentence stress. It should take you just as long to say the darkened syllables as it does to say the entire sentence. Make sure that your intonation falls at the end of the last word. Link the sounds together as well. Be sure to produce strong vowel sounds in the syllable that is stressed in the content words.

If someone is speaking very fast, there's a good chance that the "th" will be dropped in the word "them". The vowel sound in the word "to" is almost always dropped in the word - syllable - to.

Well, there's more to say about this. If you listen to people and imitate them, as has been suggested already, it will be very helpful. This, however, is some of what's taking place in English pronunciation.

When English is spoken very fast, people sometimes, or often, use reduced forms. I'm talking about how many people really speak English, not "textbook style" pronunciation.

Iyaskt''m_t'_look_itup_in_thee_yindex.

Try it like this too. The time stress pattern is sometimes different. It depends on how the speaker wants to say it.

I_asked them_to_look_it up_in_the_index.

There's normal unmarked sentence stress, and then there is marked sentence stress. People place stress on words that they think are important. This contributes to clarity and overall intelligibility.




There are some generalities we can point to. However, predicting how to pronounce a specific word in English based on a set of rules or generalities is not exactly the easiest thing to do. One generality is that in compound nouns that have two syllables, the first syllable is stronger, and the second syllable usually has falling intonation.

In words that end in "ity", the syllable that comes before "ity" is stressed. The same thing is true for words that end in "tion".

generality association - Here's a compound noun "comeback".

Generally speaking, I think there is more to be gained from focusing on sentence stress and intonation patterns than on individual sounds, syllables, and words.

I think you should try to find a teacher that understands what I've posted here. In my opinion, that's the teacher you want. Of course, I don't know what you sound like. It could be that you would benefit from focusing on individual sounds, syllables, and words as well. Each person is different.

Very impressive, X.
How was my intonation? What am I wearing now, X? My father's name, please. Oh, forgot - my cat's name too, please?

All right, that will do for now...

[blacknomi]

In words that end in "ity", the syllable that comes before "ity" is stressed. The same thing is true for words that end in "tion".

Not wise to generalize such a rule.




Sabby

[Steven D]

Not wise to generalize such a rule.




Sabby

There are times when generalizing is not wise, I agree. But why would you say so in this particular case?

Do you have any examples that contradict this generalization?

tion - ity

[Steven D]

Very impressive, X.
How was my intonation? What am I wearing now, X? My father's name, please. Oh, forgot - my cat's name too, please?

All right, that will do for now...

Your intonation is fine. I'm not sure of your tone, however.

[Marylin]

Your intonation is fine. I'm not sure of your tone, however.

Well, in this day and age, you can't please everyone no matter how hard you try.

[Steven D]

Well, in this day and age, you can't please everyone no matter how hard you try.

This is true.

[Marylin]

This is true.

Good. Glad to see we agree on something.

[Steven D]

Good. Glad to see we agree on something.

Ain't it wonderful?

[Marylin]

Ain't it wonderful?

Indeed it is. I am speechless, X. And speechless ( or "voiceless" as you would probably call it) is a lot coming from someone with a big trap like mine ( no, it's not a lint trap I am talking about...)