A GUIDE TO SPEAKING AND PRONOUNCING COLLOQUIAL

AMERICAN ENGLISH (American Accent )

( Some exercises taken from : American Accent Training by Ann Cook )

BUILDING AN INTONATION SENTENCE

Exercise 1: Repeat after me the sentences listed in the following groups.

1. I bought a sandwich.
2. I said I bought a sandwich.
3. I said I think I bought a sandwich.
4. I said I really think I bought a sandwich.
5. I said I really think I bought a chicken sandwich.

1. I did it.
2. I did it again.
3. I already did it again.
4. I said I think I already did it again.

1. I want a ball.
2. I want a large ball.
3. I want a large, red, bouncy ball.

1. I want a raise.
2. I want a big raise.
3. I want a big, impressive raise.
4. I want a big, impressive, annual raise.

Exercise 2 : SAME WORDS DIFFERENT MEANINGS.

In the list below, change the stress ( intonation ) from the first syllable for
nouns to the second syllable for verbs. Intonation is so powerful that you’ll
notice when the stress changes, the pronunciation of the vowels do, too.

NOUNS VERBS
an accent to accent
a concert to concert
a contest to contest
a contract to contract
a convict to convict
an insert to insert
a desert to desert
an object to object
 record to record
a rebel to rebel
a project to project

Exercise 3: LISTENING EXERCISE

Can you tell the difference?

1. I watched a concert / We did not concert to their idea.

2. There is a contest going on. / I need to contest to the judges’ decision.
3. I place an insert in the paragraph you wrote./ I need to insert the right
key to open the door.
4. Las Vegas, Nevada is a desert place./ Are you going to desert me just
when I need you most?
5. That is an object. / I object to your proposal.
6. The document records are in the filing cabinet. / I need to record some
songs tonight for my concert.
7. He is a rebel. / he never tried to rebel against his parents when he was a
teenager.
8. I have a project to complete this afternoon. / when I was on stage, I tried
to project well to impress the audience.

WORD CONNECTIONS

As mentioned, the Native/ American English, words are not pronounced one
by one. You need to connect words together so that each sentences sounds
like one long word. This lesson is going to introduce you to the idea of
“ liaisons” (the connections of words) , which allow us to speak in sound
groups rather than individual words.

Liasons: the connection of words, are written like this:

They tell me the dai measier ( they tell me that I’m easier..). in this
sentence you will see the the words “ I’m easier” ( dai measier) are
connected to each other to form a sound group.

Exercise 1 : Pronunciation/ Liasons

Read the following sentences. The last two sentences should be pronounced
exactly the same, no matter how they are written. It is the sound that we are
working on right now.
The dime.
The dime easier.
They tell me the dime easier.
They tell me the dime easier to understand.
They tell me that I’m easier to understand.
Exercise 2: liason exercises

LIASONS
How words are (how words are connected, Sentences
spelled how they sound )

Did he ? didee? Didee see you?

Does he ? duzzy? Duzzy know you?
Has he ? hazzy? Hazzy told you?
Is he ? izzy? Izzy with you?
Won’t you? wone chew? Wone chew do it?
Can’t you ? can chew? Can chew see it?

Review:

1. What is intonation?
2. What are liaisons?

LESSON 2: VOWEL PRONUNCIATION, REDUCED SOUNDS, LIASONS

Tense Vowel Chart

Tense vowels are also called long vowels;; they can be much longer than the
lax vowels.
Sound Spelling
εi (ā) take
ee (ē) eat
äi (į ) ice
ou (ō) hope
ooh (ū) smooth
ah (ä) caught
ä + ε (ae) cat
ae + o (aeo) down

Lax Vowels
Lax vowels are short vowels.

Sound Spelling
eh (ε) get
ih (i) it
ih+uh (ü) took
uh (э) some
 Semivowels
A sound that has the quality of one of the high vowels, as (ē) or (ū), and that
functions as a consonant before or after vowels .Also called glide.

Sound Spelling
er (эr) her
ul dull

Exercise 1: Vowel-Sound Differentiation

Directions: Read down, then read across.

ae (cat) ä (caught) э(uh)some ou (down) ā(take) ε (eh/get )

1. Ann on un own ain’t end
2. ban bond bun bone bane Ben
3. can con come cone cane Ken
4. cat caught cut coat Kate ketch
5. Dan Don/dawn done don’t Dane den
6. fan fawn fun phone feign fend
7. gap gone gun goat gain again
8. hat hot hut hotel hate head up
9. Jan John jump Joan Jane Jenny
10.lamp lawn lump loan lane Lenny
11.man monster Monday moan main men
12.matter motto mutter motor made her met her