Thread: Mastering general American pronunciation step by step

Originally Posted by fortheether

In the 1st file are you saying “oo”? If so, it’s fine.

How can it be fine if you even have to ask me which vowel I pronounced?

Originally Posted by fortheether

All the words are excellent except the last thing at the end. What was that?

Loan
excuse
spoon
soon
you
?

noon
excuse
spoon
soon
you
blue

Originally Posted by fortheether

Dog
Soggy
Thought (more practice needed with “th” part – a very common issue in my opinion)
What
?

dog
soggy
talk
walk
law

It's obvious that my consonants suck

Originally Posted by fortheether

As for advise - practice, practice, practice

I will

At first it sounded like Russian 'у', that's why I asked if you were saying English 'oo'. You don't write what you're trying to say. No, your consonants don't all suck. I could still mostly understand what you were trying to say though. Obviously 'noon' blue' 'talk' and 'law' need practice, for 'noon' the second 'o' sounds like an 'a', for blue it sounds like the 'ue' are omitted. I just listened again now that I see what the words are. Yes practice is needed but don't be so hard on yourself!


Scott

Originally Posted by fortheether

At first it sounded like Russian 'у', that's why I asked if you were saying English 'oo'. You don't write what you're trying to say. No, your consonants don't all suck, just the 'th' in those last two files. I could still understand what you were trying to say though. Obviously 'blue' and 'law' need practice. Don't be so hard on yourself!


Scott

Well, the thing is I don't remember saying TH consonant except for the recording of the AH vowel where I said the word father.

I just edited my post, in your accent that how I heard it (referring to what I thought was 'th'). I only listen once or twice and write what I think you said. Overall the words are fine, yes more work is needed.

Scott

Originally Posted by iCake

Well, the thing is I don't remember saying TH consonant except for the recording of the AH vowel where I said the word father.

I've noticed overtime that I've become better able to understand Russian accents when they're speaking English. If you want a Native American English speaker that rarely speaks to Russians opinion, I can have my wife listen to the audio?


Scott

Originally Posted by fortheether

I've noticed overtime that I've become better able to understand Russian accents when they're speaking English. If you want a Native American English speaker that rarely speaks to Russians opinion, I can have my wife listen to the audio?


Scott

That is a great idea. The more opinions I get the better I know what to do next.

I just emailed my wife all the links. She'll listen and rate. I'll post the results when she's done.

Scott

Originally Posted by iCake

That is a great idea. The more opinions I get the better I know what to do next.

Originally Posted by iCake

How can it be fine if you even have to ask me which vowel I pronounced?



noon
excuse
spoon
soon
you
blue



dog
soggy
talk
walk
law

It's obvious that my consonants suck




I will

I could understand them. In 'blue', a softened ль was audible. Also in a previous set, 'pipe', the Russian style of pronouncing п was audible. So I can hear what you are doing well enough to tell what you are doing phonetically. It sounds pretty good to me.

Try a sentence instead of isolated, single words. What do you think?