Thread: Mastering general American pronunciation step by step

All were comprehensible. I think you're doing great.

Apart from quite a few words there is also a brutal difference in pronouncing some words and sounds. Here is an explanation by an Australian girl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxcVpUWXHnw (oh know the bbcode is broken!)


I definitely prefer American English over Indian English. Some Indians receiving training. But the teacher is useless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEKmZ...69C26485F12CDD

Everything sounded really great! The OY didn't sound off at all. Your UR words also sounded good; girl, bird and burn need just a bit of fine tuning. If I understand correctly about soft consonants (thanks again for your help, by the way) it almost sounds like soft G and B on those words. I don't know if that helps or if it's the right way to explain it. But what you were practicing, the UR sound, was done very well. Really good job!

Oh, and on that video: a few of her pronunciations were a "general American accent", but most were more of either a doped up California surfer or a bad Southern accent. And I have never heard anyone say renaissance that way, if that is indeed what she said. I know it was done for laughs, but that is not really what a "general American" sounds like.

For the word "first" add some more "r" sound otherwise except for the second "ur" sentence all was very good!

Scott

Originally Posted by iCake

It's me again with some new stuff. I've practiced lots of things so here we go again

Minimal pairs
Minimal pairs' transcribe

I tried to ease up the already learned AW vowel here so that it sounded more natural. Did I pull it off?

The AW vowel
The transcribe

I studied the brand new OY vowel. I think I'm a bit off with it but let's see what you think, shall we?

OY sentence
OY sentence transcribe

OY words
OY words transcribe

This one I think is what I have most troubles with. Let's see what you say about that.

UR words
UR words transcribe

UR sentence pronounced one way
The same UR sentence pronounced another way
Ur sentence transcribed

Thaks you all guys. Point taken and more work is to be done

Originally Posted by coco

Your UR words also sounded good; girl, bird and burn need just a bit of fine tuning. If I understand correctly about soft consonants (thanks again for your help, by the way) it almost sounds like soft G and B on those words. I don't know if that helps or if it's the right way to explain it.

It helps A LOT. I think you just might be right, these soft consonants just entrenched themselves so deeply in me so sometimes they all go out. I wish I could help it

I also have a good quality mic if you ever need anyone to record words.