One common pronunciation problem for non-native American English speakers is the pronunciation of the words can and can’t.
Here are a couple of accent tips that will help you pronounce these words correctly.
1. When you say the word can’t you should give it extra stress or emphasis (like all negative auxiliary verbs).
2. The vowel sound in the word can’t is /æ/ as in man. Let your jaw drop a bit to make this sound. The tip of your tongue is behind your lower teeth. When you say the /æ/ sound lengthen it and raise your pitch just a bit.
3. The vowel sound in the word can is often a schwa /ə/ sound. The schwa is the reduced vowel sound that sounds like “uh”.
Here are a couple of examples of sentences with can and can’t.
Person A: When cən you go to the movies with me? (reduced vowel sound)
Person B: I cæn’t go this weekend because I have to work. (clear, long vowel sound)
Person A: Cən you go on Monday? (reduced vowel sound)
Person B: Yes, I cən go then. (reduced vowel sound)
This cən be a tough distinction to make. Lengthening the vowel sound in cæn’t is probably the most helpful thing you cən do!
Tags: Accent Reduction for Chinese Speakers, Accent Reduction Techniques, American English Pronunciation, can & can't, french speakers, Russian Speakers, Schwa Vowel Sound, spanish speakers
