In my accent reduction coaching program I often find that my Chinese clients from Hong Kong and mainland China often confuse the /n/ & /l/ sounds when they are speaking English.
If you do this, it can really create confusion for your American listeners! ☹
Problem words include:
- financial
- initial
- development
- intelligent
- economical
If you are a Chinese (or Japanese or Korean speaker) words with both an /n/ sound & an /l/ sound with can be very difficult to articulate!
When I work with my accent reduction clients I help them feel the difference between these two English sounds. I tell them that:
The /n/ is a nasal sound. The airflow moves through your nose.
The /l/ is a liquid sound. The airflow moves along the sides of your tongue.
If you’d like a copy of my 7 page report, American English Pronunciation Tips for Chinese Speakers, just send me an email message at susan@confidentvoice.com.
I’ll send you a PDF copy of my report asap.
