Welcome back! Have you checked out my Accent Reduction classes yet? Do you speak American English with a foreign accent? Many highly educated people read and write English perfectly. However, when they speak they have an accent that causes communication problems.
There are a number of factors that contribute to accented speech and this week I [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Syllable stress’
Why You Have an Accent When You Speak American English, Part 1
American English Pronunciation: Syllable Stress Rules
This week I have been teaching many of my students how to improve their English pronunciation by using syllable stress. Here are two rules that you can use to apply syllable stress correctly.
1. Compound nouns are stressed on the first syllable (or part). Here are a few examples:
CLASSroom
LIVing room
POST office
PARKing lot
BIKE rack
2. Compound verbs are [...]
Syllable Stress in Acronyms or Initialisms
While teaching an accent reduction class last week I noticed that my students were not pronouncing acronyms (or initialisms) correctly. This caused some communication confusion!
In spoken English acronyms are stressed on the last syllable or letter. That means you must lengthen the last letter and pronounce it with a higher pitch. After the stress your [...]
American English Pronunciation Problems for French Speakers
One key feature of good spoken English is syllable stress. In spoken English one syllable is each word is stressed. The vowel in the stressed syllable is lengthened and pronounced with a higher pitch.
Spoken French does not employ syllable stress in this way. French syllables are evenly stressed until you reach the last syllable in [...]
Best Accent Training American English Audio Course
This week I found an excellent American English Pronunciation Audio Course on the web. In this audio course instructor Charles Becker teaches you American English vowel & consonant sounds, syllable stress & intonation as well as linking and connected speech.
This is a very complete course and I advise you to check it out! You can [...]
American English Syllable Stress Patterns & Schwa
One of the most effective ways to improve your American English pronunciation is to use syllable stress correctly. The problem is that many students of spoken English don’t know the syllable stress patterns. Here is a general rule that will help you-
Most two syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable. Other two syllable words [...]
Syllable Stress-The Quickest Way to Improve Your American English Pronunciation?
Many pronunciation experts say that learning to use syllable stress in words is the best way to improve your American English pronunciation. That’s because when you use American English syllable stress correctly you create the speech rhythm that Americans use to identify words.
Although you can’t see syllable stress in the written form of the language, you [...]
Pronouncing Numbers in American English
In spoken American English many numbers sound very similar. In order to pronounce numbers clearly you must pay attention to syllable stress, the sound of the “t” and word endings.
Here are a few rules you can use to help you.
1. Tens numbers have major stress on the first syllable. Say the first syllable louder and [...]
Accent Reduction Strategy-Learn to Use Syllable Stress
In order to improve your American English pronunciation you must learn English syllable stress correctly. That’s because Americans listen for syllable stress patterns in order to identify words.
Here is a common syllable stress pattern:
In English words with two or more syllables, one syllable always receives strong stress or emphasis. Here is a common [...]
