Pronunciation Practice

Question 1

It’s ten to two.

Answer 1

1. /t/ - Did you use your tongue tip and pronounce it gently? 2. Did you remember the nuclear stress?

Question 2

Tom tells Tim that until tomorrow meetings total twenty-seven times.

Answer 2

1. /t/ - Did you use your tongue tip and pronounce it gently? 2. Did you remember the nuclear stress?

Question 3

Ted tapped the top of the table with the tip of his pen.

Answer 3

1. Did you keep the beat? 2. Did you remember your tongue position?

Question 4

Q: Where’s Tom going? A: Tom’s going to Tonga tomorrow.

Answer 4

1. Did you remember the nuclear stress? [Tong] 2. Did you remember your tongue position?

Question 5

Q: Is Tom going today? A: No. Tom’s going to Tonga tomorrow.

Answer 5

1. Did you remember the nuclear stress? {Mor] 2. Did you remember your tongue position?

Question 6

Steven sold seven sausages to Chris.

Answer 6

/s/ is further back than Korean /s/. Your tongue should not touch your bottom teeth, and should be slightly curled up.

Question 7

Lovely Lisa followed little Bill.

Answer 7

/l/ is made with tongue tip on alveolar ridge. Air escapes over the sides of the tongue. The sound is voiced.

Question 8

a little bit of butter

Answer 8

American English uses a soft /d/ “tap” for the /t/ in the middle of words.

Question 9

It’s time for fishing {Think about schwa and nuclear stress}

Answer 9

It’s time f@r FISHing [@ = schwa, CAPS = Nuclear stress]

Question 10

Would you like to go for some late dinner tonight after class? {Think about schwa and nuclear stress}

Answer 10

Would y@ like t@ go f@ s@m late DINN@ tonight aft@ CLASS? [@ = schwa, CAPS = Nuclear stress]

Question 11

I’m afraid that I have some bad news. You have a grammar test today. {Think about schwa and nuclear stress}

Answer 11

I’m @FRAID th@t I have s@m bad NEWS. You have @ GRAMM@ test t@day. [@ = schwa, CAPS = Nuclear stress].

Question 12

Pronunciation exercise: practice moving from Korean basic vowel (어) to English (schwa) by changing your tongue’s resting position.

Answer 12

In English, your tongue rests with the back sides touching your top teeth, and the tip slightly curled back under the alveolar ridge. Schwa is made with the middle of the tongue raised and your mouth half-closed. 어 is made with the back of the tongue raised and a more open mouth.

Question 13

Paul fished for tougher trout.

Sometimes we must suffer for our supper.

Poppy was fed up of rough food for supper.

Answer 13

1. Did you remember to tighten your lip?
2. Did you make the f and p right? Clean sounds, no lip touching in /f/.
3. Did you remember the /f/ in “tough” and “rough”?

Question 14

Very red squirrel running around the regular riverbed.

Answer 14

(UK) ˈvɛri rɛd ˈskwɪrəl ˈrʌnɪŋ əˈraʊnd ðə ˈrɛgjʊlə ˈrɪvəˈbɛd

1. Did you NOT touch the top of your mouth?
2. Did you NOT stretch your mouth sideways?

Question 15

Although thrilling, the theory that athletes should think less is both wishful and untrue.

Answer 15

/ɔːlˈðəʊ ˈθrɪlɪŋ, ðə ˈθɪəri ðæt ˈæθliːts ʃʊd θɪŋk lɛs ɪz bəʊθ ˈwɪʃfʊl ænd ʌnˈtruː/

1. Did you make the sound as an interdental fricative?
2. Did you distinguish voiced (/ð/) and unvoiced (/θ/) sounds?
3. Were you careful of /ʃ/ and /t/?

Question 16

Thin tony thieved ten things

Answer 16

θɪn ˈtəʊni θiːvd tɛn θɪŋz