American English pronunciation difficulties from 3 other languages

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  American English Pronunciation: Difficulties from 3 other languages

China is a huge country, and Mandarin is spoken differently in various parts of China. For some people, Mandarin is actually their second language, not their first.

People in India speak somewhere between 780 and 1683 different languages, although reportedly only 21 are officially recognized.

People in so many countries speak Spanish, and there are numerous dialects of it. Again, some Hispanics speak Spanish as their second language, with another local language being their "mother tongue" or first language.

Having said that, today (with a lot of generalization), we will be comparing some difficulties each linguistic group has with speaking English. Business Speech Improvement does individual assessments of each speaker in our seminars on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals, so these are some generalities.

First, English is the only language that pronounces the "th" sound. In some countries, such as parts of China, clients have reported that it is rude to put one's tongue between one's teeth to produce this sound; instead, people use an "s" sound or omit it entirely. In India, many people trying to say "th" say a "t" or "d" sound instead. In Hispanics, often the sound is omitted, or an "s" sound is used instead.

Hispanics often have difficulty with the American sounds of  "v", our final sounds such as "t" in "sit", the

"vowel r" sounds like ar (car) and er (her). "Sh" (shoe) and "ch" (chew) may be hard for some to pronounce as well.

Mandarin (and Cantonese) speakers from China and nearby areas may have difficulty with the "l" and "r" sounds, "r blends" such as tree, and final sounds such as "z"  in "is". Other sounds may also be difficult.

Native Indians come from so many languages that it is hard to generalize. Many learn British English in school, and then want to learn American English, which is different at times in vocabulary and pronunciation. For example, the word "schedule" is pronounced in English as "shedjule", while in the USA, we say "skedjule". England uses "lorries", while in the USA, we call them "trucks".

Speech training for native speakers of all of these languages starts with an individual speech assessment, and then a custom-designed training program to focus on what each person needs to learn. The seminar on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals is offered in only 3 days to a group of 6 learners, with a follow-up plan. These sessions are ideal for those who are visiting the USA and want help before business meetings or presentations here.  Individual 1-3 day sessions are available, although spaces for these are limited.  Online training sessions are also an option, in many cases.

For those who are unable to attend the training, e-books and a mp3 files on many aspects of communication are also an option .

                                  

                

 While you are here, check out the wide variety of archived blog posts on other topics relating to communication!

Accent modification training - what is it?

Are you frustrated with your pronunciation of American English and the impact it has on your communication at work and in the community? If so, accent modification training may be a great help. An experienced accent modification coach or a corporate speech pathologist first analyzes your speech, and then designs a plan to improve it. Accents involve pronunciation, speech rate and the speech intonation (how your voice goes up and down). Your plan should include all of this. It may also include help with grammar and American idiomatic expressions if time is available. Training can range from 3 (full) days plus follow-up to one hour once a week. It can be done in a small group or individually. A good quality program should not be a large class, where everyone learns all the sounds again. Many of you already know most of the sounds, and should not have to practice what you know already. In a small group, the instructor has time to listen for your errors, which is vital. Another indicator of an excellent program is the availability of time to help you practice your professional and other important words. As one of my clients reported recently, "I'd been saying those business words wrong for a long time - and I didn't know it!" Business Speech Improvement offers seminars on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals; sign up today! E-books on business communication are also available.

Silent letters in American English pronunciation Many readers of this blog come from other countries. If you are one of them, or know someone who is trying to speak English more clearly, this blog post is for you! American English, first of all, is pronounced differently than British English. Many of the vowel sounds are made slightly differently, and have a different intonation pattern as well, which is what gives it a British or an American sound. This blog is about American English. We have a lot of silent letters. In some cases, the letters are silent only in specific words. For example, "th" is written but not spoken in 5 words. One of these words is "asthma". When "l" comes after an "a", as in calm, walk, talk, and psalms, the "l" is not spoken either. A third example is when there is a "sch", as in school or schedule. In these cases, Americans pronounce this as a "sk" sound. Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. Training is offered through open enrollment seminars, individual coaching, e-books and an mp3-file.

Have difficulty pronouncing American English clearly?

American English can be a challenge for people from other native languages to pronounce.
We have some sounds not found in other native languages, such as "th". Many of our words, such as Chicago, and women, do not follow the usual pronunciation rules. Many international businesspeople, scientists and other professionals who do business in the United States want to improve their pronunciation and seek coaching.

Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals is a three day intensive seminar to be held October 4 - 6, 2010 in Chattanooga, TN (USA).
Each learner will receive an individual speech assessment and a customized program, plus more.

Past learners report increased self-confidence as well as improved pronunciation. The course is taught by an experienced corporate speech pathologist.

Only six learners will be accepted. The fee is $1795.00 USD per person. To enroll, visit http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/category.pl?Classes.

Clients ask, "Why don't Americans help us?"

Many clients from other countries in the Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals seminar offered by Business Speech Improvement ask the same question: why don't native-born Americans help them improve their pronunciation of American English? In their native countries, their work groups naturally help the newcomers with various aspects of their job, including their communication skills. In the USA, though, native-born Americans are afraid this would offend their non-native co-workers; in addition, many people don't have the time or skill to know how to make corrections efficiently and effectively.

If you yourself or your valued employees want to improve your American English pronunciation,
learn about upcoming seminars at www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/accents .
What would better pronunciation do for you or your employee?

Pronouncing American English more clearly

"I want to speak (American) English better but I don't know what to do to sound clearer" is a comment of many of the clients of Business Speech Improvement. They (or their companies) are often calling about the intensive course, Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. They or their companies are frustrated about the difficulty they are having communicating clearly.

This three day intensive course offers instruction that focuses on pronunciation. Learners receive an individual assessment and a customized program, which includes some professional vocabulary.

Open enrollment, company-specific and individual classes are available. For details, visit www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com.

Diversity and idea generation

A client of mine who wanted advice on facilitating brainstorming groups recently asked if brainstorming groups should have people with similar backgrounds in them. Research has shown, I told her, that the more diverse the group, the greater the number of ideas that will be generated. Diversity can be from different places in the same (or other) country, age, race, sex, professional or educational background.

Another group of my clients who are from other countries come for help with improving their American pronunciation. As they improve their communication skills, we are also sharing information about our native cultures. "In my country, we...." is often heard. Often other groups' beliefs and ways of doing things are a real surprise to us, and we all learn about another way of dealing with a problem.

Whether focusing on improving pronunciation or brainstorming skills, diversity makes a difference!

American Pronunciation Struggles

Over the years, many foreign-born professionals in the US have told me how they struggle with our pronunciation patterns. They tell me of the importance of excellent speech on their careers, and how they wished they knew what they were doing wrong with their pronunciation. The Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals class, in a mere three days, has helped many to make a significant change in their speech. The classes have a maximum of six learners each. All learners have their speech individually assessed, and get a customized program to follow.

As their instructor, I enjoy hearing the difference in their speech patterns before and after the class, and the new confidence they express in their pronunciation. They know better speech will make a difference in their lives and careers.