Communication

Good pronunciation should be one of the first things that you learn in English. You can live without advanced vocabulary — you can use simple words to say what you want to say. You can live without advanced grammar — you can use simple grammar structures instead. But there is no such thing as “simple pronunciation”. If you don't have good pronunciation, you have... bad pronunciation, and native speakers will have problems understanding you! Besides, if you start teaching English to other people, you will automatically transfer to them your poor way of speaking, for which nobody will ever be grateful to you.

There are three levels of English pronunciation:

- Level 1: People often don't understand what you want to say. You use the wrong sounds in English words, your intonation is incomprehensible, too.

- Level 2: People understand what you want to say, but it is unpleasant to listen to you.

- Level 3: People understand you, and your English is pleasant to listen to.

Level 3 will be called good pronunciation. Notice that good pronunciation is not "perfect British or American accent". You don't have to sound like the Queen of England or the President of the United States of America.

Why not? Because there are many regional kinds of English. In England, people from Birmingham, Newcastle, or Aberdeen speak English differently from people in London. In America, people from New York City, California, and Texas each have their own pronunciation. So it is no problem if you have your own accent.

But your accent must be close to the standards (British or American English). What does it mean? When you watch channels like EuroNews, BBC, CNN International, NBC, or Sky News you can hear many different people (news anchors, reporters, etc.) from Germany, France, and other non-English-speaking countries. They all have good accents — easy to understand and pleasant.

The rule is: If you are close to the standard, you can always communicate, and your English will be pleasant. If you are far from the standard, sometimes you won't communicate successfully. If you chew your sounds or use improper intonation, you may be misunderstood (for example, if your intonation is flat you will sound impolite or even hostile).

You are free to choose between three levels. Make up your mind – and make your Make up your mind – and make your choice! Level 1 needs no work, level 2 requires work, while level 3 demands real efforts! The course in pronunciation which is offered to you can help you make further steps in mastering your pronunciation.

Here are three jokes that illustrate what can happen to those who do not care how they sound.

1 A young man comes before the Customs agent

A: "State your citizenship."
B: "American" (pronounced with a Spanish accent).
A: "Hold on there, buddy. Say that again."
B: "I sed American."
A: "I'm going to give you a test."
B: "No, no senor, no need for test, I tell you I’m American."
A: "Yeah, sure buddy. OK, let's see, ... I've got it. Make a sentence with the following colors: green, pink and yellow.

B: "Oh senor, I tell you I'm American. But OK, let's see... I was at my bruder-in-laws house and the phone went 'green, green, I pinked it up and sed yellow!"

2 The two beginning ESL students went to Honolulu on holiday. Soon they began to argue about the correct way to pronounce the word "Hawaii." One student insisted that it's Hawaii, with a "w" sound. The other student said it was pronounced like "Havaii," with a "v" sound. Finally, they saw an old native on the beach, and asked him which was correct. The old man said, “It's "Havaii." The student who was right was very happy, and thanked the old man. The old man said, "You're velcome."

3 Three ESL students are walking down the road to their remedial listening comprehension workshop.

"It's windy" says the first.
"No it isn't, it's Thursday" says the second.
"Me too." says the third, "Forget the listening, let's go for a drink!"

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Foreword to ESL students	\|	Unit 1 Sound revision. Vowels in contrast

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