One of the biggest barriers to English fluency is accent reduction. Incorrect pronunciation, wrong emphasis, and difficulties in pronouncing unique sounds in English can all contribute to a lack of understanding. Continue reading to see the most common mistakes followed by some easy techniques to improve your English pronunciation and communication.
The Four Most Common Mistakes
- Incorrect Stress in Multi-Syllable Words – All multi-syllable words in English have at least one stressed syllable, and some even have a secondary stressed syllable. It is difficult for English learners to know which syllable to stress and how to pronounce the unstressed syllables correctly. In addition, it is a common practice among non-English speakers to want to pronounce all of the vowels in English words, while native English speakers commonly replace the vowel in non-stressed syllables with the schwa sound. This sound is referenced as the /Ə/ symbol or sometimes written as /uh/ to indicate a non-stressed pronunciation of the vowel. Learning when to utilize the schwa sound is imperative when learning to speak like a native.
- Incorrect Cadence and Rhythm of Speech – Each spoken language has its own distinct rhythm and cadence and learning to recognize how to follow this pattern is important if you want to be fluent, be understood without problem, and sound like a native speaker. Grouping words together correctly, ending phrases with the correct tone, and pausing effectively are all techniques that one must master in order to speak a language fluently. Knowing how to employ these patterns is an important part of learning to speak and communicate effectively in English.
- Commonly Mispronounced Words – Despite all the time spent learning letters and sounds in English, it is really not a very phonetic language. For every pronunciation rule, there are many exceptions making mispronunciation of words in English one of the greatest barriers to fluency. Learning how to pronounce these commonly mispronounced words is a great start to overcoming this obstacle.
- Master Pronunciation of the /th/ Sound – While there are many sounds that non-native speakers have difficulties learning to pronounce in English, one of the most difficult to master is the /th/ sound. This sound is unique to the English language so learning to correctly pronounce both the voiced and unvoiced /th/ is a huge step forward in reducing your accent.
7 Great Ways to Reduce Your Accent and Improve Pronunciation
- Listen To Native English Speakers – Listen to the people around you in your daily life and pay close attention to how they pronounce difficult to pronounce words. Also, watch their mouth to see how they form their words and listen to see where they put the emphasis in multi-syllable words. See if you can catch their use of the schwa sound in non-stressed syllables. Also listen for the rhythm and cadence, the rise and fall of spoken language, and the shaping of phrases. Notice how they use intonation to show intensity and meaning. You can also listen to movies and online video, but if it’s an American accent you’re going for, make sure you’re choosing videos with American English instead of British or Australian.
- Practice Speaking Out Loud – Don’t be afraid to practice speaking out loud, especially those words or phrases that you use regularly. Stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself speak to see if you are using the same mouth and tongue movements that you have noted in native speakers. Write down phrases or conversations that you use in daily life and practice saying them over and over. Also, use your phone to record yourself speaking to record your progress. Reading out loud is another great way to practice speaking. Read books, magazine, newspaper and online articles to practice pronunciation and the shaping of phrases and sentences.
- Listen To Audio Books -Listening to audio books is a great way to become familiar with the rhythm and cadence of native speakers. Notice the way the narrator pronounces statements and questions, and how he or she uses commas and pauses to shape the narration. Read along with the recording, stopping and repeating as needed. Try stopping the recording and repeating each sentence or paragraph until you can mimic the narrator’s speech perfectly.
- Listen to Pronunciation of Multi-Syllable Words Online – Listen to the pronunciation of difficult-to-pronounce words using online tools like the pronunciation feature of Merriam-Webster or the website howtopronounce.com. Listen carefully for the stressed syllables, silent letters, as well as the schwa sound, and practice pronouncing these words until you can correctly imitate their pronunciation.
- Practice the Correct Pronunciation of the /th/ Sound – This sound has both a voiced (/ð/) and unvoiced (/θ/) pronunciation and is formed by placing the tongue behind the upper front teeth or by sticking just the tip of the tongue between the teeth. Once again, it may help watching how native speakers form words with this sound and mimicking their actions. For a more in depth explanation, check out this video: TH Sound Practice Tips by Tom Kelly and practice, practice, practice. Also, look for lists of words with the /th/ sound to practice their pronunciation. Here’s a great list by 7ESL.
- Memorize Commonly Mispronounced Words – Make note of words that don’t follow their phonetic pronunciation and practice pronouncing them correctly. Many words have silent letters or syllables that are not pronounced. Others have one or more syllables containing the schwa sound. Look online for lists of commonly mispronounced words in English or watch for my next post where I will include some of the most commonly mispronounced words in English!
- Never Underestimate the Value of a Good Teacher – Work with a tutor who can help show you what mistakes you are making and how to correct them. You may not be noticing all of the mistakes that you are making. Language learners commonly use the pronunciation rules and speaking cadence of their native speech when learning a new language. An experienced teacher will be able to point out errors and have tips and tricks to help you correct the problem. Contact me to schedule a trial lesson and get started reducing your accent today!
