One of the most important aspects of learning English is pronunciation. Without clear pronunciation, it is difficult to make yourself understood. First start by learning individual sounds. After that, focus on the music of the language. You might be surprised by the following statement: Pronouncing every word correctly leads to poor pronunciation! Good pronunciation comes from stressing the right words — this is because English is a time-stressed language.

學(xué)習(xí)發(fā)音是學(xué)習(xí)英語最重要的功課之一。如果發(fā)音不清晰，別人就很難理解你的想法。學(xué)習(xí)發(fā)音首先要從學(xué)習(xí)單個(gè)聲音的發(fā)音開始。在這之后就可以專心學(xué)習(xí)語言的曲調(diào)了。你看到下面這個(gè)論調(diào)可能會很驚訝：如果每個(gè)音都發(fā)得對，整體發(fā)音就不對！因?yàn)橛⒄Z是講究重音的語言，所以要達(dá)到良好的發(fā)音需要重讀正確的詞匯。

In other words, some words — the content words — receive more focus, whereas other words — function words — are less important. Learn more below.

換句話說，我們應(yīng)該多關(guān)注表達(dá)內(nèi)容的詞，而其他功能詞則不那么重要。我們接下來具體分析。

HERE'S HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PRONUNCIATION:

以下是如何提高發(fā)音的建議:

1. Start with learning individual sounds. These are called phonemes.

從學(xué)習(xí)單個(gè)聲音的發(fā)音開始。這些單個(gè)聲音就是音素。

2. Use minimal pairs to practice individual vowel sounds. Minimal pairs are words in which only one sound changes. For example, pop - pep - pip - pap changes the vowel sound. Using minimal pairs helps you isolate a sound to really focus on the small changes in sounds between vowels.

用“最小對”來練習(xí)單個(gè)元音的發(fā)音?！白钚Α笔侵钢挥幸粋€(gè)聲音變化的單詞。例如，pop-pep-pip-pap這組只更改了元音的聲音。用“最小對”可以幫助你分離出聲音，這樣就能真正專注于元音之間的細(xì)微變化。

3. Learn pairs of consonants that are voiced and voiceless and practice through minimal pairs. For example, f / v the 'f' sound is voiceless and the 'v' voiced. You can recognize the difference between voiced and voiceless by placing a finger on your throat. Voiced sounds vibrate, whereas voiceless sounds do not vibrate. These pairs include: b / p - z / s - d / t - v / f - zh / sh - dj / ch.

學(xué)習(xí)成對的發(fā)聲或不發(fā)聲的輔音，然后通過“最小對”來練習(xí)。例如，f/v的“f”音是不發(fā)聲的，而“v”則是發(fā)聲的。把手指放在喉嚨上，你就能分辨出發(fā)生和不發(fā)生輔音的區(qū)別。發(fā)聲的輔音會讓喉嚨震動(dòng)，而不發(fā)聲的輔音不振動(dòng)。這些組合包括:b/p-z/s-d/t-v-zh/sh-dj/ch。

4. Learn the difference between pure vowels and diphthongs such as the 'oi' sound in 'boy' or ' aee ' sound in 'tray'.

了解純元音和雙元音之間的區(qū)別，例如“boy”或“ aee ” 音中的“oi ”音。

5. Learn the following rules concerning pronunciation.

學(xué)習(xí)下列有關(guān)發(fā)音的規(guī)則。

6. English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic.

英語是一門由重音構(gòu)成的語言，而其他許多語言都是用音節(jié)構(gòu)建的語言。

7. In other languages, such as French or Italian, each syllable receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its own length).

在其他語言中，如法語或意大利語，每個(gè)音節(jié)都有同等的重要性(有重音，但每個(gè)音節(jié)都有自己的長度)。

8. English pronunciation focuses on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, non-stressed, words.

英語發(fā)音側(cè)重于特定的重讀詞，同時(shí)快速地滑過其他非重讀單詞。

9. Stressed words are considered content words: Nouns e.g. kitchen, Peter — (most) principal verbs e.g. visit, construct — Adjectives e.g. beautiful, interesting — Adverbs e.g. often, carefully

重讀詞通常是表達(dá)內(nèi)容的詞:名詞，如.kitchen, Pete；（大多數(shù))主要?jiǎng)釉~，例如，visit, construct；形容詞，如beautiful, interesting；副詞，如often, carefully

10. Non-stressed words are considered function words: Determiners e.g. the, a — Auxiliary verbs e.g. am, were — Prepositions e.g. before, of — Conjunction s e .g. but, and — Pronouns e.g. they, she

非重讀詞通常是功能詞:限定詞，例如the, a; 輔助動(dòng)詞，如am，were；介詞，如before，of; 連接詞，如but, and;代詞，如they, she

11. Read the following sentence aloud: The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance.

大聲朗讀下面的句子: The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance.

12. Read the following sentence aloud: He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening.

大聲朗讀下面的句子: He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening.

13. Notice that the first sentence actually takes about the same time to speak well!

你會注意到，要把第一句話說好其實(shí)和說第二句話要花一樣長的時(shí)間！

14. Even though the second sentence is approximately 30% longer than the first, the sentences take the same time to speak. This is because there are 5 stressed words in each sentence.

即使第二個(gè)句子比第一個(gè)句子長了大約30%，兩句話說出來卻是要花一樣的時(shí)間。這是因?yàn)槊烤湓挾加?個(gè)重讀詞。

15. Write down a few sentences, or take a few example sentences from a book or exercise.

寫幾句話，或者從一本書或練習(xí)中找?guī)讉€(gè)例句。

16. First underline the stressed words, then read aloud focusing on stressing the underlined words and gliding over the non-stressed words.

首先用下劃線劃出重讀詞，然后大聲朗讀時(shí)重點(diǎn)突出劃下劃線的詞，其他非重讀詞滑過即可。

17. Be surprised at how quickly your pronunciation improves! By focusing on stressed words, non-stressed words and syllables take on their more muted nature.

發(fā)音提高的速度，連自己都會覺得驚訝！專注于重讀單詞之后，非重讀單詞還有音節(jié)就會自然而然得不發(fā)聲了。

18. When listening to native speakers, focus on how those speakers stress certain words and begin to copy this.

在聽母語人士說話時(shí)，要注意他們重讀哪些詞，并且開始模仿。

MORE TIPS ON IMPROVING PRONUNCIATION

提高發(fā)音水平的其他建議：

1. Remember that non-stressed words and syllables are often 'swallowed' in English.

要記住，不重讀的單詞和音節(jié)在英語中通常會被“吞掉”。

2. Always focus on pronouncing stressed words well, non-stressed words can be glided over.

永遠(yuǎn)把注意力放在發(fā)好重讀單詞上，非重讀單詞可以滑過。

3. Don't focus on pronouncing each word. Focus on the stressed words in each sentence.

不用每個(gè)單詞都發(fā)音，要把注意力放在每句話的重讀單詞上。

?（翻譯：Andrea安寧）