Job Discussion Forums

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Isn't it preposterous to think we can make any serious impact on our lerners' p;ronunciation during one year of token (or "spoken")
classes?
They have already a set accent and I for one accept what I hear and won't try to make radical changes to it. Accent is not one of the things that matter the most: correct pronunciation is - an 'R' is always an 'R' and not an 'L', 'S' must be distinguishable from 'SH' and the 'TH' comes in at least two distinct English pronunciations that Chinese often fail to master. English is NOT their language and you can always tell a Chinese English speaker - at least in 99 percent of all cases. If we can get their intonation a little more lively we have made a tremendous change.
Also nationalising accents is problematic. They should produce a neutral English devoid of too-obvious Chinese influences. That would be the ideal goal, to my way of thinking.

If some of my students produce a marked native-English speaking country's dialect I won't interfere. I would encourage them to maintain it - but to pay attention to the correct national pronunciation when they learn new items.

By the same token I wonder why we do not have an uniform way of pronouncing letters. The way some Chinese spell words containing the letter 'Z' annoys me if it doesn't confuse me. A 'Z is a zet and not an 'zzzzz'.
The other day I spelt the word 'hazelnut' on the telephone to an American, and he belaboured the point that 'zet' didn't exist.
What balderddash and self-centredness! Pronouncing this letter as 'zet' is in line with almost any spelling tradition anywhere where the Roman letters are in use!

cujobytes · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:37 am Post subject:

do you mean zed?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

yes, 'zed' as in 'zebra'.

cujobytes · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:54 am Post subject:

or xylophone

The Red Baron · Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Posts: 183

Ricepaddy · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 219

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Arcainis · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 6

I find that it doesn't matter to me what pronunciation they use as long as I can understand them. British speakers have the ability to be more subtle in thier pronuciations of some words that the Chinese cannot master easily. So then, I teach them a more neutral way of saying something. If they can't get that to where I can understand easily, I will try to show them the American version. (i.e. the more harsh sounding "a") What pronunciation they use is not important, that they are understood is. I'm from America and I don't care if they say elevator or lift, but they better not say "lift-aaa". Smile