French Accent Reduction Made Easy!
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Every language has its own sound system, grammar rules, and intonation patterns which makes it unique. Learning a new language means incorporating new sounds, new intonation patterns, grammar rules, as well as other skills, so that you can become an effective communicator.
Because French is your native language, there are specific differences between your how you currently speak English and standard American English. Some of these differences may not significantly impact your ability to be understood by Americans, while others may make a tremendous difference in your speech.
1. French has a different melody than English. When speaking English, you may notice that you tend to use a gradually rising melody on words, rather than the up and down melody used in American English.
2. There are several specific sounds in American English that you may have particular difficulty pronouncing. This is because you say them differently in your native language. In addition, you just don’t have some of these sounds in French. In addition to pronouncing some sounds differently, you naturally may tend to omit sounds in words, especially the final sound. These are the sounds Speaking Your Best will teach you first. Speaking Your Best will evaluate your speech to determine which sounds are accented in your speech and work with you to help you master these sounds.
3. Native French speakers often have difficulty with specific parts of speech in grammar, such as tenses, making negatives and word order, for example. Because Speaking Your Best customizes each program, we will determine your current level of grammar proficiency and work with you to develop those parts of speech specific to your needs.
Accent reduction courses with Speaking Your Best are customized to meet the specific needs you have and are designed to help you become an effective communicator in all speaking situations. Contact us today and learn how you can be a success by speaking your best!
Because French is your native language, there are specific differences between your how you currently speak English and standard American English. Some of these differences may not significantly impact your ability to be understood by Americans, while others may make a tremendous difference in your speech.
1. French has a different melody than English. When speaking English, you may notice that you tend to use a gradually rising melody on words, rather than the up and down melody used in American English.
2. There are several specific sounds in American English that you may have particular difficulty pronouncing. This is because you say them differently in your native language. In addition, you just don’t have some of these sounds in French. In addition to pronouncing some sounds differently, you naturally may tend to omit sounds in words, especially the final sound. These are the sounds Speaking Your Best will teach you first. Speaking Your Best will evaluate your speech to determine which sounds are accented in your speech and work with you to help you master these sounds.
3. Native French speakers often have difficulty with specific parts of speech in grammar, such as tenses, making negatives and word order, for example. Because Speaking Your Best customizes each program, we will determine your current level of grammar proficiency and work with you to develop those parts of speech specific to your needs.
Accent reduction courses with Speaking Your Best are customized to meet the specific needs you have and are designed to help you become an effective communicator in all speaking situations. Contact us today and learn how you can be a success by speaking your best!
Common Mispronunciations by French Speakers
Because your native language is Portuguese, you naturally will have difficulty pronouncing several American English sounds. You may notice that some are harder to learn than others. Here are a few sounds that you are most likely having difficulty pronouncing.
1. The “z” sound is often pronounced like “s”
This sound may be very challenging for you because you naturally pronounce “z” in Portuguese like the American English “s” sound.
In American English we form the "s" and "z" sounds the same; place the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth, but not touching them. Prolong the sound by making only very light contact with your tongue and roof of your mouth.
The difference between the sounds is in what we call “voicing.” We use our voice to say “z” but don’t for “s.” The tricky part is that most of the time, the “z” sound in English is represented with the letter “s.”
The word “was” may sound like “wuss.”
The word “busy” may sound like “bissy.”
2. The voiced “th” sound is usually pronounced like “d”
Because you don't have the "th" sound in Portuguese, you may find that this sound is difficult to learn initially. To form this sound in American English you need to stick out your tongue in between your teeth. You should feel your top front teeth resting very gently on it. Keep your tongue and teeth in contact and push out your voice as you prolong the sound. You use your voice to say this sound, which means that if you place your hand on your throat when you say it, you should feel your vocal cords vibrate. You will also hear your voice.
The word “the” may sound like “duh.”
The word “that” may sound like “dat.”
3. The "p" sound is often pronounced like "b"
The "p" and "b" sounds are formed in exactly the same way in American English, except one uses your voice and the other doesn't.
To form the "p" sound, place your lips together, hold your breath, and then force the air out of your mouth in a little explosion. This sound does not use your voice, which means that you should only hear a puff of air when you say it. If you place your hand on your throat when you say this sound, you should not feel any vibration.
For the "b" sound, you will place your lips together in the same way you did for "p," and you hold your breath. This time, however, when you force the sound out, you will use your voice. This means that if you place your hand on your throat when you say "b," you should feel a vibration.
The word "pay" will sound like "bay"
The word "pad" will sound like "bad"
Because your native language is Portuguese, you naturally will have difficulty pronouncing several American English sounds. You may notice that some are harder to learn than others. Here are a few sounds that you are most likely having difficulty pronouncing.
1. The “z” sound is often pronounced like “s”
This sound may be very challenging for you because you naturally pronounce “z” in Portuguese like the American English “s” sound.
In American English we form the "s" and "z" sounds the same; place the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth, but not touching them. Prolong the sound by making only very light contact with your tongue and roof of your mouth.
The difference between the sounds is in what we call “voicing.” We use our voice to say “z” but don’t for “s.” The tricky part is that most of the time, the “z” sound in English is represented with the letter “s.”
The word “was” may sound like “wuss.”
The word “busy” may sound like “bissy.”
2. The voiced “th” sound is usually pronounced like “d”
Because you don't have the "th" sound in Portuguese, you may find that this sound is difficult to learn initially. To form this sound in American English you need to stick out your tongue in between your teeth. You should feel your top front teeth resting very gently on it. Keep your tongue and teeth in contact and push out your voice as you prolong the sound. You use your voice to say this sound, which means that if you place your hand on your throat when you say it, you should feel your vocal cords vibrate. You will also hear your voice.
The word “the” may sound like “duh.”
The word “that” may sound like “dat.”
3. The "p" sound is often pronounced like "b"
The "p" and "b" sounds are formed in exactly the same way in American English, except one uses your voice and the other doesn't.
To form the "p" sound, place your lips together, hold your breath, and then force the air out of your mouth in a little explosion. This sound does not use your voice, which means that you should only hear a puff of air when you say it. If you place your hand on your throat when you say this sound, you should not feel any vibration.
For the "b" sound, you will place your lips together in the same way you did for "p," and you hold your breath. This time, however, when you force the sound out, you will use your voice. This means that if you place your hand on your throat when you say "b," you should feel a vibration.
The word "pay" will sound like "bay"
The word "pad" will sound like "bad"
