How to Slow Down Fast Speech
American English Pronunciation blog
If you find that people don’t always understand you when you are speaking, try to slow down a bit.
Here are two things you can do to help you slow down fast speech.
1. Learn to use content and focus words
Native English speakers emphasize the content and focus words in each sentence or phrase. They pause slightly after these important words. Learn about how native speakers use content and focus words and you will slow down too.
2. Learn to use syllable stress
In English words some syllables are stressed more than others. The vowels in stressed syllables are articulated in a long clear way, not in a short choppy way. Short choppy syllables will contribute to fast speech. Learn about how native speakers use syllable stress and you will slow down too.
Speaking at a good pace is a fundamental speaking skill that everyone, including native speakers need to learn in order to be a good public speaker.
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Another pronunciation question asked: How do you say Dollar and Facebook in a RP British Accent?
- UPDATED-
Unfortunately the original audio player that I used has been discontinued and no longer available to use. Please click on this new link to play the audio:
If you would like to speak English with a British Accent and improve your pronunciation download the Ultimate British Accent course
how do I say Almond in a British Accent?
-UPDATED-
Unfortunately the original audio player to which the recording was uploaded, has been discontinued and no longer available.
To listen to this British Accent training please do click on the link below :
Dont forget: If you have an RP British Accent pronunciation question do get in touch either post on my facebook wall at http://www.facebook.com/LearningBritishAccent, twitter @LearnBritaccent or email: alison@thephonevoice.com
Regional Accents: It's All in Your Head
Accent Reduction Blog | Accent Neutralization Blog
NPR recently published a fascinating article entitled, Unfamiliar Accents Turn Off Humans And Songbirds. If you were to read this title, wouldn’t you assume that meant unfamiliar accents are a ‘turn off’ to people and birds? That’s what I assumed…and it led me to read further.
As we know, a ‘turn-off’ is an idiomatic expression that means to repulse or repel. This article, however, was certainly not talking about a supposedly abhorrent nature of unfamiliar accents. For as we know, depending on our experiences and perspectives, accents can either be a ‘turn-off’ or a ‘turn-on’. Think of a French accent and all kinds of ooh-la-la come to mind!
The article was highlighting a phenomenon that neurologists from Scotland recently discovered when examining brain activity in people exposed to unfamiliar accents. Their findings? Activity in the temporal region of the brain (the region that process voice discrimination) ‘turns off’, or at least greatly diminishes. But does this suggest that accents are a turn-off? Hardly! It simply notes that sounds which don’t occur in one’s native language are processed as an ‘accent’ and not given as much relevance. In the world of cognitive linguistics, this phenomenon is known as NLNC, Native Language Neural Commitment. It means that as we identify the speech patterns of our native language, our brains create neural pathways that recognize, respond, and commit to the pronunciation patterns of our first language. Over time, other speech sounds are seen as “accented” speech.
Interestingly, researchers from the University of Wisconsin and Duke University have discovered that songbirds, like people, have regional ‘accents’ and tend to respond to songs in a familiar accent. Swamp sparrows from Pennsylvania sound markedly different than swamp sparrows from New York. Does this mean that one bird’s accent is ‘right’ and the other is ‘wrong’? Of course not!
As far as people and our accents are concerned, heavy accents that create language barriers may prevent effective communication. But accents that don’t impede communication are an important part of our identity. If, as seems to be the case, birds of a feather sing together….it might do us some good to remember we need sopranos, tenors and everything in between to create perfect harmony.
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Short audioboo Video: RP British accent Human Resources Vocab
Latest Audioboo video of Industry Terms. This video covers Human Resources Vocabularly
Accent Trainers: No Longer Just for Hollywood Professionals
Accent Reduction Blog | Accent Neutralization Blog
Hollywood? Broadway? Ann Arbor, MI? Where do you find a real Accent trainer? It used to be, only five short years ago, that an accent expert was someone who trained actors and actresses how to speak with a foreign accent for a specific role. Think Tom Hanks in Forest Gump, Kevin Kline in French Kiss, or Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart. And of course, who could possibly forget the scene in The Pink Panther where the accent trainer was trying to teach Steve Martin how to say ‘hamburger’ with an American accent?
But these days, when someone uses the terms “accent trainer” or “accent coach,” an altogether different set of expertise comes to mind…at least for those of us in the world of corporate, multicultural diversity training. The terms no longer conjure up visions of a movie star being prepped for his or her role in an upcoming blockbuster. Nowadays, the image is often one of foreign-born business professionals wanting to learn English pronunciation in order to convey--not a set of scripted lines--but technical and professional expertise in the real world of team building and good client service. In conference rooms and training offices around the globe, an accent trainer refers to someone creating inclusiveness in our business environments by eliminating language barriers in our diverse, global workforce.
What do an accent trainer in Hollywood and, say, Ann Arbor, MI have in common? If we scratch below the surface, a whole lot! While those working in the film industry tend to think of this line of work as ‘adding an accent’, people, quite mistakenly, think of corporate accent trainers as ‘taking away’ a person’s accent. Not so. At least not at the Accent Reduction Institute. As I’ve talked about in previous blogs, ‘accent reduction’ is a deceiving misnomer for our line of work. Both kinds of accent trainers mentioned above enable people to pronounce sounds that exist in a target language that don’t occur in his/her first language. A highly proficient accent trainer –a true expert—will teach people how to go from one accent to another. At the Accent Reduction Institute, we call this code-switching, and it’s an integral part of our curriculum. Why? Because it’s always about giving people a choice of how, where, and when they’d like to express and convey their ideas and expertise. Accent trainers in the film industry and accent trainers for the business world may have two different objectives. But we share one common denominator: we teach people how to speak with clarity, confidence, authenticity, and ease.
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Queen to launch British Monarchy page on Facebook
Queen to launch British Monarchy page on Facebook - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11704599
Alison Pitman
Voiceover Artist
www.thephonevoice.com
www.britishfemalevoiceover.com
Email: alison@thephonevoice.com
The science behind language learning
Accent Reduction | Babel
I just read the “Science Grows on Acquiring New Language” article in Education Week by Sarah D. Sparks highlighting research about how we learn foreign languages. Researchers think that the “critical period” to learn foreign languages well may be longer than previously thought and that babies exposed to hearing people speak in different languages learn [...] Sent with Reeder
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'Tweethearts' and 'simples' make it into the dictionary
BBC News - Home
New words from celebrities, politics, and TV enter the latest edition of Collins English Dictionary. Sent with Reeder
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Hard-to-read fonts 'aid learning'
BBC News - Home
US scientists find that students can boost recall and learning when given material in harder-to-read fonts. Sent with Reeder
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British Accent Training Presentations
In answer to Ben and the other readers who have asked about the training presentations:
Head over to : http://www.learningbritishaccent.com/british_accent_video.html where you can find all the presentations currently available.
Thank you!
Alison
Head over to : http://www.learningbritishaccent.com/british_accent_video.html where you can find all the presentations currently available.
Thank you!
Alison
Membership Site
I just wanted to test the waters before I go any further with my idea -but I was wondering whether any or all of you fine Learning British Accent followers would be interested in joining a British Accent membership site? I was thinking of a small monthly fee to have access to audio and video content, direct contact with myself once a week to ask questions and get specific help with whatever words, phrases, sentances, sounds you need. Weekly updated content to help your improve your british accent.
I'm not sure about the structure yet - it may be a 3 month/6 month plan or could be open-ended in terms of time. I would have to figure out whether I could create enough content to keep you all interested and wanting to learn more. I know several of you have asked for Videos of myself speaking to help learn the correct use of the facial/mouth muscles. I think this would definately be included within the membership site. If you have any thoughts as to what content you think would be useful do please let me know.
AS always I would love to get your feedback on this idea. Both positive and negative thoughts are both welcome. If you think its a terrible idea than please do let me know!
If I do go ahead, and you know anything about setting up membership sites I would be most grateful for any advice you may have
Again thanks so much for your continued support.
alison
I'm not sure about the structure yet - it may be a 3 month/6 month plan or could be open-ended in terms of time. I would have to figure out whether I could create enough content to keep you all interested and wanting to learn more. I know several of you have asked for Videos of myself speaking to help learn the correct use of the facial/mouth muscles. I think this would definately be included within the membership site. If you have any thoughts as to what content you think would be useful do please let me know.
AS always I would love to get your feedback on this idea. Both positive and negative thoughts are both welcome. If you think its a terrible idea than please do let me know!
If I do go ahead, and you know anything about setting up membership sites I would be most grateful for any advice you may have
Again thanks so much for your continued support.
alison
Discrimination in the Workplace because of an Accent - Accent Reduction Online
Claro Accent Reduction by Judy Tobe
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (www.eeoc.gov) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. The EEOC includes accent bias in its definition of employment discrimination on the basis of national origin. An employment decision based on a foreign accent violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 unless it "materially interferes" with that person's ability to perform the duties of the job.
Because linguistic characteristics are a component of national origin, employers should carefully scrutinize employment decisions that are based on an accent to ensure that they do not violate Title VII.
An employment decision based on a foreign accent does not violate Title VII if an individual's accent materially interferes with the ability to perform job duties. This assessment depends on the specific duties of the person in question and the extent to which the individual's accent affects his or her ability to perform job duties. Employers must distinguish between a merely discernible foreign accent and one that interferes with communication skills necessary to perform the job.
Do you feel that you have ever been discriminated against because of your accent?
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Fears for 'bit of Britain' in India
BBC News - Home
There is concern in India that a historic stretch of Shimla, a former British hill station, could be unstable owing to unplanned building work. Sent with Reeder
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Short vs. Long Vowel Sounds: The Purchasing Power of Words
Accent Reduction Blog | Accent Neutralization Blog
A word’s meaning is often shaped by the way it sounds. A few examples will make this obvious. Take, for example, the exclamations “Wow”, “Cool”, and “Yuck”. But did you know that the way words sound can actually influence our buying decisions?
This phenomenon was described, as an aside, in an Op-Ed article by Daniel Gilbert in Sunday’s New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/opinion/17gilbert.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper. Mr. Gilbert talked about the link between what linguists call ‘short’ and ‘long’ vowels and how we subconsciously associate words with ‘smallness’ and ‘bigness’. Short vowels (like the ‘i’ in “thin”) tend to make us think of smallness and words with long vowels (like the ‘uw’ in “hoop”) connect us with a feeling of bigness. Here’s how it works in terms of how we choose what to purchase. According to Mr. Gilbert, prices that end with a short vowel will seem less expensive than prices that end with long vowels…even if their numerical value is larger. That’s phenomenal.
Gilbert describes a study where “one group was shown an ad for an ice-cream scoop that was priced at $7.66, while another was shown an ad for a $7.22 scoop. The lower price is the better deal, of course, but…shoppers who were offered the scoop at the higher price of $7.66 were more likely to buy it than those offered the price of $7.22 — but only if they’d been asked to say the price aloud.
Isn’t it interesting that $7.66 ends with the ‘i’ sound associated with smallness and $7.22 ends with the ‘uw’ sound associated with bigness? We’ve known for sometime that colors, facial expressions, and ‘subliminals’ influence our purchasing decisions. But the fact that short and long vowels had a connection to the PayPal process? This was news to me. As a phonetician, here’s my advice: Read the price, silently, before hitting ‘submit’.
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Oct 15, Micheal's List of English Learning Aids
Learning Pronunciation has never been easier!
Hello, I have found information that may be valuable for all English language learners. I am a former English as a Foreign Language teacher. I have done Sent with Reeder
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Jump Start Your Creativity: 10 Steps to Thinking Outside the Box
How to Develop a British Accent if You Are American - wikiHow
No doubt you've heard the term to "think outside the box". Perhaps you've wondered what that meant in actual fact, or you know what it means but you're so firmly "inside the box" that you don't even notice that you're in the box. This article will attempt to show you some ways to do to escape the box and do some creative new thinking. 
Steps
- Be prepared for a big change. To re-educate yourself and the way you think is almost a "lifestyle" change. Basically, you're re-inventing the wheel and you are the wheel. Indications that it might be time to change your way of thinking include:
- You're in a rut, you know you're in a rut, and no matter what you try, you fall back into the rut.
- You can't come up with a solution to a nagging problem. Finally, someone else does and the answer was an incredibly obvious one; it happens a lot.
- Learn the terms. If you're familiar with the terms, you'll be in a great position to do some research into out-of-the-box thinking. Some of the terminology for modes of "thinking outside of the box" are:
- Reframing
- Lateral thinking
- Process improvements.
- Understand that, for a given problem, some people tend to come up with the more "creative" solutions. The inability to do so does not reflect a person's intelligence.[1] What it does indicate is that people with such solutions are the ones who are more willing, or need, to push themselves out of their comfort zone to get the answers they seek. The principal characteristics for those who think outside of the box are usually:
- A willingness to take new perspectives toward day-to-day work.
- Capable of thinking differently with an open mind, think about the substance of issues, and be receptive to doing things differently.
- Focused on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
- Ready to strive to create value in newer ways.
- Capable of listening to, supporting, nurturing and respecting others when they come up with new ideas.[1]
- The driving force behind a lot of people who consistently think outside of the box is frustration. They don't feel that "enough" is being done, and that the "normal" way of thinking just isn't getting it done.
- Learn what inhibits your ability to change.[2] The following characteristics lessen your ability to make a positive change in your thinking methods:
- Negative attitude.
- Fear of failure, perfectionism.
- Executive stress, or other stress.
- Following rules, hidebound to black and white thinking (not flexible, unable to perceive the value in gray areas).
- Making assumptions – about others, about the world, about the expectations you feel weighing on you, about your own abilities.
- Over-reliance on logic, along with assuming you have an accurate grasp of what is logical.
- Challenge assumptions. Just because it has always been that way, doesn't mean that it has to continue to be that way. In fact, by expecting things to never change, you're setting yourself up for a lot of pain and unhappiness when things – and people – do change around you, without taking you along. Ways to challenge assumptions include:
- Ask questions. Don't ignore your questions; give them free rein.
- Stop jumping to hasty conclusions. Haste makes waste and can leave you in hot water. Reflect over things until the better answer arrives.
- Look at something a different way, literally. Perhaps you've been hammering out a new design for something at work. You've been looking at this design for weeks, always in the same position. Try shifting it. Turn the design upside down, or take it out into the sunshine under the trees, or project it into the ceiling and have all of your co-workers lie in the floor to observe it. You'll be amazed at what a position change can do for assumptions and perspective.
- Break free of dull routine. Doing the same thing, day in and day out, will dull even the smartest person's mind. Find ways of minimizing routine in your life, while still embracing ritual – the two approaches are very different in result. Ritual is about daily or regular activities that center you, keep you well (such as exercise or yoga), and give you a sense of place and identity. Routine is about the things that cause you to fall into a rut, respond without thinking, and that often feel imposed upon you from elsewhere.
- Change it up, occasionally. Do things differently. Instead of photocopying all the documents first thing in the morning, email them around to everyone and tell them the copier's broken. Next morning, email everything again, telling everyone how well yesterday went and that you've decided to do it like this from now on.
- Change your appearance and clothes. Many a rut is given a swift kick when you treat yourself to a new look. It's a start, and a really fun one at that.
- Walk a different way to work, catch a bus instead of driving, bring your lunch in instead of eating out (or vice versa), go home early for a change.
- Brainstorm. Brainstorming can do amazing things to help you think outside-the-box. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Think of vague keywords like "coffee" and follow whatever this leads to next in your mind, and take it as far as you can go; this can lead to interesting ideas. For example: "Coffee" -> "Milk" -> "Spilled" -> "Unspillable milk and coffee container".
- Do brain teasers, puzzles, psychometric tests, etc., and challenge your brain to new ways of doing and seeing things.
- If you hated math, English or science, try it again; this time make yourself do it well. Force your mind to think down different pathways.
- Learn a new language, a new way of keeping inventory, a new way to be a great boss or lover.
- Write poems. Poems can spark your creative thinking.
- Visualize work or home solutions through drawing pictures rather than writing things down.
- Think laterally. It can be really beneficial to learn about how people do it in other walks of life. Whether you're a CEO, an engineer, a stay-at-home mom, or a teacher, there are ways of thinking laterally that can benefit what you're doing.
- Read about processes and solutions in industries different from the one you're working in. Chances are there are some amazing answers for you to uncover and apply to your situation.
- The same goes for cross-disciplinary studies. Instead of staying within your own expertise, branch out and investigate what other disciplines are doing in areas or topics that interest you. There may be some surprising connections worth uncovering and adapting.
- Sit down and talk with others who know nothing about what you're doing but are willing listeners. Explain your situation and challenges and ask for their thoughts on solutions.
- Bring your child to work. There is nothing quite so re-energizing as the fresh, unwearied viewpoint of a child. It's not that your child is cleverer than you; it's just that your child is less worn down, more open to speaking their mind in a forthright manner, and usually unafraid to use what creativity they possess. Why not give your child a look at the situation or problem before you? Ask them what they'd do. And listen to their answer very carefully; take it to heart and use the freshness of perspective they bring to your thinking to help re-energize your outlook.
- Take your vacations. They're not given to you for collecting and wearing around your neck like a martyr's cross. They're given to you so that you can go away and refresh your thinking, your body, your mind, your soul. The refreshed you is worth infinitely more to the company than the worn-out and irritable, frazzled, in-a-rut you. So if you must sell your soul to the company, at least see vacations as benefiting the company as much as you.
Video
Tips
- Explore faiths beyond your own. Try to find the similarities and connections. And aim to accept each for what it is.
- Read something that isn't your usual genre. For example, if you think you hate crime fiction, why not try reading one? You might be pleasantly surprised; even if not, you've challenged your thinking processes. Be sure to read to the end!
- Read biographies to see how other people overcame ruts in their lives. Adapt their thinking solutions to your current situation.
Warnings
- Learning to change your style of thinking is not an easy process, or a quick one. Be patient. Enjoy the journey.
Related wikiHows
- How to Think 'Inside of the Box'
- How to Think Clearly and Logically Under Pressure
- How to Think Before Speaking
- How to Prepare for a Meeting
- How to Prepare a Proposal
- How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci
Sources and Citations
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It's Dictionary Day! How to Properly Use an English Dictionary
How to Develop a British Accent if You Are American - wikiHow
Steps
- Purchase a quality dictionary. If you don't already own a good dictionary, consider purchasing one during sale time. It's also a good idea to upgrade your dictionary every now and then so that you have access to the latest new words that are added to the dictionary every year.
- Consider purchasing specialist dictionaries if they'd be useful in your study or career. Some examples of specialist dictionaries include language dictionaries, technical dictionaries, rhymes, crossword, subject dictionaries (for example, for math, chemistry, biology, horticulture, etc.), illustrated dictionaries (excellent for learning another language or for technical knowledge), slang and idioms, etc.
- Note that many countries have their own native dictionaries that might be more helpful than sourcing a dictionary from just anywhere, such as the Macquarie dictionary in Australia, Oxford dictionary in England, Webster's dictionary in the United States, etc.
- Some schools, universities and workplaces prefer the use of one particular dictionary. This is for reasons of maintain a consistent style and understanding among everyone using them; make sure you use the right one for your assignments, editing, and reports.
- Familiarize yourself with your dictionary. Dictionaries vary in approach. The best way to learn how to use your particular dictionary effectively is to read its introductory section where you'll find out how the entries are arranged. The introductory section of your dictionary will explain important information such as the abbreviations and pronunciation symbols used throughout the entries. There may also be information on pronunciation of words with similar spellings; this can be helpful if you have only heard a word and you're not sure of its spelling. For example, if you hear "not", it might also be "knot" but the "k" is silent, and this list can help you with suggestions.
- Know how to look up a word. When you come across a word you don't recognize or know the meaning of, keep a note of it. When you get around to looking it up, here is the sequence to follow:
- Proceed to the letter of the alphabet that your word begins with. For example, "dog" begins with "d". Don't forget the possible spellings for trickier words, such as "gnome" begins with a "g", or "psychology" begins with a "p", or "knock" begins with a "k", etc.
- Check for the guide words. These are located in the upper corner of each page and give you an indication of how close you are to locating your word, speeding up the process of going through the pages.
- Once close, use the second letter of your word to run down the page and locate your word. For example, if you were looking for the word "futile", "u" is the second letter. Perhaps you will see "furrow/futtock" in the upper left corner of the left page and "futtock plate/gaberlunzie" in the upper right corner of the right page. Now you know that "futile" is going to be located on one of these two pages.
- Scan down the list of entry words moving past "Furry" and "Fuse" and "Fuss". Since the example word begins with "Fut", go past all the "Fur" and all the "Fus" words alphabetically until you reach the "FUT" area of the page. In this example, move right down through "Fut" and "Futhark" and this is at last, where you will find "futile".
- Know how to make the most of your find. Once you've located the word, there are several useful elements that you can discover about the word from the dictionary entry. Read the information given about this entry, and depending on your dictionary, you might find many things:
- A definition of the word.
- One or more pronunciations. Look for a pronunciation key near the beginning of the dictionary to help you interpret the written pronunciation. Learn how to use the stress marks, as these will aid your pronunciation. The stress mark ' is place just prior to the syllable where the stress is placed.[2]
- Capitalization, where relevant.
- Prepositions, such as "in", "on", etc. and their use with the word in question.
- Irregular endings for verbs.
- Synonyms and antonyms. You can use these in your writing, or as further clues towards the word's meaning.
- An etymology, derivation, or history of the word. Even if you don't know Latin or Ancient Greek, you may find that this information helps you to remember or understand the word.
- Examples or citations of how the word is used. Use these to add context to the meaning of the word.
- Derived terms and inflections (I am, you are, etc).
- Phrases or idioms associated with the word, and slang usage. In addition, the dictionary may explain whether a word is formal or informal.
- Plurals of nouns.
- Near neighbor words that might be related, such as "futility".
- Spellings in other English (US English, British English, Australian English, etc.)
- Think about how the information you've found relates to the word as you encountered it. If there are multiple definitions, decide which one matches your source or context for the word and notice how the different definitions are related to one another. In an English dictionary, the most common meaning is usually placed first where there are multiple meanings.
- Try using your new word in a sentence. If it's difficult to spell, write it a few times to help yourself remember it.
- Use your dictionary for other purposes than looking up a word. Many dictionaries come with an array of other useful information. Some of the information that you might find in your dictionary includes:
- Standard letters for jobs, RSVPs, filing complaints, official writing, etc.
- Maps and geographical information.
- Statistics on population.
- Weights, volume and measurements.
- Lists of countries, cities, capitals, etc.
- Flags of countries, states, provinces, regions, etc.
- Lists of famous or historical people.
- Lists of facts.
- Learn how to use an online dictionary. Online dictionaries are easy. Choose a suitable free online dictionary, or a subscription one if your place of work or study subscribes, and simply type in the word you're looking for. The search engine will return the word to you and the definition section should contain most of the elements discussed above. Note that free services may not be as comprehensive as a subscription or book dictionary, so keep this in mind when you're not sure that you've found the right answer.
- Make use of the audio content provided with online dictionaries. This can help considerably when you're unsure how to pronounce the word.
- To use Google to find online definitions, type: "define: futile". The search engine will only look for definitions.
- Have fun using a dictionary. The last step is the most fun – simply browse a dictionary to enlighten yourself about new words now and then. Just open the dictionary up to any page and scan the page for words that are unfamiliar or seem interesting. Pinpoint them, read the definition and try to add the new word to your thinking or talking during the next few days until it becomes a remembered part of your natural vocabulary.
- Play the dictionary game with friends. This consists of getting some friends together and a dictionary. The first player looks up a challenging word and uses it in a sentence. The other players have to guess if the use of the word is accurate or an outright fabrication. If a player guesses correctly, it's their turn next.
Video
Tips
- If you can't seem to locate your word, make sure you're spelling the word correctly. For example, you won't find "isotope" if you're looking in the A section, which you might be tempted to do if, for example, your chemistry teacher speaks with a bit of a southern accent!
- If you're having trouble spelling a word, try the spell-checker in a word processor and see what it suggests.
- Old dictionaries make excellent door stops or hollow books.
- Even though it's easy to check words using an online dictionary, the free ones don't always provide enough information, so it pays to always have a hard copy dictionary on your bookshelf to call upon whenever needed.
- Don't be afraid to study the etymology of a word. Since much of our language is derived from Greek or Latin, you'll often find yourself learning root words from them, but after you have, you'll find that it can be easier to understand words that are new to you simply by looking at the structure of the word.
- Language is defined to a large degree by usage. You can help keep our language alive by using more of it. Try to occasionally use words that are "getting dusty" either in written or verbal communication. English is the closest thing to a universal language on Earth, and it deserves a chance to thrive. Using words like "dude" a little bit less can help to keep our language healthy.
Warnings
- Printed dictionaries may go out of date as the language changes, so check the copyright date of yours. Another way to gauge the currency of a dictionary is to look for relatively new words, such as "chick flick"[3] or "metrosexual"[4].
- Dictionaries vary in content, and some are very specific. Look at the title to find out what you have. If you have a dictionary of rhymes, slang, idioms, synonyms, a foreign language, or a specific interest, such as woodworking terms, seek a more general dictionary.
Things You'll Need
- Dictionary
- Internet access
Related wikiHows
- How to Spell a Difficult Word
- How to Use a Thesaurus
- How to Enrich Your English Language Vocabulary
- How to Choose Between Wikipedia or Classic Encyclopedias
- How to Use Generic Pronouns
- How to Look up a Definition Online
Sources and Citations
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Tips to Learn English Quickly
Accent Reduction - Accent Neutralization
Use these five tips every day to improve your English quickly. English teachers can put these five tips to use on a regular basis to help spice up lessons and make your classes more efficient.
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'I say old boy'
BBC News - Home
Do foreigners love Britain for its sense of fair play? Sent with Reeder
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Congratulations to India for putting on a great Commonwealth Games
India did a fantastic job with the Commonwealth Games. And they had a good medal tally too!
Is a British accent all you need to succeed in the USA
Is a British Accent all you need to suceed in America? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6470095.stm
Need more info about <a href="Learning British Accent">http://www.learningbritishaccent.com">Learning British Accent</a>
Delhi Games put accent on sounding British
Interesting article: British Accent in India - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10805972
Learn to Speak with a British Accent iPhone App now available in India.
Alison Pitman Voiceover Services has teamed up with US software developers Zepho Inc to bring to market the first British Accent training app available to download on the iPhone and iPad. The new app can currently be downloaded from the iTunes app store for $4.99 / £2.99.
As India has become a major hub in the business process outsourcing industry, more and more Indian employees are looking to develop an RP British accent to improve their employability within these companies. Many staff members are encouraged to develop a British accent as it’s seen to be helpful when communicating with their overseas customers and colleagues. Often in-house training is undertaken in reducing a native accent and developing a speaking voice with a more Received Pronunciation British accent. Now employees have a new tool to help with their training – the British Accent app!
The training material covers the different sounds of the consonants and vowels found in the Received Pronunciation British accent. The course has been designed for people looking to develop a British accent either for work or pleasure purposes. Whether they work in an environment that requires a clear easily understood accent or perhaps their latest role in an amateur dramatics society requires a British accent - than this new App could be for them!
Frustrated learners of the British accent and those who would like to speak with a clear RP voice can find help with this new iPhone app. 15 different Vowel Sounds and 16 different Consonant Sounds are covered during the presentation. By learning how to pronounce each of these individual sounds correctly this will be able to improve their spoken English immediately. Further lessons are being added to the course to include more vocabulary practice for learners.
Alison Pitman is a UK based professional voiceover artist who provides voiceover recordings for clients worldwide. From her home studio in Bristol, she not only records voiceovers for TV and Radio but she also provides professional audio recordings for large and small businesses throughout the world. “ Most people just think voiceover artists record radio commercials or narration’s for TV documentaries, but more of my work comes from helping the everyday companies with the audio needs. Whether its recording their voicemail messages, or providing a narration for their Sales power-point presentation, more businesses are looking for a professional sound to match their professional business image.” Says Alison. “More and more companies are looking to outsource their training and elearning materials, and voiceovers are an important component to a successful presentation. Many companies choose my voice because of its native RP British accent, which I hope is a perfect choice for a clear, easily understandable voiceover!”
“Now it’s never been easier to develop a British accent on the go. For those whose job involves communicating in the English language will find their confidence boosted as they learn to speak in a clear, understandable accent. Business colleagues, customers and clients will appreciate this new clear speaking voice. Students will feel more confident communicating with clients over the phone and face to face. Confident speakers inspire trust with their customers, winning more business and impressing colleagues and managers.
For a small investment of £2.99, this App could really reap rewards for any career and job prospects.
Even if you don’t have an iPhone or iPad, you can still access these lessons on your own PC or Mp3 player. Visit the learningbritishaccent website for further information.
British Accent Squidoo Page
Learning British Accent Squidoo Page: http://www.squidoo.com/learning-british-accent
Marketing Vocab audio
Here's another audioboo from the Marketing Vocab series - hope it help with your British Accent training
Online British Accent Video presentations
Would you find some online British Accent video presentations helpful?
Online British Accent Video presentations
Would you find some online British Accent video presentations helpful?
First Post on Posterous
I'm delighted to have joined the Posterous network.
Heres my first post: Marketing Vocab - British Accent - audioboo
Alison Pitman
Voiceover Artist
www.thephonevoice.com
www.britishfemalevoiceover.com
Email: alison@thephonevoice.com
Something for the weekend…
Its the end of the week and you’ve got the whole weekend to practice your British (RP) Accent training. If you’ve enjoyed the audioboos this week than why not check out my other British Accent presentations.
Go to www.learningbritishaccent.com for more British accent training materials.
Happy accent training!
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