Pronouncing the ă/æ sound (bat vs. but)
0
I am a middle aged adult with a non-English background and my English is proficient. I am unable to create the 'a' sound in words like bat or cat. My pronoucitation makes them sound like but and cut.
How can I learn to say them correctly?
pronunciation
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
add a comment |
0
I am a middle aged adult with a non-English background and my English is proficient. I am unable to create the 'a' sound in words like bat or cat. My pronoucitation makes them sound like but and cut.
How can I learn to say them correctly?
pronunciation
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
Hmm. Good question; I don't have an answer because I'm a native speaker. I will say that most people simply won't notice, or if they notice, care, about such changes in pronunciation. But if it bugs you, it bugs you. Maybe the best way is to google some resources on "how to learn English as an X speaker"; you don't need the "learn English" part anymore, but surely they'll cover common stumbling blocks for people of your language, and those will include common pronunciation difficulties. Beyond that, all I can recommend is "practice".
– Dan Bron
Dec 21 at 12:44
If you can give some more information about your linguistic background and about the variety of English that you would like to use, that would make it easier for people to give you more targeted advice. The ranges of typical pronunciations for the "short a" and "short u" sounds vary somewhat between American English, British English and Australian English.
– sumelic
Dec 21 at 12:46
I suggest you find someone reasonably knowledgeable to be a speech coach. The key to pronouncing that "a" sound is the position/shape of your mouth -- you need to open the mouth a little farther and thrust your jaw forward slightly.
– Hot Licks
Dec 21 at 12:48
add a comment |
0
0
0
1
I am a middle aged adult with a non-English background and my English is proficient. I am unable to create the 'a' sound in words like bat or cat. My pronoucitation makes them sound like but and cut.
How can I learn to say them correctly?
pronunciation
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
I am a middle aged adult with a non-English background and my English is proficient. I am unable to create the 'a' sound in words like bat or cat. My pronoucitation makes them sound like but and cut.
How can I learn to say them correctly?
pronunciation
pronunciation
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
edited Dec 21 at 12:50
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
asked Dec 21 at 12:40
tymtam
1085
1085
Hmm. Good question; I don't have an answer because I'm a native speaker. I will say that most people simply won't notice, or if they notice, care, about such changes in pronunciation. But if it bugs you, it bugs you. Maybe the best way is to google some resources on "how to learn English as an X speaker"; you don't need the "learn English" part anymore, but surely they'll cover common stumbling blocks for people of your language, and those will include common pronunciation difficulties. Beyond that, all I can recommend is "practice".
– Dan Bron
Dec 21 at 12:44
If you can give some more information about your linguistic background and about the variety of English that you would like to use, that would make it easier for people to give you more targeted advice. The ranges of typical pronunciations for the "short a" and "short u" sounds vary somewhat between American English, British English and Australian English.
– sumelic
Dec 21 at 12:46
I suggest you find someone reasonably knowledgeable to be a speech coach. The key to pronouncing that "a" sound is the position/shape of your mouth -- you need to open the mouth a little farther and thrust your jaw forward slightly.
– Hot Licks
Dec 21 at 12:48
add a comment |
Hmm. Good question; I don't have an answer because I'm a native speaker. I will say that most people simply won't notice, or if they notice, care, about such changes in pronunciation. But if it bugs you, it bugs you. Maybe the best way is to google some resources on "how to learn English as an X speaker"; you don't need the "learn English" part anymore, but surely they'll cover common stumbling blocks for people of your language, and those will include common pronunciation difficulties. Beyond that, all I can recommend is "practice".
– Dan Bron
Dec 21 at 12:44
If you can give some more information about your linguistic background and about the variety of English that you would like to use, that would make it easier for people to give you more targeted advice. The ranges of typical pronunciations for the "short a" and "short u" sounds vary somewhat between American English, British English and Australian English.
– sumelic
Dec 21 at 12:46
I suggest you find someone reasonably knowledgeable to be a speech coach. The key to pronouncing that "a" sound is the position/shape of your mouth -- you need to open the mouth a little farther and thrust your jaw forward slightly.
– Hot Licks
Dec 21 at 12:48
Hmm. Good question; I don't have an answer because I'm a native speaker. I will say that most people simply won't notice, or if they notice, care, about such changes in pronunciation. But if it bugs you, it bugs you. Maybe the best way is to google some resources on "how to learn English as an X speaker"; you don't need the "learn English" part anymore, but surely they'll cover common stumbling blocks for people of your language, and those will include common pronunciation difficulties. Beyond that, all I can recommend is "practice".
– Dan Bron
Dec 21 at 12:44
Hmm. Good question; I don't have an answer because I'm a native speaker. I will say that most people simply won't notice, or if they notice, care, about such changes in pronunciation. But if it bugs you, it bugs you. Maybe the best way is to google some resources on "how to learn English as an X speaker"; you don't need the "learn English" part anymore, but surely they'll cover common stumbling blocks for people of your language, and those will include common pronunciation difficulties. Beyond that, all I can recommend is "practice".
– Dan Bron
Dec 21 at 12:44
If you can give some more information about your linguistic background and about the variety of English that you would like to use, that would make it easier for people to give you more targeted advice. The ranges of typical pronunciations for the "short a" and "short u" sounds vary somewhat between American English, British English and Australian English.
– sumelic
Dec 21 at 12:46
If you can give some more information about your linguistic background and about the variety of English that you would like to use, that would make it easier for people to give you more targeted advice. The ranges of typical pronunciations for the "short a" and "short u" sounds vary somewhat between American English, British English and Australian English.
– sumelic
Dec 21 at 12:46
I suggest you find someone reasonably knowledgeable to be a speech coach. The key to pronouncing that "a" sound is the position/shape of your mouth -- you need to open the mouth a little farther and thrust your jaw forward slightly.
– Hot Licks
Dec 21 at 12:48
I suggest you find someone reasonably knowledgeable to be a speech coach. The key to pronouncing that "a" sound is the position/shape of your mouth -- you need to open the mouth a little farther and thrust your jaw forward slightly.
– Hot Licks
Dec 21 at 12:48
add a comment |
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Hmm. Good question; I don't have an answer because I'm a native speaker. I will say that most people simply won't notice, or if they notice, care, about such changes in pronunciation. But if it bugs you, it bugs you. Maybe the best way is to google some resources on "how to learn English as an X speaker"; you don't need the "learn English" part anymore, but surely they'll cover common stumbling blocks for people of your language, and those will include common pronunciation difficulties. Beyond that, all I can recommend is "practice".
– Dan Bron
Dec 21 at 12:44
If you can give some more information about your linguistic background and about the variety of English that you would like to use, that would make it easier for people to give you more targeted advice. The ranges of typical pronunciations for the "short a" and "short u" sounds vary somewhat between American English, British English and Australian English.
– sumelic
Dec 21 at 12:46
I suggest you find someone reasonably knowledgeable to be a speech coach. The key to pronouncing that "a" sound is the position/shape of your mouth -- you need to open the mouth a little farther and thrust your jaw forward slightly.
– Hot Licks
Dec 21 at 12:48