Understanding Americans

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Understanding Americans

• By
• Kevin Oskovich, M.A. TESOL

(Teacher of English to Speakers of Other
Languages)
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How do Americans say it?

• I want to go to Manhattan.
• I have got to get a better car.
• Im going to give him a call.
• What do you want to do?
• What are you doing?
• Do you want to see a movie?
• Are you busy? Uh-uh, Im just reading a book.

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American Pronunciation part II
To understand Americans when listening, and to
improve your pronunciation beyond the individual
sounds of English, you will also need to
understand suprasegmentals

• stress i.e. I present a present.
• intonation i.e. Really? Really!!!
• rhythm i.e. Does eat oats and mares eat oats,
• reduction i.e. What do you want to do?
• and variation i.e. You all want to get a bite
  to eat?
• and dont forget about functions, idioms, usage,
  etc.

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Lets Give Jim Carrey a Listen!

• stress This bug needs killing real bad!
• intonation - "Like the new dress?" "Whatever
  takes the focus off your head!
• rhythm - "I'm Jim Carrey. I'll do anything for a
  laugh! I need attention 24 hours a day!"
• reduction - "P-A-R-T... why? Because I gotta!!"
• "This is gonna cost an itsy bitsy more!"
• "Hey! Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the
  world?"
• "See ya!"
• variation - "Cherri, I am Toni frrom Pariss."
  "That's Paris, Toni." "Oh, I am... how you
  say... verry sorryss."

Photo and sound bytes courtesy of www.jimcarreyon
line.com
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Putting It All Together Native Listening
Practice
http//www.spokenamericanenglish.com/
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Questions Comments
Thanks!