Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
26. /ˈbetə ˈleɪt ðn ⎥ ˈpregnənt/
Next I'm going to add the correct version (or one of the correct ones) of each proverb.
Tuesday, 10 April 2018
Friday, 6 April 2018
Friday, 30 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #25
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
25. /ə ˈbɜːd ɪn ðə ˈhændz ⎥ ˈgəʊɪŋ tə ˈpuːp ɒn ju/
 |
| credit: http://idioms1-c1.blogspot.co.uk |
25. /ə ˈbɜːd ɪn ðə ˈhændz ⎥ ˈgəʊɪŋ tə ˈpuːp ɒn ju/
Wednesday, 28 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #24
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
24. /wen ðə ˈblaɪnd ˈliːd ðə ˈblaɪnd ⎥ ˈget aʊt əv ðə ˈweɪ/
 |
| credit: modern-proverbs.blogspot.co.uk |
24. /wen ðə ˈblaɪnd ˈliːd ðə ˈblaɪnd ⎥ ˈget aʊt əv ðə ˈweɪ/
Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #23
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
23. /ju ˈget ˈaʊt əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˈəʊni wɒt ju ⎥ ˈsiː ɪn ðə ˈpɪkʧə ɒn ðə ˈbɒks/
23. /ju ˈget ˈaʊt əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ ˈəʊni wɒt ju ⎥ ˈsiː ɪn ðə ˈpɪkʧə ɒn ðə ˈbɒks/
Monday, 26 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #22
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
22. /ɪf ət ˈfɜːst ju ˈdəʊnt səkˈsiːd ⎥ ˈget ˈnjuː ˈbætriz/
22. /ɪf ət ˈfɜːst ju ˈdəʊnt səkˈsiːd ⎥ ˈget ˈnjuː ˈbætriz/
Sunday, 25 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #21
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
21. /ˈʧɪldrən ʃəbi ˈsiːn əˈnɒt ⎥ ˈspæŋkt ɔː ˈgraʊndɪd/
 |
| credit: fundacioncadah.org |
21. /ˈʧɪldrən ʃəbi ˈsiːn əˈnɒt ⎥ ˈspæŋkt ɔː ˈgraʊndɪd/
Friday, 23 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #20
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
20. /ðərə ˈnʌn sə ˈblaɪnd əz ⎥ ˈstiːvi ˈwʌndə/
20. /ðərə ˈnʌn sə ˈblaɪnd əz ⎥ ˈstiːvi ˈwʌndə/
Wednesday, 21 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #19
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
19. /ˈlɑːf ən ðə ˈhəʊl ˈwɜːld ˈlɑːfs ˈwɪð ˈjuː ˈkraɪ ən ⎥ ju ˈhæf tə ˈbləʊ jə ˈnəʊz/
19. /ˈlɑːf ən ðə ˈhəʊl ˈwɜːld ˈlɑːfs ˈwɪð ˈjuː ˈkraɪ ən ⎥ ju ˈhæf tə ˈbləʊ jə ˈnəʊz/
Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #18
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
18. /ˈdəʊm ˈpʊt ˈɒf tɪl təˈmɒrəʊ wɒt ⎥ jə ˈpʊt ˈɒn tə ˈgəʊ tə ˈbed/
 |
| credit: midgardediting.com |
18. /ˈdəʊm ˈpʊt ˈɒf tɪl təˈmɒrəʊ wɒt ⎥ jə ˈpʊt ˈɒn tə ˈgəʊ tə ˈbed/
Monday, 19 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #17
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
17. /ˈtuːz ˈkʌmpəni ˈθriːz ⎥ mʌskəˈtɪəz/
 |
| credit: digitaldatingstories.wordpress.com |
17. /ˈtuːz ˈkʌmpəni ˈθriːz ⎥ mʌskəˈtɪəz/
Sunday, 18 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #16
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
16. /ə ˈpeni ˈseɪvd ɪz ⎥ ˈnɒt ˈmʌʧ/
 |
| credit: sevastopol.su |
Saturday, 17 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #15
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
15. /ˈhæpi ðə ˈbraɪd u ⎥ ˈgets ˈɔːl ðə ˈpreznts/
 |
| credit: Ian Currie |
Friday, 16 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #14
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
14. /weə ðəz ˈsməʊk ðəz ⎥ pəˈluːʃn/
 |
| credit: learningenglishonmyown |
14. /weə ðəz ˈsməʊk ðəz ⎥ pəˈluːʃn/
Thursday, 15 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #13
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
13. /ən ˈaɪdl ˈmaɪndz ⎥ ðə ˈbest ˈweɪ tə rɪˈlæks/
13. /ən ˈaɪdl ˈmaɪndz ⎥ ðə ˈbest ˈweɪ tə rɪˈlæks/
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #12
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
12. /ðə ˈpenz ˈmaɪtiə ðən ðə ⎥ ˈpɪgz/
 |
| credit: www.grammar.zone |
12. /ðə ˈpenz ˈmaɪtiə ðən ðə ⎥ ˈpɪgz/
Tuesday, 13 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #11
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
11. /ˈlʌv ˈɔːl ˈtrʌst ⎥ ˈmiː/
11. /ˈlʌv ˈɔːl ˈtrʌst ⎥ ˈmiː/
Monday, 12 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #10
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
10. /ɪf ju ˈlaɪ ˈdaʊn wɪð ˈdɒgz jul ⎥ ˈstɪŋk ɪnə ˈmɔːnɪŋ/
 |
| credit: pinkelephantroom.com |
10. /ɪf ju ˈlaɪ ˈdaʊn wɪð ˈdɒgz jul ⎥ ˈstɪŋk ɪnə ˈmɔːnɪŋ/
Friday, 9 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #9
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
9. /ju ˈkɑːn ˈtiːʧ ən ˈəʊld ˈdɒg ˈnjuː ⎥ ˈmæθs/
 |
| credit: www.lhpaws.com |
9. /ju ˈkɑːn ˈtiːʧ ən ˈəʊld ˈdɒg ˈnjuː ⎥ ˈmæθs/
Thursday, 8 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #8
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
8. /ə ˈmɪs ɪz əz ˈgʊd əz ə ⎥ ˈmɪstə/
 |
| credit: ?? |
8. /ə ˈmɪs ɪz əz ˈgʊd əz ə ⎥ ˈmɪstə/
Tuesday, 6 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #7
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
7. /ˈnəʊ ˈnjuːz ɪz ⎥ ɪmˈpɒsɪbl/
 |
| credit: greymadder.net |
7. /ˈnəʊ ˈnjuːz ɪz ⎥ ɪmˈpɒsɪbl/
Monday, 5 March 2018
Accent and Communication Breakdown
Oxford House Language School in Barcelona describes five tools to perfect one's pronunciation. In the introduction the anonymous writer opines:
- the dental fricatives by /s, z/ or by
- d/;
replace
- /v/ by /w/
- word-final voiced obstruents by their voiceless counterparts;
use
- clear l throughout
etc.
So, yes, a bad pronunciation may lead to incomprehensible speech, but it may also distract the listener.
Pronunciation only becomes a problem when it causes a breakdown in communication between you and the people you’re talking with. Perfecting your English pronunciation is about making yourself understood.Well, I don't quite agree because incomprensibility is not the only problem; aesthetics is another one. If you as a non-native speaker aim high, you want your accent to sound pleasant; the listener should not be distracted from the contents because you frequently replace
- the dental fricatives by /s, z/ or by
- d/;
replace
- /v/ by /w/
- word-final voiced obstruents by their voiceless counterparts;
use
- clear l throughout
etc.
So, yes, a bad pronunciation may lead to incomprehensible speech, but it may also distract the listener.
Proverbs transcribed - #6
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
6. /dəʊm ˈbaɪt ðə ˈhæn ðət ⎥ ˈlʊks ˈdɜːti/
 |
| credit:evilenglish.net |
6. /dəʊm ˈbaɪt ðə ˈhæn ðət ⎥ ˈlʊks ˈdɜːti/
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #5
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
5. /ju kən ˈliːd ə ˈhɔːs tə ˈwɔːtə bət ⎥ ˈhaʊ/
5. /ju kən ˈliːd ə ˈhɔːs tə ˈwɔːtə bətʃu ˈkɑːnt ˈmeɪk ɪt ˈdrɪŋk/
 |
| credit: Mark Ewbie |
5. /ju kən ˈliːd ə ˈhɔːs tə ˈwɔːtə bət ⎥ ˈhaʊ/
5. /ju kən ˈliːd ə ˈhɔːs tə ˈwɔːtə bətʃu ˈkɑːnt ˈmeɪk ɪt ˈdrɪŋk/
Saturday, 3 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #4
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
4. /ˈnevər ʌndərˈestɪmeɪt ðə ˈpaər əv ⎥ ˈtɜːmaɪts/
4. /ˈnevər ʌndərˈestɪmeɪt ðə ˈpaər əv ə ˈwʊmən/
 |
| credit: www.quotes.in |
4. /ˈnevər ʌndərˈestɪmeɪt ðə ˈpaər əv ⎥ ˈtɜːmaɪts/
4. /ˈnevər ʌndərˈestɪmeɪt ðə ˈpaər əv ə ˈwʊmən/
Friday, 2 March 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #3
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
3. /ɪts ˈɔːwəz ˈdɑːkəst bɪfɔː ⎥ ˈdeɪlaɪt ˈseɪvɪŋ ˈtaɪm/
3. /ɪts ˈɔːwəz ˈdɑːkəst bɪfɔː ðə ˈdɔːn/
 |
| credit: gl30.deviantart.com |
3. /ɪts ˈɔːwəz ˈdɑːkəst bɪfɔː ðə ˈdɔːn/
Pun for fun - #3
Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #2
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of
several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you
to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version).
The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
2. /ˈstraɪk waɪl ðə ⎥ ˈbʌgz ˈkləʊs/
2. /ˈstraɪk waɪl ði ˈaənz ˈhɒt/
 |
| credit: furnituretoday.com |
2. /ˈstraɪk waɪl ði ˈaənz ˈhɒt/
Monday, 26 February 2018
Proverbs transcribed - #1
Twenty-six English first-graders were presented with the first half of several proverbs and were asked to provide the second half. I'd like you to come up with the correct one (enjoy the children's version). The vertical line indicates the end of the first half.
1. /ˈdəʊn ˈʧeɪnʒ ˈhɔːsɪz ⎥ ʌnˈtɪl ðeɪ ˈstɒp ˈrʌnɪŋ/
2. /ˈdəʊn ˈʧeɪnʒ ˈhɔːsɪz ɪn mɪdˈstriːm/
1. /ˈdəʊn ˈʧeɪnʒ ˈhɔːsɪz ⎥ ʌnˈtɪl ðeɪ ˈstɒp ˈrʌnɪŋ/
2. /ˈdəʊn ˈʧeɪnʒ ˈhɔːsɪz ɪn mɪdˈstriːm/
Wednesday, 7 February 2018
Trivia no. 2
Today my students were asked to pronounce several sentences. One student produced this nice variant of a sentence (but don't tell this to any animal rights organisation):
"Try not to breathe through your mouse."
"Try not to breathe through your mouse."
Sunday, 4 February 2018
Is it an orange or an orange?
Here's A:
And B:
Tuesday, 30 January 2018
Trivia no. 1
While I was watching TV last night, the word 'flosser' (the film was about whether one should use dental floss or interdental brushes) reminded me of a series I had watched many years ago because flosser rhymes with tosser. Here's one of the sentences uttered by the main character in that series, a sentence which stands for deep thinking. I'm sure some of you will know which series I'm referring to.
/ˈtjuːnɪŋ jɔː tiː ˈviːz laɪk ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈlʌv tu ə ˈbjuːtəfl̩ ˈwʊmən || ˈfɜːst ju ˈhæf tə ˈfaɪn nə ˈraɪp ˈbʌtn̩ | ən ˈnen ju ˈhæf tə ˈfɪdl̩ wɪð ɪt | ʌnˈtɪl ju ˈget ə ˈdiːsn̩t rɪˈsepʃn̩/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)