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:

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.

credit:evilenglish.net

6. /dəʊm ˈbaɪt ðə ˈhæn ðət ⎥ ˈlʊks ˈdɜːti/

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.

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/

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.

credit: www.quotes.in

4. /ˈnevər ʌndərˈestɪmeɪt ðə ˈpaər əv ⎥ ˈtɜːmaɪts/
4. /ˈnevər ʌndərˈestɪmeɪt ðə ˈpaər əv ə ˈwʊmən/

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.

credit: gl30.deviantart.com

3. /ɪts ˈɔːwəz ˈdɑːkəst bɪfɔː ⎥ ˈdeɪlaɪt ˈseɪvɪŋ ˈtaɪm/
3. /ɪts ˈɔːwəz ˈdɑːkəst bɪfɔː ðə ˈdɔːn/

Pun for fun - #3

(The first 'pun for fun' is to be found here, the second here.)

3. /ɪf ə ˈʤʌʤ ˈlʌvz ðə ˈsaʊnd əv ɪz ˈəʊn ˈvɔɪs ⎥ ɪkˈspekt ə ˈlɒŋ ˈsentəns/

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.

credit: furnituretoday.com

2. /ˈstraɪk waɪl ðə ⎥ ˈbʌgz ˈkləʊs/
2. /ˈstraɪk waɪl ði ˈaənz ˈhɒt/

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/

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."