Voice & Accent Neutralization

What we will learn

Consonant Sounds
Vowel Sounds
Intonation

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Some startling facts:

There are 26 letters in the English Alphabets
However there are 44 sounds
24

Consonant Sounds

20

Vowel Sounds (12 vowels & 8 Diphthongs)

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Factors that affect Pronunciation and intonation

are:
Regional Influence/Mother Tongue Influence
Speech Pattern
Personality
Family & Friends factor

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Regional Influence/Mother Tongue Influence:

Very/wary/vary
HRYech HR
Friend:Farend
The snacks are in
the hall
Thirty:Thiraty

There/dare
Matter/Mutter
want/wont
The snakes are in the
hole

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation
English is tough stuff
Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation
Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.
But be careful how you speak:
Say break and steak, but bleak and streak;
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation
What is good English pronunciation?
There are three levels of English pronunciation:
Level 1: People often don't understand what you want to say.
You use the wrong sounds in English words.
Level 2: People understand what you want to say, but it is
unpleasant to listen to you.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation
Level 3: People understand you, and your English is
pleasant to listen to.
Level 3 will be called good pronunciation.
Notice that good pronunciation is not "perfect American
or British accent". You don't have to sound like the Queen
of England or the President of the United States of
America.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation
Why not? Because there are many regional kinds of English. In
England, people from Newcastle speak English differently from people
in London. In America, people from New York City, California, and
Texas each have their own pronunciation. So it is no problem if you
have your own accent.
But our accent must be close to the standards (British English). What
does it mean? Turn on your TV and watch channels like BBC. You will
hear many different people (news anchors, reporters, etc.)

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation Tips
These English pronunciation tips will help you :
Tip 1
Do not confuse pronunciation of words with their spelling! For
example, "threw" and "through", although spelled differently, are
pronounced the same. Also, identical letters or letter clusters in words
do not always produce the same sound. For example, the "ough" in
"though" and "through" represents a different sound in each word.
Learn to practice what you hear, not what you see.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation Tips
Tip 2
Imagine a sound in your mind before you say it. Try to visualize the
positioning of your mouth and face. Think about how you are going to
make the sound.
Tip 3
The English language has many different dialects, and words can be
pronounced differently. It is important, however, that you pronounce
words clearly to ensure effective communication.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation Glossary
These are some of the words used to talk about pronunciation.
Air flow
Aspiration
Auditory
Clusters (blended sounds)
Curl

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation Glossary
Flatten
Glide / Slide
Hard palate
Intonation
Lengthen sound

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation Glossary
Lips spread
Lower
Pitch
Pressed lips
Protruded lips

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation Glossary
Protruded lips
Roof
Round lips
Shorten sound
Soft palate
Tap

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation Glossary
Tooth ridge
Top of mouth / Roof of mouth
Unvoiced (voiceless)
Upper
Visual
Voiced

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Pronunciation
The mechanism of speech involves production and
articulation of the sounds produced.
Consonant and vowel sounds are an integral part of English
speech
Consonant sounds are produced by a blockage or obstruction
to the exhaled air.
Vowel sounds are produced without any obstruction to the
exhaled air.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Consonant Sounds
Created by blocking the outgoing breath.
Grouped in families classified according to the obstruction.
Clarity in speech depends on the way consonants are
pronounced.
To pronounce consonants clearly, you need to identify the
obstruction.
Consonant sounds in different languages differ in quality.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Consonant sounds are divided into Voiced and Unvoiced

sounds.
Voiced sounds create a resonant sound in the throat.
Unvoiced sounds are aspirated sounds.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Consonant sounds
B, d, f g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w, y, z,,Dj, Th
Th, Zh, Sh, Ch, ng

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Unvoiced

Voiced

CH
S
SH
K
T

J (Dj)
Z
ZH
G
D

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Unvoiced
TH (Thanks)
F
P

Voiced
TH (That)
V
B
W
M
N
L
R
H
NG
Y

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Unvoiced Sounds

Voiced Sounds

/p/ path
/t/ time
/k/ came
/f/ fan
/th/ think
/s/ price
/sh/shoe
/ch/chin

/b/ bath
/d/ dime
/g/game
/v/ van
/th/them
z/prize
/zh/usual
/dj/gin

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The P sound
This is an unvoiced aspirated sound. It is pronounced like ph
with distinct breath coming out.
Example:
Problem Past Promise-

Phraablem
Phaest
Phraamis

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The P sound
(Practice Exercise)
Peter had a problem with his project
Pickles are more expensive than peas.
My parents made the payment for Patricias picnic.
Politicians are publicizing the polished policemens work.
The patient ran in panic for no particular reason

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The K sound
This is an aspirated sound. It has to be pronounced like kh
with a puff of air thrown out:
Examples:
ColorContributeCustomer-

Khalar
Khantribute
Khustomer

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Practice Exercise (emphasize on k sound)

I was coming back home after my coaching classes. On my
way I saw a cute girl clinging and cringing on the branch of a
tree. She was crying at the top of her voice. I called out for her
and asked her to calm down. She requested me to help her
come down the tree. I feared that my clothes will get soiled.
But I somehow gathered the courage to climb the tree. Just
when I was a little short of clutching her arm, my leg slipped
and I came
crashing down the road. The cream color of my collar became
black and I got a cut on my right knee. I quickly contained my
anxiety and made quick steps towards the cocoon of my home.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Voiced TH Sound
This sound is created by placing the tongue behind your teeth
touching the upper palate of your mouth.
The voiced th usually occurs in function words or pronouns
and words that end with the.
Examples:
This
That
These
Breathe
Teethe
Bathe
FatherBrother
Mother

The They
Sheathe

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Unvoiced TH Sound
The unvoiced TH sound is created by placing your tongue
between your lips and releasing the air through the slit.
The unvoiced TH sound usually occurs in content words
Examples:
Thud
Both

Something
South

With
North

Thousand
Thank

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Exercise:
Practice these words:
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Eighth
Eleventh
Twelfth
Thirteenth
Twentieth

Without
Author
Nothing
Thirsty
Theme
Month
Birthday
Through

Theatre
Thought
Thursday
Three
Thelma
Dorothy
Elizabeth
Samantha

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The V Sound
This is a voiced sound. To produce the v sound allow your
upper teeth to rest on your lower lip and push the sound
through the slit. Bite the lower lip and feel the vibration.
Examples:
Verify, Discover, Voice

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Practice Exercise
Read these words with the correct v sound.
Valid
Victim
Video
Vote
Vinegar
Evoke

Divide
Heavy
Save
Valentine
Vast
Arrive

Above
Love
Leave
Festival
Virtue
Victor

Invest
Velocity
Vegetables
Vanessa
Vice
Visit

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The W sound
This is a voiced sound. To produce the w sound, make your
lips rounded and the tongue drawn back as in the position of
u. Your lips should form a soft circle.
Examples:
Work
Wedding
Wednesday

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Practice Exercise
Read out these words with the correct w sound.
Twenty
One
Water
Walnut
Weave
Wash
Weight

Wish
Winter
Wave
Wine
Wander
Wane
Wise

Sandwich
Weather
Wallet
Weed
Wonder
Weep
Railway

Sweet
Wait
Watch
Weigh
Walk
Win
Swim

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

How will you pronounce these words?

Very
Verse
Wheel
West
Vie
While

Wary
Worse
Veal
Vest
Whale
Vile

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The Ch sound
This is an unvoiced aspirated sound:
Church
Cherish
Chant
Chamber

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The Ch sound
Practice Exercise
Charlie chose the chilly chicken
Chitra chanced to sit on the Chiming chair.
Cherry cheered the charming champion.
Check the cheese before you eat.
Channel of the chimney was charred.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The dj Sound
This is a voiced sound
Gin
Ginger
Practice Exercise:
Gin and tonic water is the gist for success for gigantic
parties.
Gillette is the brand of a shaving gadget
Gauge the height of the hill gingerly.
Fit the gauge gently.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The sh sound
This is a voiced sound. Produce the sh sound by pursing
your lips in an oval shape resting your upper teeth straight
on your lower teeth and blowing the air through the slit
between the teeth.

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The sh sound
Shell
She
Shoot
English

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The sh sound
Practice Exercise:
Chef, Champagne
Musician ,Ancient
Tension, Pension
Russia, Expression
Sanction, Section

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The S Sound
The S sound is a voiced sound produced by placing the
tongue towards the upper ridge of your teeth and
passing the air through the slit
Swim
State
Start

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The S Sound
Practice Exercise
Sally
Sells
Station
Straight

Silly
Straws
Sandy
Stammer

Smoke
Subway
Study
String

Sam
Street
Strong

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The Zh sound

This sound is produced in the same ways as sh. The only

difference is that of a strong vibration in the throat:
Pleasure
Seizure

Measure
Leisure

Treasure
Azure

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The Z sound
This is a voiced sound. It is produced by placing your
tongue between the upper ridge of your teeth and gives a
buzzing effect:
Zebra, Zeal, Zoo, Zip, Zest

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

The Z sound
Practice Exercise:
Zulu
Blaze
Maze
Ease
Lizard
Zoology

Amaze
Cozy
Glaze
Faze
Jazzy
Prize

Graze
Doze
Praise
Freeze
Lazy
Booze

Crazy
Accuse
Daze
Buzz
Busy
Maize

Introduction to Consonant and Vowel Sounds

Managing Clusters
/sp/
/st/
/str/
/sts/
/ss/
/tr/
/dr/
/kr/

Splash
Style
Straight
Lasts
Students strike
Train
Drive
Cross

Vowel Sounds

Cecily Berry Exercise

OOT
OOD
OON
OOB
OOP
OOM
OOG

OHT AWT AHT AYT EET

OHD AWD AHD AYD EED
OHN AWN AHN AYN EEN
OHB AWB AHB AYB EEB
OHP AWP AHP AYP EEP
OHM AWM AHM AYM EEM
OHG AWG AHG AYG EEG

EHT
EHD
EHN
EHB
EHP
EHM
EHG

Vowel Sounds

Cecily Berry Exercise (continued)

OOF OHF AWF AHF AYF EEF
OOV OHV AWV AHV AYV EEV
OOS OHS AWS AHS AYS EES
OOZ OHZ AWZ AHZ AYZ EEZ
OOTH OHTH AWTH AHTH AYTH

EHF
EHV
EHS
EHZ
EETH EHTH

Vowel Sounds

Vowels are sound carriers.

A diphthong is a combination of two vowel sounds

Vowel Sounds

English Vowel Sounds

a

20
Pure Vowels
12

Diphthongs
8

Vowel Sounds

Vowel Sounds
Vowel sounds can be broadly categorized
into:
Long Vowels
Short Vowels
Diphthongs

Vowel Sounds

Diphthongs:
[a] as in house
[a] as in kite
[e] as in same
[ju] as in few
[] as in join
[] as in fear
[] as in hair
[] as in poor

Vowel Sounds

Some Commonly Mispronounced Words

Hotel
Industry
Decade

Component
Engineer
Chaos

Petrol
Cassette
Development

Intonation

What is intonation
Rise and fall in pitch is intonation
It can also be defined as Speech Music

Intonation

Intonation is the rise and fall in pitch . It

conveys personal intentions and emotions
such as surprise, anxiety, excitement.
Pitch is the number of vibrations per
second.
Changes in pitch determine the TONE
of speech.

Intonation

Let us look at examples:

1. I didnt say he stole the money
2. I didnt say he stole the money
3. I didnt say he stole the money
4. I didnt say he stole the money
5. I didnt say he stole the money
6. I didnt say he stole the money
7. I didnt say he stole the money

Intonation

Let us look at the sentences again:

1. I didnt say he stole the money 2. I didnt say he stole the money3. I didnt say he stole the money4. I didnt say he stole the money5. I didnt say he stole the money6. I didnt say he stole the money7. I didnt say he stole the money-

someone else did

thats not true at all
I only suggested it
someone else took it
he may have borrowed
but rather some other
money
He may have taken
jewelry

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
1.
Contrasting perceptions
She learned cooking but never used that skill.
She studied French but did not enjoy it.
Mary speaks Spanish but she teaches Portuguese.
Contrasts are intoned because they denote two opposite
meanings, and therefore require emphasis.

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
2. Opinions

I believe he is intelligent but you may differ from

me

It looks like a gun but it is a dummy.

I feel they are extremely happy about the incident.

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
2.

Opinions

Opinions are stressed since they denote strong perceptions. However,

if there are nouns in the sentence, the nouns get more emphasis than
the verbs.
Example:
Harry believes he is intelligent but you may differ from him.

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
3.

Negations and contractions:

I cant do anything about it

I wont do it for a million bucks
She shouldnt be going out alone
All contractions are not stressed. Only the ones which carry the
essence of negation.

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
4.

Adjective Phrases:
The stress falls on the second word
A beautiful girl
A lovely rose
A delicious meal
A refreshing drink
An amazing journey
The lonely man

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
5.

Noun Phrases
The stress falls on the first word
Example:
A hotdog
A businessman
A matchstick

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
6.When there are no adverbs or nouns intone on the verbs
They drank it fast.
He came back for me.

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
7. Longer phrases or sentences can contain more than one pitch jump.
However, do not use exactly the same level of intonation twice in a
row:
Example:
I tried to cook a delicious meal for her
Our meeting schedule is flexible this afternoon

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
With close ended questions (When answer is a Yes or No)
intonation rises at the end of the Question
Are you married?
With open ended questions (That cannot be answered in a yes or
no) the intonation drops at the end of the statement or though
group.
How Long have your worked
Three Years

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
With Numbers:
Intonation rises at the last but one set of numbers
indicating that you are approaching the end of the number
and then drops on the last number as it does in
statements
My phone Number is 91 11 2847 638

Intonation

Rules of Intonation
Intonation when giving choices:
Intonation will rise on the first choice or all the choices before the
last one and down for the final option to indicate end of the choices
Do you want red, black or yellow?
Other rules of intonation:
When new information is conveyed, nouns which are the
carriers of new information are stressed
People enjoy parties
Cats drink milk
Men drive cars

Intonation

What happens when we lack

intonation while conversing?
Negates the essence of information
Makes us sound mechanical
causes miscommunication