Communication With Finesse

Contents

Sounds of the Language

Finesse with words and phrases
Why we face issues with pronunciation:

1. Lack of awareness of the correct pronunciation of words. eg. the

word 'technology' is 'tech-naw-luh-jee' yet majority of us pronounce
it as 'tech-no-law-jee'
2. Influence of our first language/ mother-tongue on English
pronunciation - the confusion between test and taste
3. Lack of comfort with the correct pronunciation - eg. the word
'develop' is 'di-vel-uhp', yet we might feel more comfortable with
'deh-veh-lup'
Sounds of a language:
There are 3 main categories of sounds:

1.Single Vowel Sounds – Monophthongs

2.Two Vowel Sounds Combined –

Diphthongs

3.Consonant Sounds
Single Vowel Sounds a.k.a. Monophthongs

1. /iː/ NEED, BEAT, TEAM

2. /ɪ/ THIN, SIT, RICH
3. /ɛ/ WENT, BREAD, FRIEND
4. /ɛː/ CARE, THERE, BEAR
5. /a/ CAT, HAND, FAN
Two Vowel Sounds Combined – Diphthongs

a vowel with two different targets(sounds)

Consonant Sounds
Syllable Stress

Sometimes the knowledge of different

vowel and consonant sounds doesn't
explain why the pronunciations -
technology, technician, technological-
are so different from each other.
Example
Technique to identify the number of
syllables in a word:

The "Chin Method" Rules-

Put your hand under your chin.

Say the word.

Count the number of times your chin

touches your hand.
This is the number of syllables in the
word.
 Phrasal Verbs
A verb (e.g., “It goes”) becomes a phrasal
verb with the addition of one preposition
(e.g., “The light goes out”) or more (e.g.,
“She goes out with him”). Each additional
preposition completely changes the
meaning of the verb.
Example: goes – as in “The train goes
west.”
 More Examples
• We're looking for someone who can think
out of the box.

• We can work the details out later, but I need

a ball park figure to work with.

• I missed some initial conversations, but now

I am up to speed with what's happening.