Speaking With The Perfect Tongue: (A Module On British Accent Training)

Speaking with the
Perfect Tongue
(A Module on British Accent Training)
Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)
Contents
Page No:
Effective Communication
Introductory Questionnaire
What to listen for on tape
Reviewing previous Vocal experience
Right guidelines to determine which syllable to stress
Shifting Stress patterns
14
Dynamics of English
16
Correcting Vowel sounds
20
Pronouncing consonants correctly
23
Say it out loud (Proper British Pronunciation)
35
Exercises fort relaxation and breathing
37
Is your voice an asset?
42
Voice Modulation Techniques
43
Increasing resonance
44
Varying the Pitch
45
Dropping the pitch
47
How to read lists effectively
48
How to recite numbers effectively
49
Using Pauses
50
U.K. Counties Pronunciation (RP)
53
Common Mistakes and Solutions
57
Vocal Quality Test
63
Vocal Quality Checklist
64
Reading aloud exercise
65
Test Your Skill
68
What do you know about listening
73
Tips for active listening
78
Effective Communication
- Verbal? Vocal? Visual?
There
are only three elements that are communicated each time we speak.
The
Verbal is the message itself - the words that you say.
The
Vocal element is your voice - the intonation, projection and resonance
of the voice that carries those words.

The
Visual element is what people see - basically what they see of your
face and your body.
Research has found that the degree of inconsistency between

these three elements was the factor that determines
believability.
Write your estimate of which element carries the most

believability when you are speaking (interpersonal
communication) to persuade a listener.
VERBAL_________________________%
VOCAL__________________________%
VISUAL__________________________%
TOTAL = 100%
INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONNAIRE
Use this questionnaire to interview another person in the group.
Questions
Answers
1. What is the name that you prefer to

be known by?
2. Where do you live?
3. What is your former job?
4. What are your feelings about being in this
course?
5. What do you hope to learn from it?
6. What are the two things in life that you
are the most proud of?
7. What is one other thing that you would
like the group to know about you?
8. If you could change something about

yourself, what would it be?
What to listen for when you hear yourself on tape.

1. Is your voice high-pitched?

2. Is your voice too loud or too soft?
3. Do you talk too fast - or too slowly?
4. Do you sound nasal - as if you are talking through your nose?
5. If you had to describe your voice to someone else, would you

use any of the following words? - shrill, raspy, squeaky,
rough, whiny, monotonous
6. Do you say your words clearly, making them easy to understand?
7. Are your words complete? (For example, do you drop your "g's" and
say "goin" for "going". Do you cut off the end of words and say "lef"
for "left"?)
8. Do you salt your speech with fillers like "you know" and "okay" and
"uh."?
9. Do you frequently clear your throat or make other noises that interrupt
your speech?
10.Do you sound confident or uneasy?
11.Do you sound interested or bored?
12.Does your voice trail off at the end of sentences?
13.Do you sound like someone with authority?
14.When you make a statement, does it sound like you are asking a
question?
15.Imagine you are someone else. Would you enjoy listening to the
person on the tape?
Reviewing your previous Vocal Experience
1. When you talk do people frequently ask you to repeat yourself?

2. Is it an effort for you to project your voice in a large room?
3. Do you frequently finish talking earlier than you had intended - or do
you frequently run out of time?
4. Do you tell people that you have an accent?
5. Do others frequently interrupt you or talk over you?
6. Does your voice ever quiver when you are nervous?

7. Do you get hoarse after you have talked for a while?
8. Do you have a hard time getting and keeping your listeners attention?
9. Do you worry about how you will sound before you begin a call or a
meeting or a presentation?
10.Do other people seem to enjoy talking with you and hearing you talk
to them - or do you have the feeling that they try to avoid those
experiences?
RIGHT
GUIDELINES
TO
DETERMINE
WHICH
SYLLABLES TO STRESS
While its true that English Grammar doesn't provide hard and
fast rules to determine which part of a word should be stressed,
there are a few guidelines that can help. Here are some pointers
worth remembering. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines;
some of them have exceptions.
When a noun ends in "tion", stress the syllable before the

"tion" ending.
Examples:
Loction Soltion
Imagintion
pettion
globalistion
imittion resoltion
communication
When a noun ends in "ity", stress the syllable before the

"ity".
Examples:
Ablity
responsiblity
capablity
personlity
availablity
insnity
Relity
When an adjective ends in "ical", stress the syllable

before the "ical" ending
Example;
poltical
rdical
prctical
analtical
econmical
psycholgical
10
When an adjective ends in "ic", stress the syllable before

the "ic" ending.
Examples:
Fantstic
realstic
futurstic
democrtic
optimstic
econmic
When an adjective ends in "ial", stress the syllable before

the "ial" ending.
Examples:
nnual
mtual
pnctual
finncial
indstrial
controvrsial
Unsual
indivdual
intellctual
editrial
11
When a verb ends in "ify", stress the syllable before the

"ify" ending.
Examples:
Rtify
smplify
idntify
mdify
clrify
spcify
qulify
In a compound noun (an noun consisting of more than

one word), stress the syllable that would normally be
stressed in each word, but stress the first word harder than
the second.
Examples:
Stockbroker
musicdirector
healthcare
Policedepartment
Shareholders
pressrelease
In capital letter abbreviations, stress the last letter.
12
Examples:
I..
U..
F.B..
U.S..
I.R..
C.E..
R.B..
C.I..
13
Shifting Stress Patterns

Here are some examples of shifting stress patterns. Notice how the
stress of a syllable can shift depending on the form of a word,
Plitics
poltical
politcian
Dmocrat
demcracy
democrtic
Analtical
nalyse
anlysis
Confde
confidntial
confidentility
COMMON WORDS THAT CAN GIVE YOU TROUBLE:

lternate
rtailing
curtiling
Prceeds (noun)
enginering
propretary
nventory
mchanism
xecute
Excutive
stbilize
strtegy
Stratgic
dcade
riented
rigin
ndicate
spcify
Specfic
pririty
contrctual
ctivism
nfluence
influntial
Crporate
comprable
perating
nstinct
distnct
sevrely
Ctegory
categrically
excl
Effct
Truste
fficacy
rgulatory
ntrigue(noun)
prspect
14
Prospctus
cnstitutes
consttuency
Sbsidy
subsdiary
dsignate
Expertse
lgislative
offcial
uthorize
authrity
nterview
Intervne
sbsidy
subsdiary
Annity
xcess
succss
Dvidend
smulate
clleague
Ncessary
necssity
dlicacy
Cmpetent
nventory
15
DYAMICS OF ENGLISH
English is considered a stressed language, while many others are

considered syllabic. What does this mean? It means that in English,
we give stress to certain words while other words are quickly
spoken (some people say eaten!). In other languages, such as
French, Italian, Hindi and other Indian languages, each syllable
receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its
own length).
Many speakers of syllabic languages dont understand why we
quickly speak, or swallow a number of words in a sentence. In
syllabic languages, each syllable has equal importance, and
therefore equal time is needed. English, however, spends more
time on specific stressed words, while quickly gliding over the
other, less important words.
16
So what does this mean for my speaking skills?

Well, first of all, you need to understand which words we
generally stress and which we do not stress. Basically, stress
words are considered CONTENT WORDS such as
EMPHASIS
POWER WORDS
Nouns e.g. kitchen, Peter (PERSON, PLACE, THING)
Principle (most) Verbs e.g. Visit, construct
Adjectives e.g. beautiful, interesting

(WHICH, WHAT KIND OF, HOW MANY?)
Adverb e.g. often, carefully (HOW, WHEN, WHERE)
17
LESS EMPHASIS
FUNCTION WORDS
Non-stressed words are considered FUNCTION WORDS such

as
Determiners e.g. the, a, some, a few
Auxiliary verbs e.g. dont, am, can, were
Prepositions e.g. before, next to, opposite
Conjunctions e.g. but, while, as
Pronouns e.g. they, she, us
18
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT SPEECH?

EXAMPLE:
The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance.
(14 syllables)
He can come on Sundays as long as he doesnt have to do any
homework in the evening. (22 syllables)
Even though the second sentence is approximately 30% longer
than the first, the sentences take the same time to speak. This is
because there are five stressed words in each sentences, from this
example, you can see that you neednt worry about pronouncing
every word clearly to be understood. You should however,
concentrate on pronouncing the stressed words clearly.
Tips:
Remember
that non stressed words and syllables are often
swallowed in English
Always
focus on pronouncing stressed words well, non stressed
words can be glided over.

Dont
focus on pronouncing each word. Focus on the stressed
words in each sentence.

19
CORRECTING VOWEL SOUNDS TO IMPROVE YOUR SPEECH
Many non-native speakers of English have trouble distinguishing among

certain groups of vowel sounds. For example, say the following sentence
out loud: What colour was the callers collar? DO colour. Caller all
sound the same? If you answered yes then youre not alone. The fact
remains, however, that all three words should be pronounced differently.
If youre confused about what the difference is, just imagine how
confused your listener is going to be! Fortunately, there are some
guidelines that can help. There are three key questions you should always
ask yourself when comparing and contrasting vowel sounds.
Is
the vowel pronounced with tense muscles (like the word I) or with
relaxed ones (like the i in Bill)?

Is
the vowel sound made with a wide open or partially closed mouth
position?
Is
your tongue positioned towards the front, middle, or back of your
mouth?
Keep
in mind that many times foreigners make the tense vowed sounds too
short and the lax vowel sounds too long. Also most non-native speakers
dont open the mouth wide enough on the more open vowel sounds.
Differentiating Between Sounds Like:
20
Collar vs. Colour.

Whats the difference?
The ah sound in collar is a long vowel sound. Its the same ah-h-h
sound you make when the doctor examines your throat. The mouth is
wide open and the tongue is down. The tongue is positioned onwards the
middle of the mouth.
The U sound in colour is a short vowel sound. The mouth is relaxed and
only partially open. The tongue is positioned towards the middle of the
mouth.
AH sound
U sound
calm
come
stock
stuck
cot
cut
cop
cup
shot
shut
doll
dull
not
nut
fond
fund
rob
rub
hot
hut
21
Check out the following vowel sounds:
Saying
Long EE and shot I Correctly: Reach vs Rich
Saying
OO and UU correctly. Pool vs. Pull
Differentiating
Saying
Between Odd vs. Add.
Mat and Met Correctly
Pronouncing
Her and Hair Correctly
Pronouncing
Firm and Farm Correctly
PRONOUNCING CONSONANTS CORRECTLY TO SAY
22
WHAT YOU MEAN

Practicing the s and z sounds Ice Vs eyes
The s sound in ice is a hissing sound (like a tea kettle) with
no vibration. The z sound in eyes is a buzzing sound (like a
bee) made with the vibration of the vocal cords.
With your fingertips against the front of your throat, feel
the
difference between the s and z sounds as you read
aloud
each word from left to right:

S
race
raise
loose
lose
sink
zinc
cease
seize
face
phase
place
plays
loss
laws
price
prize
rice
rise
precedent
president
23
PRACTICE WORDS AND SENTENCES. Here is a list of words where

letter S is pronounced as Z.
Because
is
does
proposal
Those
physician
deposit
phase
Enclose
transition
acquisition
dissolve
Dessert
Ms.
News
positive
Easy
chosen
has
his
These
was
lose
whose
Resolve
Visa
choose
please
reason
observe
confuse
wise
Resort
busy
museum
compromise
Design
resume
result
franchise
Designate poison
cleanse
represent
Reserve
residential
residual
feasible
Exercise
invisible
advertise
surprise
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
SH Words
24
Precious
militia
machine
anxious
Pressure
issue
conscious
commercial
Social
sure
Chicago
Pension
Pleasure
measure
usually
division
Decision
revision
occasion
leisure
Visual
casual
confusion
Asian
message
treasurers
Chef
ZH Words
Prestige
Here are some sentences contrasting the sh and zh sounds:
All
the visual aids were sent to Chicago
The
transfer has a good pension plan.
Buying
precious metals is a tough decision.
Pronouncing Y and J Correctly
25

To make the y sound in yellow, spread the lips apart and raise the back
of the tongue. Then, using the voice, glide into the vowel as in yeh for
yellow. To feel the back of the tongue moving up and down on the y
sound, practice saying the expression ahee yahee yahee. Remember, the
y sound is a gliding sound. The j sound in jell-O is a much more
abrupt sound with no gliding effect; to make it, you have to begin by
touching your tongue tip to the bony ridge just behind your upper teeth.
Your tongue never does this when you say y.
Y
(Tongue stays down)
J
(Tongue touches top of mouth in back of
teeth)
yet
jet
yolk
joke
year
jeer
mayor
major
yell
gel
you
jew
use (noun)
juice
Practice sentences:
26
The new jet wasnt ready yet.

Soon youll have a new jewel.
The mayor won a major victory.
Pronouncing R and L Correctly:
27
Rate vs. Late

To make the r sound in rate, move the tongue back and let the
sides of the tongue touch the sides of the upper teeth. Dont let
the tongue tip touch the roof of the mouth until you say the final
t. Make a vibrating sound similar to a growl.
To make the I sound in late raise the tip of the tongue so that it
touches just behind the upper front teeth. Keep the back of the
tongue down. Make a vibrating sound as the air escapes over the
sides of the tongue.
Read each word aloud from left to right:
R
read
lead
right
light
red
led
wrong
long
crime
climb
praise
plays
fright
flight
store
stall
appear
corroborate
appeal
collaborate
Practice sentences:
28
Make
The
It
a right at the second light.
crew didnt have a clue what was wrong.
doesnt appear that theyll be making an appeal.
Pronouncing R and W Correctly: Run vs. Won

29
Some non-native speakers substitute w for r. To prevent r

from sounding too much like w, make sure that you dont push
the lips out when trying to form an r sound. The tongue should
be doing all the work.
Practice these contrasting sounds:

R
ride
wide
rent
went
rare
wear
rest
west
rye
why
raid
weighed
right
white
rate
wait
ring
wing
roar
war
Practice Sentences
30
Dont
The
wait for a low interest rate.
rest of them went out west.
Only
one person can run the company.
Pronouncing V and W Correctly

31

To make the v sound in vest, touch your upper front teeth to
your lower lip and make a buzzing sound. (If you dont buzz, v
will sound like f. For example, view, without the vibration
sounds like few.)
To make the w sound in west, round your lips slightly and
make a voiced gliding sound. Dont let your bottom lip touch the
teeth.
Concentrate on your lips and teeth as you read each word aloud
from left to right.
V (Teeth touch lip)
W (Teeth and lips dont touch)
vine
wine
verse
worse
veal
well
veer
were
vault
walt
visor
wiser
vain
wayne
vet
wet
vow
wow
vent
went
Practice words and sentences
32
Vague
void
valid
vacant
Voucher
verity
veto
virtual
Volume
avoid
advise
convey
Invest
divide
convince
November
We
watch
week
want
Wont
world
work
win
Wednesday
warning
always
women
Away
someone
sandwich
awkward
Waste
waiting
Make
The
reservations a week in advance
vice president wanted to vote.
wasnt aware of the investments value.
Pronouncing B and V Correctly: Boat vs. Vote

33
Whats the difference ?

B is made with the tips only while V is made with the lower lip and
upper teeth.
B
berry
very
bent
vent
beer
veer
best
vest
base
vase
bolt
volt
bail
veil
marble
marvel
curb
curve
Practice sentences
We
I
think the vent may be bent.
found the best place to invest.
We
all marveled at the beautiful marble statue
SAY IT OUT LOUD! (Proper British Pronunciation)
34
In the first quote, pay particular attention to the pronunciation of s and

z
In the 1970sRoger Schank outlined a theory of artificial intelligence
known today as case-based reasoning. Schank....explains what this is:
Case-based reasoning organizes information on the bases of concepts,
not exact answers.
Its part of my challenge to make sure complacency doesnt set in, to

maintain a sense of urgency as we pursue excellence.
In the following quotation, pay particular attention to the w sound:

The key question every successful manger has to ask is not why did we
win? but Why did the other guys lose? this may seem a bit like rain
on your victory parade, but its the only way to be sure youll get to
march in another one.
Heres a good quotation to help you practice the I sound:
35
When an overseas visitor arrives late at night at the Lego hotel, a Lego
executive calls to make sure he is comfortable. The next day the visitors
national flay is snapping from a corporate flagpole only the most
churlish customer could resist such strolling.
The biggest mistake a coach or an executive can make after beating the
competition is to assume that the best team or company wonas often
as not, losers beat themselves and hand the victory to their opponents.
Exercises for Relaxation and Breathing

36
Learn to Tone and Relax Your Head and Neck
1. Relax your jaw so your mouth is slightly open.

2. Slowly drop (dont push) your head to your chest-bring it back to the
centre-drop it to your right shoulder, then back to center-drop it to your
left shoulder, then back to center-drop it to the back, return to center.
3. Beginning at center, do two head rolls slowly to the right. Return to center
and do two head rolls slowly to the left.
4. Monitor your breathing throughout; make sure you are not holding your
breath. Keep your jaw loose.
Tone and Relax Your Shoulders

37
With your hands at your sides, clench your fists.
Lift your shoulders to your ears (or try to!)
Drop your shoulders and release fists with a thrust, sighing as you exhale.
Tone and Relaxing Using Shoulder Rolls

Do six slow shoulder rolls to the back, keeping your jaw loose.
Feel your chest expand; sigh as you exhale.
Do six slow shoulder rolls to the front. Sigh as you exhale.
For improved Breathing, Breathe from the Diaphragm

Place your hands on your lower rib cage.
Inhale deeply through your nose. Your diaphragm muscle
expanding and dropping as the air pushes against it causes the
expansion you feel in your lower rib cage. Your shoulders should
not move.
Exhale, allowing the air to slowly escape through your slightly
open mouth. You will feel a depression around you lower rib cage
38
as the diaphragm rises like a trampoline to support and propel the

air.
Repeat steps 1-3 several times until you find your rhythm where
breathing is effortless. There should be a sensation of being calm
yet full of energy.
Do the exercises one more time, moving one hand form the side
of your lower rib cage, when you inhale, your breach should push
your hand away from the abdominal area. If this does not happen,
you are not breathing deeply for the diaphragm to do its job.
Remember: while inhaling, the abdominal area should fill up first
and more fully than your chest.
39
Exercises for Facial Expression

To loosen your lips try saying WWW WWW WWW BBB BBB BBB
WBW WBW WBW
To loosen your jaw draw hands down face and let jaw relax easily. Open
and close mouth easily as you repeat FAH FAH FAH FAH. BLAH
BLAH
Then repeat
SAH KAH SHE RAH RAH
PAH KAH SHE FAH RAH
WAH KAH SHE FAH RAH
BAH KAH SHE FAH RAH
DAH KAH SHE FAH RAH
To loosen the tongue tongue tip to behind upper teeth and then to behind
lower teeth (keep jaw open and still) LLD DDD LLL DDD LDL LDL
LDL
Combination loosening (lips and tongue !) LLL LDL WWW LDL

WLWD
40
Tone and relax your face (The Prune)
Make the tiniest face you can. Pucker your lips, close
your
eyes
and tighten your muscles.

Open into the widest face you can make.
Return to the tight position, and then try to move your entire face to
the right-hand side.
Then try to move your face to the left-hand side.
Return to the wide position and repeat the exercise.
41
IS YOUR VOICE AN ASSET?
CHECKLIST
DETERMINE AN ANSWER FOR EACH QUESTION LISTED

BELOW.
Does your voice project to others or do you simply speak?

Do you know if you have a high nasal or low resonant voice, or
somewhere in between?
Are you aware when your voice goes into a monotone, and for
what reasons?
Has anyone ever complimented you on your nice voice? (if so,
why?, if not, why not?)
Does your telephone voice differ from your speaking voice?
Are you aware of what impact your voice has over the phone?
When you hear a person answer the phone for an organization,
what do you think about what kind of image is conveyed?
Do you know what impact of the tone your voice has compared to
the content of your message?
42
Voice Modulation Techniques

Variety in the voice can be achieved by variation in volume, pitch, speed
and pause and in the use of emphasis, inflection.
These exercises are designed to increase awareness of your own speech
rhythm and sound pattern. Speak them aloud, varying your volume, pitch
and speed.
Volume
Loud, Louder, shout, quiet, Quietest, whisper, silence.
Crash, bang, clatter, smash, Hush, plush, slush.
Creep, peep, asleep, Hit, bit, grit.
Speed
Fast, faster, fastest, quick, lighting, flash, slow, slower, cease.
Run, jump, leap, stop, slink, drawl crawl, elongate, lengthen, hiss, buzz,
jab, insinuate, prod glide, float, dream.
Varying the Pitch
Centre, high, low, deep, deepest, highest.
Up and down, awake, asleep, sky-high, ocean-deep.
When I speak the pitch gets lower and lower and lower.
43
Increase Your Resonance (King Kong and Yawning)

Drop your jaw and allow it to hang loosely.
Inhale deeply through your nose allowing your belly to fill up first and more
fully than your chest.
As you exhale, say KING KONG, DING DONG, BING BONG,
lowering the tone each time so that the final BONG gently eases down
into a lower and lower range, until you reach bottom. Do this gently and
avoid pushing on your throat muscles.
As you exhale, relax your jaw. Open your mouth wide and allow your throat
to open: Start on a high note, then allow your pitch to gradually lower until
you reach bottom- as when yawning. Do this gently. Avoid pushing on your
throat muscles.
Imagine you have a large Chinese gong and you are beating it, bong, bong,
bong. Say out aloud the words Chinese gong, Chinese gong gong, gong,
bong, bong.
On each ong sound, elongate the sound so that you can feel the vibrations
44
in your throat.
Varying the pitch to emphasize certain words

One effective technique to increase the impact of your message is raising the
pitch of the voice on important words
For example, the inflection pattern for the statement we have a unique
opportunity might look something like this:
Unique
We
Have
a
Opportunity
Notice how the pitch goes way up on the key word unique and then ends
down on the final word opportunity. Make sure the pitch of your voice
shoots up high on the key word unique. If youre not used to speaking
with a lot of inflection, youll really need to exaggerate the amount of
pitch change to get the desired effect.
45
In the following examples, let your voice rise quickly on the underlined
words. Use a tape recorder to monitor your reflection pattern.
We want you to be completely satisfied.
They use an innovative approach.
This meeting is extremely important.
Its a complex and sensitive issue.
The management will make that decision.
Better teamwork is the answer.
You have to focus on quality and productivity.
They want to encourage diversity.
We need to research and develop new technology.
Shes trying to control spending, not increase it.
46
Dropping the pitch on key words for emphasis

On the other hand, you can make the key points of your message stand out
by dropping your voice down on important words. This helps to give more
weight to your message. For example, using the drop down technique,
the sentences, she wants that promotion might look something like this:
She
Wants
that
promotion
Make sure your voice really drops down on the key word
wants, Keep in mind that you have to start high enough, so
you have enough room left to make a dramatic drop in pitch. In
the following sentences, drop the pitch of your voice down on
each underlined word.
I cant comment on that.
This never should have happened.
You have to earn our trust.
They know it was a mistake.
He always respected you.
47
Whether you raise or lower the pitch isnt what matters: changing the
pitch is what counts. Its the difference between being a dull or dynamic
speaker.
How to Read a List Effectively

Its easy to lapse into a monotone when running down a list of items. Too
often, speakers sound as if theyre reading off a shopping list when they
list particulars. To avoid a flat delivery, vary the pitch of your voice on
each item, For example, the inflection pattern of the statement We have
offices in New York, L.A., Chicago, and Dallas might look something
like this:
We
Chicago,
Have
New York,
and
Offices
In
LA
Dallas.
48
Notice how the pitch changes on each city. It doesnt matter which item
goes up or down, as long as you keep the pitch jumping. Say the above
sentence out loud and tape record it, making sure you do something a little
different with your voice as you say each item. Remember, modulation the
voice on key items helps listeners better retain important information.
In the following examples, vary the pitch of your voice on each

underlined word, using a tape recorder to monitor your inflection pattern.
Were accepting applications for sales, marketing, accounting, and
banking position.
She speaks French, Spanish, German, and English.
How to recite numbers effectively

Numbers can sound extremely dry and dull if theyre not handled
properly, situations where financial figures are quoted, such as annual
shareholder meetings, dont have to be a crashing bore if you use a lot of
inflection. Changing pitch on key figures also makes it easier for listeners
to compare and contrast information. Observe the inflection pattern for the
statement Profits increased by 5% in 1997, 10% in 1998, and 15% in
1999.
49
Change the pitch of your voice on each number and/or item in the following
sentences:
The new ad campaign will cost between $50 and $75 million.
Of the 1000 people surveyed, 55% said they drive, 42% said they use public
transportation and 3% said they walk to work.
We fly to over 20 countries in 4 continents, 365 days a year.
Using pauses to make your speech easier to understand

Use pauses after phrases that begin with prepositions and adverbs. For
example:
By
the time you get to New York, (pause) the meeting will be underway.
Despite
Even
all our efforts, (pause) we were unable to get the account.
if we had the resources, (pause) it wouldnt make sense to go ahead
Use pauses when running down a list of items. To help you listener
better absorb information, its a good idea to add a short pause after each
item in a series. For example:
We
need to relocate our offices, (pause) open two new branches, (pause)
interview qualified job applicants, (pause) and hire 20 additional employees.

50
want to review the research and development process, (pause) the new
marketing strategy, (pause) as well as the distribution system
Use pauses before connecting words such as but, or, and, because,
however, and so on. For example:
Diane is basically a good employee; (pause) however; she does have a
lateness problem.
I told them to put their money in bonds, (pause) because they wanted a
low-risk investment.
One small step for man (pause) one giant leap for mankind. NEIL
ARMSTRONG
The only thing we have to fear (pause) is fear itself. FRANKLIN
DELANO ROOSEVELT
If I hear another word // the deal is off.
When
we say reliable / / we mean reliable.
The
issue is not about / / its about job security.
Our
policy is / / the customer is always right.
51
How Slowing Down key words gives them Importance

Slowing down on important words gives them more weight and
significance. In the following sentences, notice how the first three words
get stretched out to create additional emphasis.
N-O O-T-H-E-R C-O-M-P-A-N-Y has this technology.
Say this sentence out loud and record it. Make sure you are slowing down
on
No other company.
Take extra time to emphasize the elongated words in the following

sentences.
Theres only o-n-e m-o-r-e t-h-i-n-g we can do.
E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y needs to get involved.
We noticed a s-i-g-n-i-f-i-c-a-n-t-d-i-f-f-e-r-e-n-c-e in their management
style.
Only a-u-t-h-o-r-i-z-e-d p-e-r-s-o-n-n-e-l can enter.
We provide the h-i-g-h-e-s-t l-e-v-e-l of service.
She has an u-n-u-s-u-a-l a-b-i-l-i-t-y to bring people together.
52
UK Countries - Pronunciation (RP)

State
COUNTRY NAME
Scotland
ABERDEENSHIRE
Abba-deen-sha
Scotland
ANGUS
Ang-giss
Scotland
ARGYLL
Ar-guile
England
AVON
A-von
Scotland
AYRSHIRE
Air-sha
Scotland
BANFFSHIRE
Bamff-sha
England
BEDFORDSHIRE
Bed-fd-sha
England
BERKSHIRE
Bark-sha
England
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Bucking-hm-sha
Scotland
CAITHNESS
Caith-ness
England
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Came-bridge-sha
England
CHESHIRE
Chesh-a
Scotland
CLACKMANNANSHIRE
Clack-mannin-sha
England
CLEVELAND
Cleve-Ive
Wales
CLWYD
Cloo-wd
Northern Ireland
COUNTY ANTRIM
County An-trim
Northern Ireland
COUNTY ARMAGH
County Ah-ma
Northern Ireland
COUNTY DOWN
County Down
England
COUNTY DURHAM
County Durm
Northern Ireland
COUNTY FERMANAGH
County Fer-man-a
Northern Ireland
COUNTY LONDONDERRY
County Lun-dn-derri
Northern Ireland
COUNTY TYRONE
Cornty Tie-roan
England
CORNWALL
Corn- wl
England
CUMBRIA
Come-bree-a
England
DERBYSHIRE
Dar-bsha
England
DEVON
Devn
Sounds like
53
England
DORSET
Door-st
Scotland
DUMFRIESSHIRE
Dum-freesh-sha
Scotland
DUNBARTONSHIRE
Dun-Bartn-sha
Wales
DYFED
Duff-ed
Scotland
EAST LOTHIAN
East Low-theen
England
EAST SUSSEX
East Sussx
England
ESSEX
Essx
Scotland
FIFE
Fyfe (like five)
England
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Glosta-sha
Wales
GWENT
Gwent (went with a g in front)
Wales
GWYEDD
G-weth
England
HAMPSHIRE
Ham -sha
England
HEREFORDHIRE
Herra-fd-sha
England
HERTFORDSHIRE
Heart-fd-sha
Scotland
ISLE OF ARRAN
Ill of Arrn
Scotland
ISLE OF BARRA
Ill of Ba-ra
Scotland
ISLE OF BENBECULA
Ill of Ben-ba-coola
Scotland
ISLE OF BUTE
Ill of Bute
Scotland
ISLE OF CANNA
Ill of Canna
Scotland
ISLE OF COLL
Ill of Coll
Scotland
ISLE OF COLONSAY
Ill of Coln-say
Scotland
ISLE OF CUMBRAE
Ill of Cum-bray
Scotland
ISLE OF EIGG
Ill of Eeg
Scotland
ISLE OF GIGHA
Ill of Gee-ga
Scotland
ISLE OF HARRIS
Ill of Harr-iss
Scotland
ISLE OF IONA
Ill of I-own-a
Scotland
ISLE OF JURA
Ill of Jew-ra
Scotland
ISLE OF LEWIS
Ill of Loo-iss
Scotland
ISLE OF MULL
Ill of Mull
Scotland
ISLE OF NORTH UIST
Ill of North Wist
Scotland
ISLE OF ORKNEY
Ill of Awk-nee
54
Scotland
ISLE OF RHUM
Ill of Room
Scotland
ISLE OF SCALPAY
Ill of Scal-pay
Scotland
ISLE OF SHETLAND
Ill of Shet-lnd
Scotland
ISLE OF SKY
Ill of Sky
Scotland
ISLE OF SOUTH UIST
Ill of South Wist
Scotland
ISLE OF TIREE
Ill of Ti-ree
England
ISLE OF WIGHT
Ill of White
England
ISLES OF SCILLY
Ills of Silly
England
KENT
Kent
Scotland
KINCARDINESHIRE
Kin-car-dinna-sha
Scotland
KINROSS-SHIRE
Kin-ross-shy-a
Scotland
KIRKUDBRIGHTSHIRE
Ker-koo-bree-sha
Scotland
LANARKSHIRE
Lannk-sha
England
LANCANSHIRE
Lang-ka-sha
England
LEICESTERSHIRE
Lester-sha
England
LINCOLNSHIRE
Ling-kn-sha
England
LONDON
Lun-dn
England
MERSEY SIDE
Mer-zee-side
Wales
MID GLAMORGAN
Mid Gla-morgn
England
MIDLOTHIAN
Mid-loath-een
Scotland
MIDDLESEX
Middle-sex
England
MORAYSHIRE
Murry-sha
Scotland
NAIRNSHIRE
Nern-sha (like there)
England
NORFOLK
Nor-fk
England
NORTH HUMBERSIDE
North Humber-side
England
NORTH YORKSHIRE
North Your-ksha
England
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
North-hamp-tn-sha
England
NORTHUMBERLAND
Nor-thumba-lnd
England
OXFORDSHIRE
Ox-fd-sha
Scotland
PEEBLESHIRE
Peeblsha
Scotland
PERTHSHIRE
Perth-sha
55
Wales
POWYS
Pow-iss
Scotland
RENFREWSHIRE
Ren-froo-sha
Scotland
ROSS-SHIRE
Ross-Shy-a
Scotland
ROXBURGHSHIRE
Rox-burra-sha
Scotland
SELKIRKSHIRE
Sell-kerk-sha
England
SHROPSHIRE
Shorp-sha
England
SOMERSET
Summer-set
Wales
SOUTH GLAMORGAN
South Gla-morgn
England
SOUTH HUMBERSIDE
South Humber-side
England
SOUTH YORKSHIRE
South Your-ksha
England
STAFFORDSHIRE
Staffd-sha
Scotland
STIRLINGSHIRE
Ster-ling-sha
England
SUFFOLK
Suffk
England
SURREY
Surry (sorry with a u)
Scotland
SUTHERLAND
Suther-lnd
England
TYNE & WEAR
Tine (like line) & Weea
England
WARWICKSHIRE
Worrick-sha
Wales
WEST GLAMORGAN
West Gla-morgn
Scotland
WEST LOTHIAN
West Loath-een
England
WEST MIDLANDS
West Mid-lnds
England
WEST SUSSEX
West Sussx
England
WEST YORKSHIRE
West-Your-ksha
Scotland
WIGTOWNSHIRE
Wig-tn-sha
England
WILTSHIRE
Wil-cha
England
WORCESTERSHIRE
Woosta-sha
56
COMMON MISTAKES & SOLUTIONS
INCORRECT
CORRECT
1. He took troubles to do his work.
He took lot of trouble over his work
2. I spent the holidays with my family members
I spent the holidays with my family
3. He is a tall gentleman
He is a tall man.
4. I saw the two females.
I saw two women.
5. He was wearing a new dress.
He was wearing a new suit

(some new clothes)
6. The front/back side of the house.
The front/back of the house.
7.
Neither went.
Both did not go.
8. We all did not go.
None of us went.
9.
Is he coming? Yes I think/
Is he coming? Yes, I think.
believe so.
10. I and he are brothers.
He and I are brothers
11. These all mangoes are ripe
All those mangoes are ripe.
12. I have no any friends
I have no friends.
57
13. Check six page.
Check at page six
14. He is more better than I.
He is better than I.
15. A dedicated line is use fuller.
A dedicated line is more useful.
16. Of the two plans this is the best.
Of the two plans this is the better.
17. He had leave of four days.
He had four days leave.

He had leave for four days.
18. I mean London in USA.
I mean the London in the USA
19. I live in the Bengal
I live in Bengal
20. Man is a member of the Society
Man is a member of Society.
21. The mankind should love the nature
Mankind should love nature
22. He got an employment there.
He got employment there
23. I have an urgent business.
I have urgent business or some

urgent business
24. Ganges is a river.
The Ganges is a river
25. Each and every person wore a hat.
Each person wore a hat.

Everybody wore a hat.
26. He does not care for him work.
He takes no care over his work.
58
27.
This was going on
since
long
This
time.
had
been
going on for a long time.

28. If I did this I shall be wrong.
If I do this I shall be wrong.
If I shall do this I shall be wrong.

29. I take my food.
I have my food.
30. I take your leave.
I must say goodbye/time to go.
31. I came to know as to how he did this.
I learnt how he did this.
32. In the noon I took rest.
I had a rest in the middle of the day.
33. I came to know why he was sad.
I found out why he was sad.
34. He went to college to know computer
He went to college to study computer
Science.
Science.
35. He knows to make it work.
He knows how to make it work.
36. Later on he knew his mistake.
Later on he realized his mistake.
37. I want that I should get leave.
I want to get leave/ I want to

take time off
38. I like to play cricket.
I want to play cricket.

I should like to play cricket.
59
39. He is troubling his co-workers.
He is oppressing his subjects.
40. He is troubling me.
He is giving me trouble.
He is giving me trouble
41. Please see my book.
Please look at my book.
42. He would not hear me.
He would not listen to me.
43. I cannot pull on with my work.
I cannot manage my work
44. Keep this on the table.
Put this on the table.
45. I stood second in my group.
I was second in my group.
46. Open the light.
Turn on/ Switch on the light.
47. Shut the light.
Turn off/ Switch off the light.
48. When he comes you must wish him.
When he comes you must greet

(or welcome ) him
49. He is very much sorry.
He is sorry.
50. To tell in brief.
In short
51. This book is too interesting
This book is very interesting.
52. Really speaking it is not easy.
As a matter of fact }
60
To speak the truth } it is not

easy
In truth
In fact
53. I am ill since three months.
}
}
I have been ill for three months.

I have been ill since July
54. This is different to that.
This is different from that.
55. He wrote me.
He wrote to me.
56. He suggested me this.
He suggested this to me.
57. He told to me to go.
He told me to go.
58. There are many advantage from this.
The advantages of this are many.
59. There is no harm to do this.
There is no harm in doing this.
60. They are called with different names.
They are called by different names.
61. We discussed on the matter.
We discussed the matter.
62. He is angry to me.
He is angry with me.
63. He is pleased on me.
He is pleased with me.
64. No mention.
Please do not mention it.
65. In my opinion I think it is wrong.
In my opinion it is wrong
61
I think it is wrong.
66. Excuse for the troubles.
Forgive my troubling you.
67. No. please.
No, sir.
} (depending on
No, thank you. }
the
context)
62
VOCAL QUALITY TEST PARAGRAPH

Providing great service over the telephone is a tough job. I know
the telephone has an impact on how I communicate my message.
But even without nonverbal communication, I can still use the
telephone as a powerful tool for communicating with my customer.
To do this, I carefully craft my message paying close attention to
the words and explanations I will use. I work hard to let my
personality show through my voice quality, and to keep my tone
upbeat and my pronunciation clear. Sometime I wonder how my
voice actually sounds to my customers.
Do I sound bored?
Aggressive? Sincere? Friendly? To find out, I listen to myself and I

ask friends and co-workers to critique my telephone voice. When
my voice sounds tired, they let me know. That helps me put the
spark back. And when Im doing great well, it is nice to have
someone to tell me so.
63
Check the appropriate boxes in order to identify your strengths and areas for
improvement.
Rate
Slow (over 80 seconds)
VOCAL QUALITIES CHECKILIST

Good (1 minute)
Fast (under 50 seconds)
Volume
Too soft
Just right
Too loud
Clarity
Over enunciated, sounded mechanical
Enunciated well, each word was clear
Mumbled, slurred words or dropped endings
Pitch
Too high, sounded whiney
Too low, sounded gravelly
Monotonous, no variation
Good, sounded natural and varied
Tone
Friendly
Sincere
Overly ALOUD
enthusiastic EXERCISE
READING
Pushy
Timid
Speaking with
the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)
Confident
64
He came into the room, looked at the disorder and was perplexed.
How it came to be like this he could not imagine. The silence was
unbroken. He waited anxiously for some sign for form sign of life.
READING ALOUD EXERCISE
He came into the room, looked at the disorder and was perplexed.
How it came to be like this he could not imagine. The silence was
unbroken. He waited anxiously for some sign of life. Nothing at
all. His eye moved furtively from wall to door, from floor to
corner there in the corner, slumped between overturned chairs
was a man, face drained to a pallor, and still as a lifeless creature.
There was not a phone in the house, no means of contact with the
outside world. There was nothing to be done but leave immediately
and run, run as fast as he could away from the disorder, away from
the chaos, away from responsibility. Tell no one, tell no one, get
away, far away, run, run, fast, faster: feet moving, feet, feet, feet
out of step, not my step; step, other step, louder, nearer, quicker,
thus, thud. Stop.
65
IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
but make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or being lied about, dont deal in lies.
Or being hated, dont give way to hating.
And yet dont look too good, nor talk too wise.
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master:
If you can thin- and not make thoughts your aim:
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And tread those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth youve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools.
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken.
And stoop and build em up with worn- out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and toss.
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and never and sinew
66
To serve your turn long after they are gone.

And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: Hold on!
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue.
Or walk with Kings nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty second worth of distance run.
Yours is the Earth and everything thats in it,
And which is more youll be a Man, my son!
By Rudyard Kipling
67
TEST YOUR SKILL

Once youve learned to correctly pronounce every word in the following
poem, you will be speaking English better than 90% of the native English
speakers in the world. If you find if tough going, do not despair, you are not
alone.
Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, 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.
Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind that latter, how its 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;
68
Cloven, oven, how and low,

Script, receipt, show, poem, and toe.
Hear me say, devoid of trickery,

Daughter, laughter, and Terpsichore,
Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles,
Exiles, smiles, and reviles;
Scholar, vicar, and cigar,
Solar, mica, war and far;
One, anemone, Balmoral,
Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel;
Gertrude, German, wind and mind,
Scene, Melpomene, mankind.
Billet does not rhyme with ballet,
Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet.
Blood and flood are not like food,
Nor is mould like should and would.
Viscous, viscount, load and broad,
Toward, to forward, to reward.
And your pronunciations OK
When you correctly say croquet,
Rounded, wounded, grieve, and sieve,
Fried and fiend, alive and live.
Ivy, privy, famous; clamour
69
And enamour rhyme with hammer.

River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.

Stranger does not rhyme with anger,
Neither does devour with clangour,
Souls but foul, haunt but aunt,
Font, front, wont, want, grand, and grant,
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say finger,
And then singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, gouge and gauge.
Marriage, foliage, mirage, and age.
Query does not rhyme with very,
Nor does fury sound like bury.
Dost, lost, post and doth, cloth, loth.
Job, nob, bosom, transom, oath.
Thought the differences seem little,
We say actual but victual.
Refer does not rhyme with deafer.
Foeffer does, and zephyr, heifer.
Mint, print, senate and sedate;
Dull, bull, and George ate late.
Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,
Science, conscience, scientific.
70
Liberty, library, heave and heaven,

Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven.
We say hallowed, but allowed,
People, leopard, towed, but vowed.
Mark the differences, moreover,
Between mover, cover, clover;
Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,
Chalice, but police and lice;
Camel, constable, unstable,
Principle, disciple, label.
Petal, panel, and canal,
Wait, surprise, plait, promise, pal.
Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, chair,
Senator, spectator, mayor.
Gas, alas, and Arkansas.
Sea, idea, Korea, area,
Psalm, Maria, but malaria.
Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean.
Doctrine, turpentine, marine.
Compare alien with Italian,
Dandelion and battalion.
Sally with ally, yea, ye.
Eye, I, ay, aye, whey and key.
Say aver, but ever, fever,
Neither, leisure, skein, deceiver.
71
Heron, granary, canary.

Crevice and device and aerie.
Face, but preface, not efface.

Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.
Large, but target, gin, give, verging,
Ought, out, joust and scour, scourging.
Ear, but earn and wear and tear
Do not rhyme with here but ere.
Seven is right, but so is even,
Hyphen, roughen, nephew Stephen,
Ask, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.
Pronunciation think of Psyche!
Is a paling stout and spikey?
Wont it make you lose your wits,
Writing groats and saying grits?
Its a dark abyss or tunnel:
Strewn with stones, stowed, solace, gunwale,
Islington and Isle of Wight,
Housewife, verdict and indict.
Finally, which rhyme with enough
Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?
Hiccough has the sound of cup.
My advice is to give up!!!
72
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LISTENING

Write T for true and F for false next to each of the following questions about listening in
order to check your present awareness of this important communication skill.
1.
Skill in listening improves your self - confidence.
2.
People like you when you listen to them.
3.
Careful listening helps to settle disagreements before they escalate.
4.
More decisions are made by shooting from the hip than by listening to the
opinions of others.
5.
Learning to listen to clients helps you respond more quickly to their needs.
6.
Good listeners are not often embarrassed by unnecessary mistakes.
7.
Listening involves more than your ears.
8.
Hearing is the same as listening.
9.
You can listen well and do other things at the same time.
10.
Posture affects listening.
73
11.
Listening is a passive activity.
12.
Good listeners never interrupt.
LISTENING ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

To help you start to be more aware of your listening habits, complete the following
listening self- evaluation. It will give you an idea of which listening habits you can be
happy about and which ones you may need to reshape. Answer each question
thoughtfully.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATING SELF-EVALUATION
Communicating Knowledge and Attitudes.

Put an x in the appropriate column
DO YOU:
Most of the
Frequently
Occasionally
Almost Never
Time
1. Tune out people who say something

You dont agree with or dont want
to hear?
2. Concentrate on what is being
said even if you are not really
interested?
3. Assume you know what the
talker is going to say and stop
74
listening?
4. Repeat in your own words what
the talker has just said?
5. Listen to the other persons
viewpoint, even if it is differs
from yours?
6. Learn something from each person
you meet, even if it is ever so slight?
7. Find out what words mean when they
are
used in ways not familiar to you?
8. Form a rebuttal in your head while the

speaker is talking?
9. Give the appearance of listening when

you arent?
10. Daydream while the speaker is talking?
11. Listen to the whole message what the
Talker is saying verbally and nonverbally?
12. Recognize that words dont mean
exactly the same thing to different
people?
75
13. Listen to only what you want to hear,

blotting out the talkers whole message?
14. Look at the other person who is talking?
15. Concentrate on the talkers meaning
rather than how he or she looks?
16. Know which words and phrases you
respond to emotionally.
17. Think about what you want to
accomplish with your communication?
18. Plan the best time to say what you want
to say?
19. Think about how the other person might
react to what you say?
20. Consider the best way to make your
communication (written, spoken, phone,
bulletin board, memo, etc.) work?
21. Think about what kind of person you are
talking to (worried, hostile, is interested,
rushed, shy, stubborn, impatient, etc.)?
22. Interrupt the talker while he or she is
still talking?
76
23. Think, I assumed he or she would

know that?
24. Allow the talker to vent negative feelings

toward you without becoming defensive?
25. Practice regularly to increase your
listening efficiency?
26. Take notes when necessary to help you to
remember?
27. Hear noises without being distracted by
them?
28. Listen to the talker without judging or
criticizing?
29. Restate instructions or messages to be
sure you understand correctly? Paraphrase
what you believe the talker is feeling?
77
TEN TIPS FOR ACTIVE LISTENING

1.
Prepare to listen
2.
Focus on the Customer - Not on Yourself
3.
Know when to Interrupt
4.
Use Listening Responses
5.
Avoid Being Judgmental
6.
Listen Between the Lines
7.
Concentrate
8.
Stay Clam
9.
Fill in the Knowledge Gaps
10.
Take notes
78
Which three listening skills do you need to improve?

1. _________________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________________
_
2. _________________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________________
_
3. _________________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________________
_
79
FIVE COMMON BARRIERS TO LISTENING

1.
We Think We Already Know
2.
Jumping to Conclusions
3.
Daydreaming
4.
Preferential Bias
5.
Lack of Practice
80

Speaking With The Perfect Tongue: (A Module On British Accent Training)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Speaking With The Perfect Tongue: (A Module On British Accent Training)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Speaking with the

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

What to listen for on tape

Reviewing previous Vocal experience

Right guidelines to determine which syllable to stress

Shifting Stress patterns

Correcting Vowel sounds

Pronouncing consonants correctly

Say it out loud (Proper British Pronunciation)

Exercises fort relaxation and breathing

Is your voice an asset?

Voice Modulation Techniques

Varying the Pitch

Dropping the pitch

How to read lists effectively

How to recite numbers effectively

U.K. Counties Pronunciation (RP)

Common Mistakes and Solutions

Vocal Quality Test

Vocal Quality Checklist

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

Reading aloud exercise

Test Your Skill

What do you know about listening

Tips for active listening

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

- Verbal? Vocal? Visual?

Verbal is the message itself - the words that you say.

Vocal element is your voice - the intonation, projection and resonance

of the voice that carries those words.

face and your body.

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

Research has found that the degree of inconsistency between

Write your estimate of which element carries the most

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

1. What is the name that you prefer to

8. If you could change something about

What to listen for when you hear yourself on tape.

1. Is your voice high-pitched?

5. If you had to describe your voice to someone else, would you

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

1. When you talk do people frequently ask you to repeat yourself?

6. Does your voice ever quiver when you are nervous?

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

When a noun ends in "tion", stress the syllable before the

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

When a noun ends in "ity", stress the syllable before the

When an adjective ends in "ical", stress the syllable

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

When an adjective ends in "ic", stress the syllable before

When an adjective ends in "ial", stress the syllable before

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

When a verb ends in "ify", stress the syllable before the

In a compound noun (an noun consisting of more than

In capital letter abbreviations, stress the last letter.

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

Shifting Stress Patterns

COMMON WORDS THAT CAN GIVE YOU TROUBLE:

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)

English is considered a stressed language, while many others are

Speaking with the Perfect Tongue (A Module on British Accent Training)