Practical Words. Practical Pronunciation.
An Easy Pronunciation Guide For ESL Students with over 1,200 examples
Francis Strange
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Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Francis Strange
Twitter: Francis Strange (@FrancisWords)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means or in any form, without the written permission of the copyright owner. Nor should it be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the purchaser. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.
If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A special note on pronunciation of R words
ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQRS TUV WXYZ
Business, Medical, and Science Words
Selected Names (First Names and Family Names)
Selected Countries and Regions
Word Groups for Pronunciation Practice
Just for Fun - Some Tongue Twisters and Rhymes
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Foreword
There are hundreds of books that cover the correct use of English, and how to make sentences.
There are also books that show correct pronunciation.
But I have not found a book that covers pronunciation in a SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL manner.
This book is designed to correct this.
It is based on real experience of what works and does not work, on the teaching methods I have developed and used over the course thousands of hours of work with ESL students at all levels.
It covers the common, everyday, words that cause problems for anyone who is learning English, in particular Japanese, Korean and Chinese people.
Having said that, however, I believe this will be useful to all ESL students who are looking for an easy-to-understand guide to pronouncing English words, no matter where they are from.
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About this book
This book has been divided into a number of categories -- for example, Everyday Words, Cities and Regions, Business, Medical and Technical Words, and Months of the Year.
It is based on UK-style pronunciation and spelling. There are a number of reasons for this, including the rise of India, and the increasing number of Indian people one is likely to meet. (India was once a colony of England and many Indians speak English.) Also, I think a large number of readers will be professional people.
I believe it is better, as a business person, to have a UK-style accent, as this is easier to understand than US-style pronunciation. And, obviously, everybody wants to be understood.
However, for comparison, I have included some of the more common pronunciation for some US words, too.
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Pronunciation “sounds”
There are a number of set "sounds" and I have shown these after each word in the lists.
I have standardised these as much as possible, so that once these “sounds” are understood, it then becomes relatively easy to say any word.
I have created this system by basing it on what is almost a “natural reading” for these “sounds”. The reason I have done this is that I feel that this will make it more intuitive, and so easier to understand and grasp.
The pronunciation "sounds" or "guides" used in this book are NOT perfect.
But they are CLOSE ENOUGH to the true sounds within the words that most people will understand what is being said, especially when the words are spoken at a normal speaking speed.
And for the most part, they are easy to understand and repeat.
As I said above, this book is meant to be a PRACTICAL guide - something that can be EASILY used by anyone.
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A special note on pronunciation of R words
To correctly pronounce words that start with, or contain an “R”, think of the word having two Os in front of the R, and pronounce that, before starting on the word with the R in it.
(Actually, this is what native speakers do, except they usually do not notice it.)
This has the same pronunciation as the “oo” in “food”.
For example, “RARE” -- think of it, and pronounce it, as
“oo-RARE” or
“(oo-REH-ahh)”.
The ideal practice method is to read these out loud, following the sounds as they are written.
There are over 1,200 words that cause problems for ESL students in this guide, along with sample sentences showing how they can be used, so there are plenty of examples to practice with.
Like any form of exercise, practice and repetition is the key.
The more you practice, the better you will become.
Eventually, the structures and sounds will become imprinted in your mind, and you will use the correct pronunciation automatically.
Most students have found it helpful, and I am sure you will find it helpful, too.
Francis Strange.
Tokyo, Japan.
November, 2011
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able --- (EH-ee-bih-ill)
abroad --- (ah-boo-ROR-orr-idd)
above --- (ah-BAH-ah-ivv)
abuse (noun) --- (ah-BEE-yoo-iss)
She suffered years of abuse at the hands of her husband.
abuse (verb) --- (ah-BEE-yoo-izz)
Alcohol is something that many people abuse.
accelerator --- (eh-ikk-SEH-ILL-oo-reh-ee-tah)
accuracy --- (EH-kee-yoo-rah-see)
accurate --- (EH-kee-yoo-rih-itt)
ache --- (EH-ee-ick)
acne --- (EH-ikk-nee)
action --- (EH-ikk-shih-inn)
address (noun) --- (EH-joo-ress)
What is your name and address?
address (noun) --- (eh-JOO-ress)
The Prime Minister will address the country at 7 o'clock this evening.
admire --- (ehh-idd-MAH-ee-ahh)
advertise (verb) --- (EH-idd-ver-tah-ee-izz)
It pays to advertise.
advertisement (noun) --- (eh-idd-VER-tih-izz-mih-inn-tt)
A TV advertisement can cost a lot of money.
advisory --- (eh-idd-VAH-izz-ahh-oo-ree)
agency --- (EHH-ee-jenn-see)
aisle --- (AHH-ee-ill)
allergy --- (EH-ILL-lerr-jee)
allow --- (ah-LAH-oh)
allowed --- (ah-LAH-oh-idd)
almond --- (AAH-mih-ind)
alternative --- (all-TERR-nah-tiff)
altitude --- (AH-ill-tah-teh-you-idd)
aluminium (UK) --- (ah-loo-MIH-nee-im)
aluminum (US) --- (ah-LOO-mih-nim)
alumni --- (ah-LOO-imm-nah-eee)
am --- (EH-imm)
amazing --- (ahh-MEH-ee-zee-ing
ambiguous --- (ehh-imm-BEE-IGG-yoo-iss)
among --- (ah-MAH-in-g)
anachronism --- (ah-NEH-koo-roh-nih-zih-imm)
ancient --- (EHH-ee-inn-chi-int)
anecdote --- (EHH-nikk-doh-itt)
anonymity --- (eh-noh-NIH-mih-tee)
antonym --- (EHH-inn-toh-nih-imm)
anxious --- (EHH-ing-shih-iss)
anxiety --- (eh-ing-ZAH-ih-tee)
aphid --- (eh-ee-fih-idd)
appraise --- (ah-poo-REH-ee-izz)
appreciate --- (ah-poo-REE-shee-eh-ee-itt
appropriate --- (ah-poo-ROH-poo-ree-eh-ee-itt)
approximate --- (ah-poo-ROH-ikk-iss-sih-mih-itt)
approximately --- (ah-poo-ROH-ikk-iss-sih-mih-itt-lee)
aquarium --- (ah-koo-WEH-oo-ree-imm)
around --- (ah-oo-RAH-oh-inn-dd)
area --- (EH-oo-ree-ah)
argue --- (AHH-geh-yoo)
arisen --- (ahh-RIH-zih-inn)
arrive --- (ah-oo-RAH-ee-ivv)
arrogant --- (EH-oo-ree-gih-int)
arrow --- (EHH-oo-roh-oo)
arson --- (AHH-sih-inn)
artificial --- (ah-tih-FIH-ish-ill)
ascent --- (ah-SEH-inn-tt)
attitude --- (EH-tih-tee-yoo-idd)
attrition --- (ahh-choo-RIH-shih-inn)
auto --- (ORR-toh-oo)
automobile --- (ORR-toh-moh-bee-ill)
authoritative --- (ah-THOH-oo-rah-teh-ee-tih-iff)