Introduction
It is customary for the non-native speakers to substitute the correct pronunciation of the words with their versions of vowels and consonants. There are patterns of pronunciation of words in every language and it is believed that the non-native speakers utilize their habitual pronunciation of the new language. These patterns in language may persist at different levels. Some of the non-native speakers tend to learn new language faster, the others retain the traces of native language in their patterns of pronunciation through the years. This may root in different factors, such as the duration of practice in new language, the age of a speaker, the ability to hear and recreate the same manner of speech and pronunciation of the native speakers. Also, there is a point of view claiming that some of the languages can be more difficult in pronunciation than others, especially if they do not belong to the same group or family of languages. Also, sounds found in new language may be absent in the native one, which leads to substitutions and mutation of the original pronunciation. For example, some of the foreigners encounter with a problem pronouncing diphthongs; in words like “goat” and “boat” that are pronounced like [gəʊt] and [bəʊt] and usually confused by the non-native speakers by [gɔɑt] and [bɔɑt] (Likitrattanaporn 6).
Aims and Objectives
Overall, there are numerous speculations regarding the reasons why the non-native speakers manage to retain the traces of a native language in their speech over time. However, the difference even among the speakers of one language may have slightly different patterns of pronunciation. Therefore, the current research aims to evaluate the patterns of pronunciation in a non-native English speaker comparing to the native English speaker in the reason of revealing if their patterns of speech radically different (Worthington 7). Also, it is aimed to reveal if the non-English speaker still inserts the patterns of pronunciation from the native language. Each of these aims is addressed by the following research.
Methodology
Research Design
The current study has the purpose to reveal what pronunciation specificities are present in the speech of the non-English speakers. In order to pursue this goal, the current research used qualitative research design as the main framework for the study. Qualitative study enables the researchers to investigate the root of the problem and can be helpful in the case of small sample. Qualitative design allows exploring the triggers causing the problem rather than finding the relationship between variables. At the same time, it can be helpful in the cases when it is important to compare and contrast the samples to reveal the main triggers of the issue. As the nature of the objectives has both theoretical and practical implications, it is considered that the qualitative research will suit the purposes of the study the most.
Participants
The current study recruited two participants, one of whom is a native English-speaker and the other is a non-native English speaker. Specifically, one of the participants is American-English speaker, the other is Thai-English speaker. As the research did not aim to determine the reasons why the accent in the Thai-English speaker persists, no personal information including age, marital status, and years spent in the U.S. were included into the research. The gender of the respondents is not relevant to the research as well.
Data Collection
The information is collected with the help of two tests underwent by both speakers. The first test required the participants to pronounce 200 words in order to illustrate the pronunciation patterns in the speech of Thai-English speaker, which were the same for both speakers. Native-English speaker also took the test serving as the comparison to the other respondent. The second test demanded the participants to read 200-words text, identical for both participants. The tests were held face-to-face with the participants and recorded after they signed the consent form. The tests were transcribed afterward.
Data Analysis
The data is interpreted with the help of the phonological analysis that helps to reveal the patterns in the pronunciation in the non-native comparing to the native speakers of the English language. The analysis was used to contrast and compare the words and texts used for the tests among the participants and to distinguish the similarities and distinctions in the pronunciation. This method enables the researcher to explore two different speeches and to produce the results that will show where the speakers make different choices in pronunciation.
Ethical Considerations
The participation in the current research is anonymous. It was decided not to include the names of the participants or any information that may identify them. Therefore, after the transcription of the tests, any personal information is deleted from the writings or audio files. The access to the research was granted only to the researcher, no third parties were involved into the study. The participants signed the consent form prior to the tests confirming that the researcher may use the data obtained in the course of the research. The participants had the right to withdraw from the research any time if they feel uncomfortable or the study interfered with their schedule. Also, they had the right to refuse to use the information.
Results
Word Test
First of all it is important to admit that in the course of the inquiry it was noticed that the respondents were willing to participate and no problems were experienced before, during, and after the tests. However, it was also noticed that during the word test both native and non-native speakers tried to pronounce the words concisely and correctly, which is possible to perceive as a limitation. American-English speaker tried to pronounce the words with particular precision, which he apparently does not do in daily life. The same pattern was observed in the Thai-English speaker, as she managed to pronounce the words almost correctly, closer to the American variant of English. It is possible to speculate that it is the limitation of the internal validity, because the participants tried to be as “correct” as possible. At the same time, the results revealed that there are certain differences in the pronunciation patterns between the native and non-native speakers. The following comparative phonetic table reveals these distinctions:
It is possible to see from Table 1 that the difference in pronunciation follows certain patterns. It was detected that the Thai-English speaker having difficulty with the diphthongs, like in the word “acquaintance”, where the non-native speaker pronounced as “ɔˈkwentəns” and omitting pronouncing “eɪ” in the last syllable by putting “e” instead. Almost in all cases, the participant used the same pattern of pronunciation. Also, it was difficult for the respondent to notice in such words as “example” and “exquisite” the need to pronounce the first letter as “ɪ”, she replaced it with the “ə”. In addition, the vowels and other diphthongs were difficult for the Thai-speaker. The words “laugh” and “example” contain the diphthong that is hard to pronounce correctly for the non-native speakers. Thai-English speaker pronounced “ɔ” instead of needed “æ”, which is typical for a lot of foreigners. Fibally, the respondent had problems pronouncing correctly the first consonants in such words as “hostile” and “teacher”, where she pronounced “h” and “t” instead of needed “’h” and “’t”. It was evident that the respondent forced herself to pronounce these consonants correctly. Overall, the results in the first test proved that the most complex sounds in English tend to be hard to pronounce for the foreigners.
Text Test
The results in this assignment emphasized that the speakers tend to be less precise when they pronounce the words in text. It seemed like they relaxed at some point and managed to read the text as if they were doing that in daily life. While it is customary for the non-native speakers trying to pronounce the words precisely and meticulously comparing to their natives, the test involving text was more effective in terms of phonological analysis. It was observed that the participants were more comfortable to read the text according to their usual patterns of speaking, as in the first test in some instances the Thai-English speaker used to correct herself several times in order to pronounce it closer to the original. It did not happen during the second test.
The following text will be the transcription of the short stories presented to the respondents. The researcher used a short story “A Lion and a Mouse” written by Aesop. Transcription of American English speaker:
wəns wɛn ə layən wəz ə’sli:p, ə ‘lɪtl maʊs bɪgæn rənɪŋ əp ænd dɔ:n ə’pɑ:n hɪm. ðɪs sun wekənd ðə layən, hu plest hɪz hyuǰ pɒ əpɑn ðə maʊs, ænd opənd hɪz bɪg ǰɒz tu swɑlo hɪm. pɑrdən, o kɪŋ, krayd ðə lɪtəl maʊs. fərgɪv mi ðɪs taym, ay šæl nɛvər fərgɛt ɪt. hu noz səmdeay me bi ebəl tu du yu ə fevər wən əv ðiz dez. ðə layən wəz so tɪkəld æt ðə aydiə əv ðə maʊs biɪŋ ebəl tu hɛlp hɪm ðæt hi lɪftəd əp hɪz pɒ ænd lɛt hɪm go. səmtɑym letər, ðə layən wəz kɑt ɪn ə træp, ænd ðə həntərz hu wɒntəd tu kæri hɪm əlayv tu ðə kɪŋ, tayd hɪm tu ə tri wayl ðe wɛnt ɪn sərč əv ə wægən tu kæri hɪm əwe. ǰəst ðɛn ðə lɪtəl maʊs hæpənd tu pæs bai, ænd siɪŋ ðə sæd playt ɪn wɪč ðə layən wəz træpt, wɛnt əp tu hɪm ænd sun nɒd əwe ðə rops ðæt bawnd ðə kɪŋ əv ðə bists. wəz ay nɑt rayt? sɛd ðə lɪtəl maʊs.
The following is the transcription of the Thai-English speaker:
wəns wɛn ə layən wəz ə’sləɪ:p, ə ‘lɪtl maʊs bɪgən rənɪŋ əp ənd dɔ:n ə’pɑ:n hɪm. zɪs sun wekənd zə layən, hu plest hɪz hyuǰ pɒ əpɑn zə maʊs, ənd opənd hɪz bɪg ǰɒz tu swɑlo hɪm. pɑrdən, o kɪŋ, krayd zə lɪtəl maʊs. fərgɪv mi zɪs taym, ay šæl nɛvər fərgɛt ɪt. hu noz səmdeay me bi ebəl tu du yu ə fevər wən əv ziz deɪz. zə layən wəz so tɪkld æt zə aydiə əv zə maʊs biɪŋ ebəl tu hɛlp hɪm zæt hi lɪftəd əp hɪz pɒ ænd lɛt hɪm go. səmtɑym letər, zə layən wəz kɑt ɪn ə træp, ænd zə həntərz hu wɒntəd tu kæri hɪm əlayv tu zə kɪŋ, tayd hɪm tu ə tri wayl ze wɛnt ɪn sərk əv ə wəgən tu kəri hɪm əwe. ǰəst dɛn zə lɪtəl maʊs həpənd tu pæs bai, ænd siɪŋ zə sæd playt ɪn wɪč zə layən wəz trəpt, wɛnt əp tu hɪm ænd sun nɒd əwe zə rops zæt bawnd zə kɪŋ əv zə bists. wɔz ay nɑt rayt? sɛd də lɪtəl maʊs.
The results of this test shows that the Thai-English speaker tend to make the same mistakes in pronunciation as in the 1st assignment. However, this time the patterns in the pronunciation were vividly observed. In addition, the research revealed that in some instances, during the fast reading, the non-native participant managed to confuse the pronunciation of consonants “th” (ð) replacing it with “d”, yet in other instances the respondent tried to pronounce it as “z’”. It was noticed in the second part of the story, as in the beginning the respondent tried to be closer to the original pronunciation. The same mistakes in diphthongs were made described in the evaluation of the first test. In addition, the participant managed to force her pace in reading closer to the end of the text, which could cause the mistakes.
Discussion
As the results show, there is a difference in pronunciation patterns between the native and non-native speaker especially what concerned specific words and complex combinations of words, as it was observed that the Thai-English speaker experienced problems when the there were several complex words written one after another. It seemed like in several occasions the non-English speaker managed to made mistakes that she would not do in daily conversation. At the same time, it is possible to conclude that the Thai-English speaker has more problems in reading texts than pronouncing words. During the first exercise, she made several mistakes, and the second time used to make corrections. It is quite evident that the American-English speaker pronounced the words correctly, yet his test resembled the functions of the control group, when it was important to compare the accents from different countries.
There were several limitations that have to be taken into account when evaluating the results of the research. First of all, both participants in the first test tried to be more correct and closer to the original, which is the usual way of people to complete the task correctly. At the same time, it did not posed any threats to the internal validity of the research, as the mistakes in the pronunciation were noticed by the researcher anyway. The second test became more effective in terms of revealing differences in the pronunciation. It was admitted that the non-native speaker managed to make more vivid mistakes during this exercise, which implies that the analyses of the similar character have to involve text exercises rather than pronouncing words. The text exercise was more productive in terms of noticing several more specificities in the speech of non-native speaker, like pace, stress, intonation, which was different in the Thai-English speaker. Although these characteristics were not the main point of the inquiry, the researcher did not focus on them in the analysis.
The future research has to concentrate attention on the different non-native speakers involving more than two participants. It is possible to implement quantitative research design in order to see the relationship between variables, like stress, intonation, and speed of speech in native and non-native speakers. It will widen the possibilities of the investigation and increase the factors of analysis available for the researchers. It is recommended to recruit a bigger sample to notice if there are steady patterns in speech and pronunciation of a foreign language by the non-native speakers.
Conclusion
The research revealed that there are some steady errors in pronunciation in the non-native speakers. In this case, the study involved a Thai-English speaker who made several mistakes in pronouncing complex sounds, diphthongs, vowels, and combinations of consonants. It was revealed that the text exercise was more productive and revealing regarding the specificities of speaking of the non-native speakers. It became evident that the participants tried their best to pronounce the words closer to the original, yet the errors were evident during the second exercise. It is quite difficult to explain these phenomena, as the researcher did not collect additional information, yet the current research is effective as a preliminary study that can be continued by involving more participants.
Works Cited
Likitrattanaporn, Wannakarn. "Teaching Phonological Accuracy and Communicative Fluency at Thai Secondary Schools." English Language Teaching 7.2 (2014): 1-12.
Worthington, Janet. "Teaching Teachers in Thailand: English Language Learning That Is Active, Useful, and Fun." Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin 75.3 (2009): 5-11.
Appendix 1: Standard Variety Speakers
# Word (American-English Transcription)
Advertisement ədˈvɜːtɪsmənt
Abstract æbstrækt
Ache eɪk
Adjacent əˈdʒeɪsnt
Ambidextrous ˌæmbiˈdekstrəs
After ˈɑːftə(r)
Aluminum ˌæljəˈmɪniəm
Adult ˈædʌlt
Agile ˈædʒaɪl
Anti ˈænti
Aunt ɑːnt
Acquaintance əˈkweɪntəns
Attitude ˈætɪtjuːd
Archive ˈɑːkaɪv
Apricot ˈeɪprɪkɒt
Australia ȯ-ˈstrāl-yə
Ask ɑːsk
Authorization ˌɔːθərəˈzeɪʃn
Ate et
Artificial ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃl
Awkward ˈɔːkwəd
Balmy ˈbɑːmi
Biscuit ˈbɪskɪt
Basil ˈbæzl
Banana bəˈnɑːnə
Beret ˈbereɪ
Better ˈbetə(r)
Bald bɔːld
Bouquet buˈkeɪ
Bottom ˈbɒtəm
Ballet ˈbæleɪ
Buoy bɔɪ
Brochure ˈbrəʊʃə(r)
Bathroom ˈbɑːθruːm
Bath ˈbɑːθ
Bar bɑː(r)
Can’t kɑːnt
Castle ˈkɑːsl
Car kɑː(r)
Chance tʃɑːns
Capillary kəˈpɪləri
Callipygian ka-lə-ˈpi-j(ē-)ən
Category ˈkætəɡəri
Civilization ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃn
Clique kliːk
Chorus ˈkɔːrəs
Caught kɔːt
Clerk klɑːk
Clothes kləʊðz
Coax kəʊks
Colleague ˈkɒliːɡ
Consume kənˈsjuːm
Cousin ˈkʌzn
Chasm ˈkæzəm
Chocolate ˈtʃɒklət
Choir ˈkwaɪə(r)
Chord kɔːd
Creature ˈkriːtʃə(r)
Circuit ˈsɜːkɪt
Cordial ˈkɔːdiəl
Cement sɪˈment
Coffee ˈkɒfi
Caramel ˈkærəmel
Croissant ˈkrwæsɒ̃
Dog dɒɡ
Debris ˈdebriː
Deracinate ˌdiːˈræsɪneɪt
Dwarf dwɔːf
Duke djuːk
Docile ˈdəʊsaɪl
Duodenum ˌdjuːəˈdiːnəm
Example ɪɡˈzæmpl
Either ˈaɪðə(r)
Epitome ɪˈpɪtəm
Exit ˈeksɪt
Exquisite ɪkˈskwɪzɪt
Ear ɪə(r)
Envelope ˈenvələʊp
Esplanade ˌespləˈneɪd
Façade fəˈsɑːd
Feign feɪn
Flocculent ˈflä-kyə-lənt
Fracas ˈfrækɑː
Fillet ˈfɪlɪt
Fragile frædʒaɪl
Fertile ˈfɜːtaɪl
Futile ˈfjuːtaɪl
Globalization ˌɡləʊbəlaɪˈzeɪʃn
Garage ˈɡærɑːʒ
Glass ɡlɑːs
Gala ˈɡɑːlə
Gaol dʒeɪl
Gauge ɡeɪdʒ
Gourmet ˈɡʊəmeɪ
Harassment ˈhærəsmənt
Hate heɪt
Herb hɜːb
Headache ˈhedeɪk
Height haɪt
Hygiene ˈhaɪdʒiːn
Hyperbole haɪˈpɜːbəli
House haʊs
Hospitable hɒˈspɪtəbl
Hostile ˈhɑːstl
Iraq ɪˈrɑːk
Irrational ɪˈræʃənl
Island ˈaɪlənd
Iran ɪˈrɑːn
Israel ˈɪzreɪl
Italy ˈɪtəli
Italian ɪˈtæliən
Jeopardy dʒepədi
Kilometer ˈkɪləmiːtə(r)
Khaki ˈkɑːki
Knead niːd
Knees niːs
Leisure ˈleʒə(r)
Lettuce ˈletɪs
Librarian laɪˈbreəriən
Library ˈlaɪbrəri
Lightning ˈlaɪtnɪŋ
Laugh læf
Mayor meə(r)
Murmur ˈmɜːmə(r)
Mobile ˈməʊbaɪl
More mɔː(r)
Missile ˈmɪsaɪl
Margarine ˌmɑːdʒəˈriːn
Military ˈmɪlətri
Nauseating ˈnɔːzieɪtɪŋ
Nuclear ˈnjuːkliə(r)
Narrate nəˈreɪt
Native ˈneɪtɪv
Neither ˈneɪtɪv
Niche ˈnaɪðə(r)
Notice ˈnəʊtɪs
New njuː
New Orleans njuː ȯr-ˈlē-nyən
Nissan nɪssən
Onomatopoeia ˌɒnəˌmætəˈpiːə
Offer ˈɒfə(r)
Often ˈɒfn
Oregano ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ
Organization ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃn
Paranoia ˌpærəˈnɔɪə
Particularly pəˈtɪkjələli
Pear peə(r)
Perseverance ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns
Phenomenon fəˈnɒmɪnən
Plague pleɪɡ
Preferences prefrəns
Preparatory prɪˈpærətri
Pronunciation prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn
Premier ˈpremiə(r)
Pecan ˈpiːkən
Potato pəˈteɪtəʊ
Privacy ˈprɪvəsi
Pasta ˈpæstə
Parliament ˈpɑːləmənt
Produce prəˈdjuːs
Pure pjʊə(r)
Patriot ˈpeɪtriət
Quay kiː
Queue kjuː
Quiet ˈkwaɪət
Quit kwɪt
Rarely ˈreəli
Realm relm
Reflection rɪˈflekʃn
Regularly ˈreɡjələli
Reptile ˈreptaɪl
Risotto rɪˈzɒtəʊ
Route ruːt
Schedule ˈskedʒuːl
Suede sweɪd
Semi ˈsemi
Stance stæns
Scone skɒn
Taco ˈtækəʊ
Tortilla tɔːˈtiːə
Tomato təˈmɑːtəʊ
Tuna ˈtjuːnə
Tune tjuːn
Urinal jʊəˈraɪnl
Vase vɑːz
Vaccine ˈvæksiːn
Vitamin ˈvɪtəmɪn
Versatile ˈvɜːsətaɪl
Water ˈwɔːtə(r)
Want wɒnt
Writing ˈraɪtɪŋ
Wrath rɒθ
Were wə(r)
Yoghurt ˈjoʊɡərt
Zebra ˈzebrə
Short Story:
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.
wəns wɛn ə layən wəz ə’sli:p, ə ‘lɪtl maʊs bɪgæn rənɪŋ əp ænd dɔ:n ə’pɑ:n hɪm. ðɪs sun wekənd ðə layən, hu plest hɪz hyuǰ pɒ əpɑn ðə maʊs, ænd opənd hɪz bɪg ǰɒz tu swɑlo hɪm. pɑrdən, o kɪŋ, krayd ðə lɪtəl maʊs. fərgɪv mi ðɪs taym, ay šæl nɛvər fərgɛt ɪt. hu noz səmdeay me bi ebəl tu du yu ə fevər wən əv ðiz dez. ðə layən wəz so tɪkəld æt ðə aydiə əv ðə maʊs biɪŋ ebəl tu hɛlp hɪm ðæt hi lɪftəd əp hɪz pɒ ænd lɛt hɪm go. səmtɑym letər, ðə layən wəz kɑt ɪn ə træp, ænd ðə həntərz hu wɒntəd tu kæri hɪm əlayv tu ðə kɪŋ, tayd hɪm tu ə tri wayl ðe wɛnt ɪn sərč əv ə wægən tu kæri hɪm əwe. ǰəst ðɛn ðə lɪtəl maʊs hæpənd tu pæs bai, ænd siɪŋ ðə sæd playt ɪn wɪč ðə layən wəz træpt, wɛnt əp tu hɪm ænd sun nɒd əwe ðə rops ðæt bawnd ðə kɪŋ əv ðə bists. wəz ay nɑt rayt? sɛd ðə lɪtəl maʊs
Appendix 2: Non-Standard Variety Speakers
# Word (T-English Transcription)
Advertisement ədˈvɜːtɪsmənt
Abstract ɑbstrɑkt
Ache eɪk
Adjacent əˈdʒeɪsnt
Ambidextrous ˌæmbiˈdekstrəs
After ˈɑːftə(r)
Aluminum ˌ ɑljəˈmɪniəm
Adult ˈ ɑdʌlt
Agile ˈ ɑdʒaɪl
Anti ˈ ɑnti
Aunt ɑːnt
Acquaintance ɔˈkwentəns
Attitude ˈatɪtjuːd
Archive ˈɑːkaɪv
Apricot ˈeɪprɪkɒt
Australia ȯ-ˈstrāl-yə
Ask ɑːsk
Authorization ɔːsərəˈseʃn
Ate et
Artificial ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃl
Awkward ˈɔːkwəd
Balmy ˈbɑːmi
Biscuit ˈbɪskɪt
Basil ˈbæzl
Banana bəˈnɑːnə
Beret ˈbereɪ
Better ˈbetə(r)
Bald bɔːld
Bouquet buˈkeɪ
Bottom ˈbɒtəm
Ballet ˈbæleɪ
Buoy bɔɪ
Brochure ˈbrəʊʃə(r)
Bathroom ˈbɑːθruːm
Bath ˈbɑːθ
Bar bɑː(r)
Can’t kɑːnt
Castle ˈkɑːsl
Car kɑː(r)
Chance tʃɑːns
Capillary kəˈpɪləri
Callipygian ka-lə-ˈpi-j(ē-)ən
Category ˈkætəɡəri
Civilization ˌsɪvəlaɪˈzeɪʃn
Clique kliːk
Chorus ˈkɔːrəs
Caught kɔːt
Clerk klɑːk
Clothes kləʊs
Coax kəʊks
Colleague ˈkɒliːɡ
Consume kənˈsjuːm
Cousin ˈkʌzn
Chasm ˈkɑzəm
Chocolate ˈtʃɒklət
Choir ˈkwaɪə(r)
Chord kɔːd
Creature ˈkriːtʃə(r)
Circuit ˈsɜːkɪt
Cordial ˈkɔːdiəl
Cement sɪˈment
Coffee ˈkɒfi
Caramel ˈkɑrəmel
Croissant ˈkrwæsɒ̃
Dog dɒɡ
Debris ˈdebriː
Deracinate ˌdiːˈrɑsɪneɪt
Dwarf dwɔːf
Duke djuːk
Docile ˈdəʊsaɪl
Duodenum ˌdjuːəˈdiːnəm
Example əkˈzɔmpl
Either ˈaɪsə(r)
Epitome ɪˈpɪtəm
Exit ˈeksɪt
Exquisite ɪkˈskwɪzɪt
Ear ɪə(r)
Envelope ˈenvələʊp
Esplanade ˌespləˈneɪd
Façade fəˈsɑːd
Feign feɪn
Flocculent ˈflä-kyə-lənt
Fracas ˈfrækɑː
Fillet ˈfɪlɪt
Fragile frɑʒaɪl
Fertile ˈfɜːtaɪl
Futile ˈfjuːtaɪl
Globalization ˌɡləʊbəlaɪˈzeɪʃn
Garage ˈɡɑrɑːʒ
Glass ɡlɑːs
Gala ˈɡɑːlə
Gaol dʒeɪl
Gauge ɡeɪdʒ
Gourmet ˈɡʊəmeɪ
Harassment ˈhærəsmənt
Hate heɪt
Herb hɜːb
Headache ˈhedeɪk
Height haɪt
Hygiene ˈhaɪʒiːn
Hyperbole haɪˈpɜːbəli
House haʊs
Hospitable hɒˈspɪtəbl
Hostile hɑːstəɪl
Iraq ɪˈrɑːk
Irrational ɪˈrɑʃənl
Island ˈaɪlənd
Iran ɪˈrɑːn
Israel ˈɪzreɪl
Italy ˈɪtəli
Italian ɪˈtɑliən
Jeopardy dʒepədi
Kilometer ˈkɪləmiːtə(r)
Khaki ˈkɑːki
Knead niːd
Knees niːs
Leisure ˈleʒə(r)
Lettuce ˈletɪs
Librarian laɪˈbreəriən
Library ˈlaɪbrəri
Lightning ˈlaɪtnɪŋ
Laugh ‘læf
Mayor meə(r)
Murmur ˈmɜːmə(r)
Mobile ˈməʊbaɪl
More mɔː(r)
Missile ˈmɪsaɪl
Margarine ˌmɑːdʒəˈriːn
Military ˈmɪlətri
Nauseating ˈnɔːzietɪŋ
Nuclear ˈnjuːkliə(r)
Narrate nəˈreɪt
Native ˈneɪtɪv
Neither ˈneɪtɪv
Niche ˈnaɪðə(r)
Notice ˈnəʊtɪs
New njuː
New Orleans njuː ȯr-ˈlē-nyən
Nissan nɪssən
Onomatopoeia ˌɒnəˌmɑtəˈpiːə
Offer ˈɒfə(r)
Often ˈɒfn
Oregano ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ
Organization ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃn
Paranoia ˌpɑrəˈnɔɪə
Particularly pəˈtɪkjələli
Pear peə(r)
Perseverance ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns
Phenomenon fəˈnɒmɪnən
Plague pleɪɡ
Preferences prefrəns
Preparatory prɪˈpærətri
Pronunciation prəˌnʌnziˈeʃn
Premier ˈpremiə(r)
Pecan ˈpiːkən
Potato pəˈteɪtəʊ
Privacy ˈprɪvəsi
Pasta ˈpɑstə
Parliament ˈpɑːləmənt
Produce prəˈdjuːs
Pure pjʊə(r)
Patriot ˈpeɪtriət
Quay kiː
Queue kjuː
Quiet ˈkwaɪət
Quit kwɪt
Rarely ˈreəli
Realm relm
Reflection rɪˈfleʃn
Regularly ˈreɡjələli
Reptile ˈreptaɪl
Risotto rɪˈzɒtəʊ
Route ruːt
Schedule ˈskeʒuːl
Suede sweɪd
Semi ˈsemi
Stance stɑns
Scone skɒn
Taco ˈtɑkəʊ
Tortilla tɔːˈtiːə
Tomato təˈmɑːtəʊ
Tuna ˈtjuːnə
Tune tjuːn
Urinal jʊəˈraɪnl
Vase vɑːz
Vaccine ˈvæksiːn
Vitamin ˈvɪtəmɪn
Versatile ˈvɜːsətaɪl
Water ˈwɔːtə(r)
Want wɒnt
Writing ˈraɪtɪŋ
Wrath rɒθ
Were wə(r)
Yoghurt ˈjoɡər
Zebra ˈzebrə
Short Story:
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.
wəns wɛn ə layən wəz ə’sləɪ:p, ə ‘lɪtl maʊs bɪgən rənɪŋ əp ənd dɔ:n ə’pɑ:n hɪm. zɪs sun wekənd zə layən, hu plest hɪz hyuǰ pɒ əpɑn zə maʊs, ənd opənd hɪz bɪg ǰɒz tu swɑlo hɪm. pɑrdən, o kɪŋ, krayd zə lɪtəl maʊs. fərgɪv mi zɪs taym, ay šæl nɛvər fərgɛt ɪt. hu noz səmdeay me bi ebəl tu du yu ə fevər wən əv ziz deɪz. zə layən wəz so tɪkld æt zə aydiə əv zə maʊs biɪŋ ebəl tu hɛlp hɪm zæt hi lɪftəd əp hɪz pɒ ænd lɛt hɪm go. səmtɑym letər, zə layən wəz kɑt ɪn ə træp, ænd zə həntərz hu wɒntəd tu kæri hɪm əlayv tu zə kɪŋ, tayd hɪm tu ə tri wayl ze wɛnt ɪn sərk əv ə wəgən tu kəri hɪm əwe. ǰəst dɛn zə lɪtəl maʊs həpənd tu pæs bai, ænd siɪŋ zə sæd playt ɪn wɪč zə layən wəz trəpt, wɛnt əp tu hɪm ænd sun nɒd əwe zə rops zæt bawnd zə kɪŋ əv zə bists. wɔz ay nɑt rayt? sɛd də lɪtəl maʊs.
