Learn how to sound American by practicing the correct placement.
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Video Transcript:
In this American English pronunciation video, we’re going to focus on placement in American English.
>> Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
>> I did. Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
>> No problem.
In this American English pronunciation video, we’re going to focus on placement in American English. Topic: Transcripts.
This video is a placement exercise, and it’s going to get a little weird.
>> The fun thing about this is we’re totally playing with language.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean like, this is cracking us up.
>> Absolutely, yeah!
But stick with me. Placement refers to where in your body the vibrations of your voice are happening. Sometimes the difference in the sound of the voice is subtle, and sometimes more obvious. I’m going to say a phrase with three different placements:
That’s so weird.
That’s so weird.
That’s so weird.
That’s so weird.
That’s so weird.
For American English, I always try to get my students to bring the resonance down. Very low, very relaxed. Uhhhh is the feeling of placement I want them to imitate. Uhhh….
In this video, Tom and I are going to have a short conversation. Then we’ll go back over it, phrase by phrase, and copy the intonation, but just on uh. This seems silly, but it is literally something we do with our students to bring the focus to placement. When you take out the actual words, it’s easier to focus on placement and other qualities of the voice. Do it out loud with us. The sound we’re using is the UH as in BUTTER vowel. Everything in the mouth and face is relaxed. Uhhh—uhhh.
First, the conversation.
>> Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
>> I did. Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
>> No problem.
>> How long did it take?
>> About 10 hours altogether.
>> Okay, that’s not bad.
>> It was fine.
Now we’ll hear the conversation, phrase by phrase. We’ll listen to each phrase, and repeat it back with the same placement and intonation, but on the sound ‘uh’. This first time through, just listen.
Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh?
I did.
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
Uhh- uhh- uh
No problem.
Uhh- uhh- uhh
How long did it take?
Uhh- uhh- uhh uhh- uhh?
About 10 hours altogether.
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh
Okay.
Uhh- uhh
That’s not bad.
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
It was fine.
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Now we’ll hear the conversation phrase by phrase, with the UH imitation three times. Repeat the third time, just on UH, copying what you hear. Think about everything in the face and neck being relaxed, and the placement low. Maybe even put your hand here. Uhhh—
Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh?
I did.
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
No problem.
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
How long did it take?
Uhh- uhh- uhh uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh uhh- uhh?
About 10 hours altogether.
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh
Okay.
Uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh
That’s not bad.
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
It was fine.
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Now we’ll put the text back in. But, to stay focused on the placement, we’re going to slow the speech down.
>> Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
>> I did. Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
>> No problem.
>> How long did it take?
>> About 10 hours altogether.
>> Okay, that’s not bad.
>> It was fine.
We want to the words to grow out of that same, low placement. You’ll hear the UH phrase once at regular pace, then slowed down, then the actual phrase slowed down. Then, repeat with me and Tom, slowed down, [slow motion] keeping the placement low.
We’re almost there. Now we’ll hear the UH phrase once a regular pace. Repeat it at regular pace. Then we’ll hear the phrase at regular pace, repeat it at regular pace.
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh?
Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
Did you get a chance to look over those transcripts?
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
I did.
I did.
I did.
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it.
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh
No problem.
No problem.
No problem.
Uhh- uhh- uhh uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh uhh- uhh?
Uhh- uhh- uhh uhh- uhh?
How long did it take?
How long did it take?
How long did it take?
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh- uhh
About 10 hours altogether.
About 10 hours altogether.
About 10 hours altogether.
Uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh
Uhh- uhh
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
That’s not bad.
That’s not bad.
That’s not bad.
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
Uhh- uhh- uhh-
It was fine.
It was fine.
It was fine.
Once you get a feel for this, think about this placement every time you speak English. It can truly transform your American Accent.
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That’s it, and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.
Hear the difference immediately.
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