Learn English pronunciation for just $19.99 with this comprehensive course! (Amazon ebook + Audible audio book + Dr.Byrnes' lecture videos + any future revisions + lifetime access)
My Journey of Spoken English and What You Can Learn
When I came to America from Korea to pursue a Ph.D. degree in philosophy, I thought speaking like a native would be easy since, after all, any American child speaks English. I expected that I would sound like a native naturally when I immersed myself in American culture and shadowed native speakers.
Struggles with Pronunciation
Many years had passed, but my spoken English was not even close to native-like, not just in rhythm and melody. I still struggled to pronounce words like "girl," "order," "jewelry," "peach," and "warm." They said that "girl" sounded like the first syllable sound of "gorilla," "order" sounded like "odor," "peach" sounded like "pitch," and "warm" sounded like "worm." It was frustrating to become an accidental comedian when my mispronunciation caused laughter: "Odor in the court!" Shadowing didn't work since these words sounded the same to me. I realized that shadowing without knowing how to pronounce words correctly is like trying to solve calculus without having the knowledge of algebra.
Overcoming Challenges
Initially, I studied from some pronunciation books for ESL people, but they did not cover all the necessary sounds, and explanations were vague as they didn’t compare similar sounds that I was having trouble with. At the end of studying these books, I was still not sure how to pronounce challenging words. YouTube videos that promised that if you knew certain tricks, you could speak like a native were, in one word, lies. Language problems are not a bandaid you can just cover.
A New Path: Learning Pronunciation
Since my first steps in Korean as a kindergartener involved learning the Hangul alphabet, which laid a solid foundation for pronunciation from the outset, I thought I should learn the English alphabet, which are the fundamental building blocks of pronunciation. My first question was how many vowels I needed to master. When I asked about the number of vowel phonemes in American English, I was surprised to find that even native Ph.D. holders were unsure of the answer. This revelation sparked a new path: learning pronunciation through the lens of linguistics, specifically phonetics, phonology, and prosody.
The Course and Its Promise
This course is the culmination of that journey, a systematic and comprehensive approach I developed to master pronunciation. Enroll in this course, and you can speak English correctly and confidently while creating an accent that’s easy on the ear.
The course is easy to follow and understand, and you can learn at your own pace. Plus, you'll have access to an enrolled-student-only website with audio lectures, written texts, and videos. And, if you're not happy with the course, you're backed by a money-back guarantee.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your English pronunciation skills. Enroll today for just $19.99!
- Access to an enrolled-student-only website with audio lectures, written texts, and videos (This is a great value, especially when compared to the cost of the individual components on Amazon (ebook = $9.99) and Audible (audio book = $19.87).
- Lifetime access to all course materials
- Easy to follow and understand
- Learn at your own pace
- Money-back guarantee
- Five stars from Amazon
Course Description for English pronunciation, The American way
English Pronunciation: the American Way
Audio details
Part I. Introduction to Pronunciation
Pronunciation, the foundation
Characteristics of American English
Part II: Vowels
American vowels
Vowel definition
American elementary school classification
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
Rhotic R
American vowels vs British vowels
15 vowel phonemes of standard American English
Monophthongs
Diphthongs
Vowel definition
American elementary school classification
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
Rhotic R
American vowels vs British vowels
15 vowel phonemes of standard American English
Monophthongs
Diphthongs
Vowel Diagram
Tongue height
Advancement
Vowel diagram
Tenseness
Similar sounding vowel pairs
Tongue height
Advancement
Vowel diagram
Tenseness
Similar sounding vowel pairs
Front high vowels: /i/ vs /ɪ/
/i/ words
/ɪ/ words
/i/ vs /ɪ/ minimal pairs
/i/ vs /ɪ/ in sentences
/i/ words
/ɪ/ words
/i/ vs /ɪ/ minimal pairs
/i/ vs /ɪ/ in sentences
Front low vowels: /ɛ/ vs /æ/
/ɛ/ words
/æ/ words
/æ/ vs /ɛ/ minimal pairs
/æ/ vs /ɛ/ in sentences
/ɛ/ words
/æ/ words
/æ/ vs /ɛ/ minimal pairs
/æ/ vs /ɛ/ in sentences
Back high vowels: /u/ vs /ʊ/
/u/ words
/ʊ/ words
/u/ vs /ʊ/ minimal pairs
/u/ vs /ʊ/ in sentences
/ju/ sound
/ju/ words
Yod dropping
/u/ words
/ʊ/ words
/u/ vs /ʊ/ minimal pairs
/u/ vs /ʊ/ in sentences
/ju/ sound
/ju/ words
Yod dropping
Back low vowels: /ɔ/ and /ɑ/
The cot–caught merger
Homophones due to /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ merger
Pronunciation of /ɔ/
/ɔr/ words
/ɑ/ words
R-colored /ar/ words
/ɑr, /ɔr/ minimal pairs
/ar/, /ər/ minimal pairs
/ɔr/, /ər/ minimal pairs
/ɔr/ vs /ər/ vs /ar/ comparison sentences
The cot–caught merger
Homophones due to /ɔ/ and /ɑ/ merger
Pronunciation of /ɔ/
/ɔr/ words
/ɑ/ words
R-colored /ar/ words
/ɑr, /ɔr/ minimal pairs
/ar/, /ər/ minimal pairs
/ɔr/, /ər/ minimal pairs
/ɔr/ vs /ər/ vs /ar/ comparison sentences
Middle center vowels: /ʌ/ vs /ə/
/ʌ/ words
Schwa for de-emphasis
Multisyllabic words
Function words
/ər/ words
/ʌ/, /ər/ minimal pairs
/ʌ/ words
Schwa for de-emphasis
Multisyllabic words
Function words
/ər/ words
/ʌ/, /ər/ minimal pairs
Diphthongs: /eɪ/, /aɪ/ & /ɔɪ/
/eɪ/
/eɪ/ words
/ɛ/, /eɪ/ minimal pairs
/aɪ/
/aɪ/ words
/aɪər/ words
/ɔɪ/
/ɔɪ/ words
/eɪ/, /aɪ/ & /ɔɪ/ sentences
/eɪ/
/eɪ/ words
/ɛ/, /eɪ/ minimal pairs
/aɪ/
/aɪ/ words
/aɪər/ words
/ɔɪ/
/ɔɪ/ words
/eɪ/, /aɪ/ & /ɔɪ/ sentences
Diphthongs: /aʊ/ and /oʊ/
/aʊ/
/aʊ/ words
/aʊər/ words
/aʊ/ sentences
/oʊ/
/oʊ/ words
/oʊ/ homophones
/oʊ/ sentences
/oʊ/, /aʊ/ minimal pairs
/oʊ/, /ɔr/ minimal pairs
/aʊ/
/aʊ/ words
/aʊər/ words
/aʊ/ sentences
/oʊ/
/oʊ/ words
/oʊ/ homophones
/oʊ/ sentences
/oʊ/, /aʊ/ minimal pairs
/oʊ/, /ɔr/ minimal pairs
Part III: Consonants
Introduction to Consonants
Vocal tract
The tongue
The IPA chart for English consonants
Vocal tract
The tongue
The IPA chart for English consonants
Place of articulation
Bilabial
Labiodental
Interdental
Alveolar
Palatal
Velar
Glottal
Bilabial
Labiodental
Interdental
Alveolar
Palatal
Velar
Glottal
Manner of articulation
Obstruents
Plosives (stops)
Fricatives
Affricates
Sonorants
Nasals
Liquids
Glides
Obstruents
Plosives (stops)
Fricatives
Affricates
Sonorants
Nasals
Liquids
Glides
Voicing
Voicing for grammar
From noun to verb
From adjective to verb
From singular to plural
Voice assimilation
Voicing of -s or -es
Voicing of -ed
Consonant dropping in consonant clusters
Pre-fortis clipping
Minimal pairs for pre-fortis clipping
Voicing for grammar
From noun to verb
From adjective to verb
From singular to plural
Voice assimilation
Voicing of -s or -es
Voicing of -ed
Consonant dropping in consonant clusters
Pre-fortis clipping
Minimal pairs for pre-fortis clipping
Plosives (Stops)
Phonemes vs allophones
Glottal stopping for /t/, [ʔ]
Alveolar flapping for /t/, [ɾ]
Allophones of plosives
Aspirated
Unaspirated
Held
Devoicing of voiced plosives
Glottal stopping for /t/, [ʔ]
Alveolar flapping for /t/, [ɾ]
Allophones of plosives
Aspirated
Unaspirated
Held
Devoicing of voiced plosives
Bilabial plosives: /p/ and /b/
Aspirated p, [pʰ]
Unaspirated p, [p]
Unreleased p, [p̚]
Complementary distribution vs free variation
Silent p, b words
/p/, /b/ minimal pairs
/p/, /b/ sentences
Aspirated p, [pʰ]
Unaspirated p, [p]
Unreleased p, [p̚]
Complementary distribution vs free variation
Silent p, b words
/p/, /b/ minimal pairs
/p/, /b/ sentences
Alveolar plosives: /t/ and /d/
/t/, /d/ minimal pairs
/t/, /d/ minimal pairs for pre-fortis clipping
Allophones of /t/
Flap T
Homophones due to flap T
After stressed vowel and before unstressed vowel
Before syllabic L
After an r-colored vowel
Silent T
Glottal stop /ʔ/
Before syllabic N
/t/, /d/ minimal pairs
/t/, /d/ minimal pairs for pre-fortis clipping
Allophones of /t/
Flap T
Homophones due to flap T
After stressed vowel and before unstressed vowel
Before syllabic L
After an r-colored vowel
Silent T
Glottal stop /ʔ/
Before syllabic N
Velar plosives: /k/ and /g/
/k/, /g/ minimal pairs
/k/, /g/ sentences
/k/, /g/ minimal pairs
/k/, /g/ sentences
Fricatives
Labiodental fricatives: /f/ and /v/
/f/, /v/ minimal pairs
/f/, /v/ sentences
/f/, /p/ minimal pairs
/f/, /p/ sentences
/b/, /v/ minimal pairs
/b/, /v/ sentences
/f/, /v/ minimal pairs
/f/, /v/ sentences
/f/, /p/ minimal pairs
/f/, /p/ sentences
/b/, /v/ minimal pairs
/b/, /v/ sentences
Interdental fricatives: /θ/ and /ð/
/θ/, /ð/ words
/f/, /θ/ minimal pairs
/t/, /θ/ minimal pairs
/t/, /θ/ sentences
/d/, /ð/ minimal pairs
/d/, /ð/ sentences
/θ/, /ð/ words
/f/, /θ/ minimal pairs
/t/, /θ/ minimal pairs
/t/, /θ/ sentences
/d/, /ð/ minimal pairs
/d/, /ð/ sentences
Alveolar fricatives: /s/ and /z/
/s/, /z/ minimal pairs
/s/ and /z/ as grammar particle sounds
/s/, /θ/ minimal pairs
/ð/, /z/ minimal pairs
/s/, /z/, /θ/, and /ð/ sentences
/s/, /z/ minimal pairs
/s/ and /z/ as grammar particle sounds
/s/, /θ/ minimal pairs
/ð/, /z/ minimal pairs
/s/, /z/, /θ/, and /ð/ sentences
Palatal fricatives: /ʃ/ and /ʒ/
Words with /ʃ/
Words with /ʒ/
French origin words
Word endings with -SION, -SUAL, -SURE
From /z/ to /ʒ/
/ʃ/ and /ʒ/ minimal pairs
/ʃ/ and /Ʒ/ sentences
/s/, /ʃ/ minimal pairs
/z/, /ʒ/ minimal pairs
Words with /ʃ/
Words with /ʒ/
French origin words
Word endings with -SION, -SUAL, -SURE
From /z/ to /ʒ/
/ʃ/ and /ʒ/ minimal pairs
/ʃ/ and /Ʒ/ sentences
/s/, /ʃ/ minimal pairs
/z/, /ʒ/ minimal pairs
Glottal fricative: /h/
Silent H words
/h/, ∅ minimal pairs
/f/, /h/ minimal pairs
/h/ dropping in connected speech
The ‘h’ pronouns
The ‘have’ verb
Silent H words
/h/, ∅ minimal pairs
/f/, /h/ minimal pairs
/h/ dropping in connected speech
The ‘h’ pronouns
The ‘have’ verb
Affricates: /ʧ/ and /ʤ/
/ʧ/, /ʤ/ minimal pairs
/ʧ/, /ʤ/ sentences
/ʒ/, /ʤ/ minimal pairs
/ʃ/, tʃ/ minimal pairs
/ʤ/, /z/ minimal pairs
/ʧ/, /ʤ/ minimal pairs
/ʧ/, /ʤ/ sentences
/ʒ/, /ʤ/ minimal pairs
/ʃ/, tʃ/ minimal pairs
/ʤ/, /z/ minimal pairs
Nasals: /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/
Syllabic consonants
Bilabial nasal: /m/
Syllabic /əm/
Alveolar nasal: /n/
Syllabic /ən/
Velar nasal /ŋ/
Syllabic /əŋ/
/m/, /n/ minimal pairs
/n/, /ŋ/ minimal pairs
/m/, /n/ and /ŋ/ sentences
Syllabic consonants
Bilabial nasal: /m/
Syllabic /əm/
Alveolar nasal: /n/
Syllabic /ən/
Velar nasal /ŋ/
Syllabic /əŋ/
/m/, /n/ minimal pairs
/n/, /ŋ/ minimal pairs
/m/, /n/ and /ŋ/ sentences
Liquids: /l/ and /r/
Lateral liquid /l/
Light L
Light L words
L Blend words
Light L sentences
Dark L
Dark L words
Dark L sentences
Light L
Light L words
L Blend words
Light L sentences
Dark L
Dark L words
Dark L sentences
Retroflex Liquid /r/
Prevocalic R
Prevocalic R words
R bland words
Vocalic R
Vocalic R words
Vocalic R sentences
Intervocalic R
“A” before “R”
“E” before “R”
Mary–marry–merry merger
“I” before “R”
Mirror–nearer merger
“O” before “R”
“U” before “R”
/l/, /r/ minimal pairs
Challenging words with L and R
/lr/ combination words
/rl/ combination words
Prevocalic R
Prevocalic R words
R bland words
Vocalic R
Vocalic R words
Vocalic R sentences
Intervocalic R
“A” before “R”
“E” before “R”
Mary–marry–merry merger
“I” before “R”
Mirror–nearer merger
“O” before “R”
“U” before “R”
/l/, /r/ minimal pairs
Challenging words with L and R
/lr/ combination words
/rl/ combination words
Glides: /w/ and /j/
Labial glide /w/
Semivowels vs their vowel counterparts, /u/ and /i/
Words with /w/
/w/, ∅ minimal pairs
/v/, /w/ minimal pairs
/w/ sentences
Semivowels vs their vowel counterparts, /u/ and /i/
Words with /w/
/w/, ∅ minimal pairs
/v/, /w/ minimal pairs
/w/ sentences
Palatal glide /j/
‘Y’ as a vowel
‘Y’ as consonant
Words with /j/
Words with yod- dropping
Posh English vs working-class English
/j/ - ∅ minimal pairs
/w/, /j/ minimal pairs
/j/, /dʒ/ minimal pairs
/j/ sentences
‘Y’ as a vowel
‘Y’ as consonant
Words with /j/
Words with yod- dropping
Posh English vs working-class English
/j/ - ∅ minimal pairs
/w/, /j/ minimal pairs
/j/, /dʒ/ minimal pairs
/j/ sentences
Part IV: Connected Speech
Introduction to Connected Speech
Syllable-timed rhythm vs stress-timed rhythm
Thought groups
Predictable patterns of sound change
Five methods of connected speech
Syllable-timed rhythm vs stress-timed rhythm
Thought groups
Predictable patterns of sound change
Five methods of connected speech
Intrusion
/j/ intrusion
/w/ intrusion
/j/ intrusion
/w/ intrusion
Catenation
Catenation after H dropping
“My seat” vs “mice eat”
Catenation after H dropping
“My seat” vs “mice eat”
Gemination
Continuous consonants
“I scream” vs “ice cream”
Stops
“Red eye” vs “red dye”
Affricates
Continuous consonants
“I scream” vs “ice cream”
Stops
“Red eye” vs “red dye”
Affricates
Elision
Elision in function words
H-dropping
Contraction
Pronunciation of contracted words
Negative contractions
Inferring elided sounds
CAN vs CAN’T
Syllable elision
Elision in consonant clusters
-nt, -nd ending in word boundary
Elision in function words
H-dropping
Contraction
Pronunciation of contracted words
Negative contractions
Inferring elided sounds
CAN vs CAN’T
Syllable elision
Elision in consonant clusters
-nt, -nd ending in word boundary
Assimilation
Assimilation of voice
Alveolar consonant assimilations
/t/ to /p/ or /k/
/d/ to /b/ or /g/
/n/ to /m/ or /ŋ/
Nasal, lateral plosives
Palatalization
/t/+/j/=/ʧ/
/d/+/j/=/ʤ/
/s/+/j/=/ʃ/
/z/+/j/=/ʒ/
Course Enrollment
Learn English pronunciation for just $19.99 with this comprehensive course!
Improve your English pronunciation and speak with confidence with this comprehensive course. For just $19.99, you'll get lifetime access to all the course materials, including audios, videos, and written texts. This is a great value, especially when compared to the cost of the individual components on Amazon (ebook = $9.99) and Audible (audio book = $19.87).
The course is easy to follow and understand, and you can learn at your own pace. Plus, you'll have access to an enrolled-student-only website with audio lectures, written texts, and videos. And, if you're not happy with the course, you're backed by a money-back guarantee.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your English pronunciation skills. Enroll today for just $19.99!
- Lifetime access to all course materials
- Easy to follow and understand
- Learn at your own pace
- Access to an enrolled-student-only website with audio lectures, written texts, and videos
- Money-back guarantee
Assimilation of voice
Alveolar consonant assimilations
/t/ to /p/ or /k/
/d/ to /b/ or /g/
/n/ to /m/ or /ŋ/
Nasal, lateral plosives
Palatalization
/t/+/j/=/ʧ/
/d/+/j/=/ʤ/
/s/+/j/=/ʃ/
/z/+/j/=/ʒ/
Learn English pronunciation for just $19.99 with this comprehensive course!
Improve your English pronunciation and speak with confidence with this comprehensive course. For just $19.99, you'll get lifetime access to all the course materials, including audios, videos, and written texts. This is a great value, especially when compared to the cost of the individual components on Amazon (ebook = $9.99) and Audible (audio book = $19.87).
The course is easy to follow and understand, and you can learn at your own pace. Plus, you'll have access to an enrolled-student-only website with audio lectures, written texts, and videos. And, if you're not happy with the course, you're backed by a money-back guarantee.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your English pronunciation skills. Enroll today for just $19.99!
- Lifetime access to all course materials
- Easy to follow and understand
- Learn at your own pace
- Access to an enrolled-student-only website with audio lectures, written texts, and videos
- Money-back guarantee