Speech Communication Presentation 2

Topic: English Pronunciation

My Aim: To inform and to entertain

Thesis: English pronunciations are difficult for Japanese people because there a lot of sound which Japanese language doesn’t have. However, we can do something to improve our pronunciation.

Out Line:
*Why is Japanese people’s English pronunciation bad? What is the biggest cause?
*Examples of difficult sounds. “L&R”, “TH&S&SH”
*What can we do to improve our pronunciation? Some suggestions.

Script:
Today I’d like to talk about “English Pronunciation.” How many of you aren’t satisfied with your English pronunciation? Can you raise your hands? I’m not satisfied with my English pronunciation.
Today, there are 3 main points in my presentation. First, I’d like to talk about why Japanese people’s English pronunciation is so bad and what the biggest cause is. Second, I will give you some examples of difficult English sounds for Japanese people. Third, I will give 3 suggestions or strategies to improve your pronunciation. So, these three points are important.

First, let me talk about problems of Japanese people’s English pronunciation. It is said that Japanese people’s English pronunciations are not good generally speaking. In the world there are many kinds of pronunciations so, I can’t tell what the proper English pronunciations are. However, when we communicate with people from all over the world, we should at least make ourselves understood.

Have you ever been asked by international students “what did you say?” or “Can you say that again?” Why do you think Japanese people’s pronunciations are so bad? The biggest cause is “Katakana” pronunciation. Even when speaking English, many Japanese people try to pronounce English words in a Japanese way. English pronunciations are difficult for Japanese people because there a lot of sound which Japanese language doesn’t have.

Second, I’ll give some examples. L&R and TH&S&SH are famous examples of difficult pronunciations which Japanese people can’t distinguish. L and R are difficult for Japanese people because Japanese language doesn’t have both sounds. Our らりるれろsounds are close to them but not exactly the same. Try to say these words, “Load” and “Road”, “Rice” and “Lice”, “Flesh” and “Fresh”, “Play” and “Pray”. Is it easy for you? Well, look at this picture. They are “Rice” and “Lice”. They sound similar but so different isn’t it? If you couldn’t make clear differences, listeners can misunderstand what you said. Like, when you say “I eat rice/ lice everyday.” Rice is ok, but lice are disgusting, right? And this one also, “Play” and “Pray”

What is more, as for TH&S&SH, all of them are シ in Katakana. I have heard a story from a Native English speaker, that when he came to Japan for the first time, he was really confused because many Japanese people used “I sink” so often, not “I think.” Look at the handout that I gave you. There are tongue twister phrases on it. Those S and SH sounds are different. Try to say that phrases. Maybe it is still difficult to distinguish S and SH sounds even if you said them very slowly.
There are many these kinds of funny examples on line. Try to look at the “Engrish.com.”

Finally, I will introduce you 3 good strategies to improve your pronunciation. I researched on the Internet and also asked some Japanese people whose English pronunciations are very wonderful and I got some good strategies from them.

*1st, Listen to Native Speaker’s English many times.
It doesn’t matter whether you talk with international students or listen to CNN or BBC radio. Listen to fluent English again and again.

*2nd, Move your mouth.
Japanese people don’t move our mouth so much. I observed many Japanese people’s mouth when they were talking in Japanese. I found that almost all people don’t open up their mouth while they talk. However, Native English speakers use their mouth, tongues and lips very much. So, try to imitate native English speaker’s mouth movements.

*3rd, Record your voice and listen to it.
Try to record your voice while you are speaking English and then listen to it. You would be able to find many Japanese English pronunciations on it. It will help you to find which sounds are difficult for you.


Today I talked about English pronunciation. There were 3 points in my presentation. First I talked about why Japanese people’s English pronunciation is so bad and then, I gave some examples. Finally, I gave 3 suggestions to improve your pronunciations. First, Listen to Native Speaker’s English many times. Second, Move your mouth. Then third, Record your voice and listen to it. So, remember that information and try to use some of my strategies if you are interested in.