Pronunciation of the word walk

Learn English: phonetics, vocabulary, grammar — OTUK

Your speech should be correct in sound, structure and content. We invite you to find out what the language sections are, what are the features of their study and how they will help in a situation of real communication.

Pronunciation and phonetics

The smallest unit of speech is sound. It is from the sounds that the combinations are formed, which we identify as words and statements. If you pronounce each sound correctly, then in general they will give clear, competent speech and ensure successful communication for you.

For example, many new learners pronounce the words walk [wↄ: k] to go and work [wᴈ: k] to work identically. Of course, in most cases, the context will help the speaker understand exactly what you mean. However, if your interlocutor himself has only recently begun to learn English, then inaccurate pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings and embarrassment.

Usually, the study of phonetics begins with the alphabet. First, students learn how certain sounds are pronounced by themselves, then how they behave in conjunction with other sounds. So, A [ei] in speech can be pronounced as [ei], [ᴂ], [ᴧ], [a:], etc.

As a rule, students are explained what phonetic signs (transcription) are used to denote sounds, how the articulatory apparatus is used, and what air currents must be created to generate them.

Vocabulary or vocabulary

Another indicator that you’ve learned English is your vocabulary.

Researchers call the number 8000 — this is the number of words, which will be enough to communicate on almost any topic with an average European, including a native speaker of English, and read any literature.

This is a very decent figure, which is quite difficult to achieve. There is no need to chase quantity here. The main criterion is the adequate use of vocabulary. It is better to know fewer words, but be able to use them in speech.

As for vocabulary, in addition to common words, an important indicator of the level of knowledge is fixed expressions, slang and phraseology. Native speakers easily recognize the direct and figurative meaning of words, regular or occasional (characteristic only for a particular situation) word usage, language game, etc. They can describe many typical situations or emotions in short but succinct stable expressions. All these skills are beyond the control of a beginner to learn a language.

In order to enrich your vocabulary at the expense of such units, you need to immerse yourself in the language environment. For this, regular communication with foreigners, listening to foreign radio stations, reading literature, news, blogs and forums, watching films, etc. is suitable.

Grammar and syntax

Knowledge of grammatical structures and rules makes it possible to create a clear skeleton of speech. It is not enough just to learn words and remember how they are pronounced, it is important to understand how they can change, and also to be able to connect them into a meaningful and understandable statement in English.

In this section of linguistics, both the forms of verbs, and the order of words in sentences, and stable syntactic constructions, for example, a complex subject, are studied. The ideal situation is when you bring the use of these rules and patterns to automatism, that is, do not think about the structure of speech, but only follow its semantic content.

Modern teaching methods, in particular the most popular communicative technique, offer to study grammar in relation to the needs of speech. Unlike the methods that were used in our country just a decade ago, it does not involve a two-month study of the system of times, etc. The instructor will explain the specific temporal form when it becomes necessary to apply it to the topic of the lesson.

More advanced mastery of each of the listed aspects brings you closer to learning English at a high level. However, remember, the most important indicator of your knowledge is how freely you can use it to solve practical problems, that is, for oral and written communication, reading, understanding sounding speech, etc.

Read also

Source: https://onlineteachersuk.com/ru/viuchit-anglijskij-phonetica-leksika-grammatica/

Rules for reading English for beginners: a table of letters and diphthongs with transcription and pronunciation

30.05.2019

Transcription is a recording of the sound of a letter or word in the form of a sequence of special phonetic symbols.

The transcription may not be interesting to everyone, but it is undoubtedly useful. Knowing the transcription, you will correctly read the unfamiliar word without assistance. In the classroom, you yourself can read the transcription of a word (for example, from the blackboard) without asking others, thereby facilitating the process of assimilating lexical material, etc.

At first, there will be errors in the correct reading, tk. there are always some subtleties in pronunciation. But this is just a matter of practice. A little later, if necessary, you can transcribe the words yourself.

Transcription is directly related to reading rules… In English, not everything that is seen (letter combinations) is read (as in Russian and Spanish, for example).

When textbooks (mostly Russian) tell about the rules of reading, much attention is paid to the type of syllable. Usually about five of these types are described.

But such a detailed theoretical presentation of the rules of reading does not greatly facilitate the fate of a beginner, and may even mislead him.

It must be remembered that a good knowledge of the rules of reading is a great merit of practice, not theory.

Your attention will be presented the basic rules for reading individual letters and letter combinations. «Behind the scenes» will remain some phonetic moments that are difficult to convey in writing.

A little patience! Both transcription and reading rules are easy to learn in a short time. Then you will be surprised: «How easy it has become to read and write!»

Note! However, do not forget that, despite its widespread distribution, the English language does not cease to be a LANGUAGE, full of exceptions, stylistic and other delights. And at any stage of language learning, and especially at the initial stage, often look into the dictionary.

Transcription icons and their pronunciation

[ b ]	[ б ]	Single sounds
[ d ]	[ д ]	[ Λ ]	[ а ] — a short
[ f ]	[ ф ]	[ a:]	[ а ] — deep
[ 3 ]	[ ж ]	[ i ]	[ и ] — a short
[ d3 ]	[ j ]	[ i: ]	[ и ] — long
[ g ]	[ г ]	[ o ]1	[ о ] — a short
[ h ]	[ х ]	[ o: ]	[ о ] — deep
[ k ]	[ к ]	[ u ]	[ у ] — a short
[ l ]	[ л ]	[ u: ]	[ у ] — long
[ m ]	[ м ]	[ e ]	as in the word «plеd «
[ n ]	[ н ]	[ ε: ]	as in the word «mёd «
[ p ]	[ п ]	Diphthongs
[ s ]	[ с ]	[ əu ]	[ OU ]
[ t ]	[ т ]	[ au ]	[ ay ]
[ v ]	[ в ]	[ ei ]	[ Hey ]
[ z ]	[ з ]	[ oi ]	[ ой ]
[ t∫]	[ ч ]	[ ai ]	[ ouch ]
[∫]	[ ш ]
[ r ]	Soft [ р ] as in a word рUssky
[ о	The sign of softness as in the Russian letter Ё (ёlka)
[ θ ]	[ æ ]
[ ð ]
[ ŋ ]	Nasal, in the French manner, sound [ n ]	[ ə ]4	[neutral sound]
[ w ]

Notes:

1. In many school textbooks and in some domestic dictionaries, this sound is denoted as [ o ]. But, in modern English dictionaries, this sound is usually denoted as shown in the table.
2. Diphthong Is a complex sound with two sounds. In most cases, a diphthong can be «split» into two sounds, but not in writing. Since in many cases one of the constituent sounds of the diphthong, if used separately, will have a different designation. For example diphthong [ au ]: separately such a transcriptional icon as [ a ] — Does not exist. Therefore, most diphthongs are indicated not by a set of different transcription symbols, but by their own sign.
3. In many school textbooks and in some domestic dictionaries, this sound is denoted as [ ou ], which is more descriptive. But, in modern English dictionaries, this sound is usually denoted as shown in the table.
4. This sign often denotes unstressed vowel sounds in transcription, regardless of the letters (combinations) that this sound give.

Reading rules

English words have several types of syllables. However, to understand the whole system, it is necessary to remember and distinguish between the following two types: open и закрытый.

Open syllable ends in a vowel: game

Source: https://crownenglishclub.ru/baza-znanij/pravila-chteniya-anglijskogo-yazyka-dlya-nachinayushhih-tablitsa-bukv-i-diftongov-s-transkriptsiej-i-proiznosheniem.html

RUSSIAN-ENGLISH DICTIONARY

— 1 —

— 3 —

34 words approx.	About 34 words
Compiled by AM Taube, IW Litvinova, AD Miller, RC Daglish	Composed by A. M. Taube, A. V. Litvinova, A. D. Miller, R. K. Daglish
Edited by R. C Daglish, MA Cantab.	Edited by R.K.Daglish, Master of Arts, University of Cambridge
«SOVIET ENCYCLOPAEDIA» PUBLISHING HOUSE MOSCOW — 1965	PUBLISHING HOUSE «SOVIET ENCYCLOPEDIA» MOSCOW — 1965

— 4 —

The dictionary contains about 34 thousand words of the modern Russian literary language. Much attention is paid to the development of the meanings of words, showing their use and the selection of English translations that meet the standards of the modern English literary language.

The dictionary is intended for English language learners, particularly high school and university students.

— 5 —

INTRODUCTION

This Russian-English Dictionary is intended for high school and university students and all English learners.

The authors also took into account the possibility of using the dictionary by a foreign reader studying Russian.

The dictionary aims to help people who use it to translate into English Russian texts of average difficulty on socio-political, literary and everyday topics, that is, texts that are not of a special, scientific or technical nature.

When compiling the dictionary, special attention was paid, on the one hand, to such a selection of Russian material (vocabulary and phraseology), which would reflect the current state of the Russian literary language as fully as possible (as far as the volume of the dictionary allowed), on the other hand, semantically, stylistically and idiomatically correct translation into English language of Russian words and expressions.

The glossary is based on the latest explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language, as well as popular literature and Soviet newspapers and magazines. This does not include highly specialized terms, obsolete and dialectal words and expressions. At the same time, in connection with the rapid development of science and technology, new words and expressions and new meanings of old words are given in the dictionary, which are widely included in everyday life and are constantly used by the Soviet press.

The dictionary also contains word combinations and idiomatic expressions that are difficult to translate into English.

In the dictionary entries, grammatical and stylistic notes are given, as well as indications of the scope of use of the Russian and, if necessary, the English word, which is especially important for persons who are not fluent in English.

All comments and suggestions regarding the dictionary, the editors asks to send to the Publishing House «Soviet Encyclopedia» (Moscow, Zh-28, Pokrovsky Boulevard, 8).

— 6 —

Lexicographic sources

Dictionary of the Russian language, t. I-IV, Academy of Sciences of the USSR — Institute of the Russian language, State. publishing house of foreign and national dictionaries. Moscow, 1957-1961.

Dictionary of the Russian language, compiled by S. I. Ozhegov, State. publishing house of foreign and national dictionaries. Moscow, 1964.

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language, vol. I-IV, ed. prof. D.N.Ushakova, State. publishing house of foreign and national dictionaries. Moscow, 1935-1940.

English-Russian dictionary, compiled by V.K.Müller, State. publishing house of foreign and national dictionaries. Moscow, 1963.

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, vols. I-II, 3d ed. Oxford, 1962.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English, Revised by E. Mcintosh. Oxford, 1954.

Daniel Jones. An English Pronouncing Dictionary, 11th ed. London, 1957.

Source: http://bse.uaio.ru/RUSANG2/01d.htm

Geographic names of Great Britain

Of course, the fact that in English words are read topsy-turvy, you will not surprise anyone. But even against this general background, the names of localities, cities and villages in Great Britain are something out of the ordinary. I remember how I was first struck by the name of the London Underground station Southwark, which sounds [ˈsʌðək], or Ruislip — [ˈraɪslɪp].

It is curious that similar names of geographical objects in America and Canada are often read normally, that is, «according to the rules.» This is explained primarily by the relatively short history of the New World and the greater mobility of the population during the period of its development. After all, it is the indigenous people who guarantee the transfer of toponyms from generation to generation without changes.

However, in British place names there are several generic suffix-endings that make the task somewhat easier:

• «-Borough» and «-burgh» are pronounced [-bʌrə], [-brə];
• «-Bury» — [-bʌri] or [-bri];
• «-Cester» — [-stər];
• «-Gh» is not pronounced;
• «-Ham» — [-əm];
• «-Shire» — [-ʃər] or [-ʃɪər];
• «-Quay» — [-kiː];
• «-Wich» — [-ɪtʃ] or [-ɪdʒ];
• «-Wick» — [-ɪk];
• «-Mouth» — [-məθ];

While searching for a dictionary of place names for my transcription translator, I came across an absolutely excellent article on British place names, the translation of which from English I provide below. The play on words in the subheadings is revealed next to them in parentheses.

* * *

When traveling in the UK, it is difficult to do more carelessness than mispronouncing the name of a city or area. The response can be, to put it mildly, unpredictable. The interlocutor may pretend that he does not understand or does not believe his ears

Whit? Is there such a city?

make fun of you mercilessly in public

Slaf! Did you hear that, Eric? He said «Slough»!

or even, frowning, give out condescending:

I don’t even know what he’s talking about, Betty. Are you okay, honey? Should I call you a doctor?

Let’s take a look at the place names that tourists stumble upon in the UK most often. And do not think that the British themselves live easier — most of the examples given will be a surprise for them too.

In a quagmire of despair

(Slough of Despond, from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Journey)

You probably know that the letter combination «ough» can be read as you like. If not, remember how to pronounce tough, through, though, thought, thorough, and trough.

In Old English, the word «burg» or «burh» meant «castle» or «house-fortress», and today it has become in the suffixes «-borough», «-burgh» and «-bury». The first two of them are pronounced [-b (ə) rə], not barau, and certainly not burg. For example, Peterborough [ˈpiːtəːbrə], Scarborough [ˈskɑːbrə] and Edinburgh [ˈɛdɪnbʌrə].

However, in addition to the suffix «-borough», the combination «ough» is found in other names, and just like in ordinary words, the correct pronunciation will have to be memorized for each name.

The best illustration of this is the three boroughs of Milton Keynes — Loughton [ˈlaʊtən], Broughton [ˈbrɔːtən] and Woughton [ˈwʌftən]. Slough [ˈslaʊ] rhymes with «cow» rather than «cuff», as does Rough Tor [ˈraʊtər] in Cornwall.

Finally, in Loughborough [ˈlʌrə] this combination occurs twice, and among the mispronunciations there are also “lubaru” and even “lughebaruge”.

Bread toaster

(Pop-up Towcester, pronounced «toaster»)

Old English «caester» means «walled city» and comes from the Latin «castrum». Many names formed with this suffix are pronounced without surprises, such as Chester, Manchester and Lancaster. Exeter [ˈɛksɪtə] also comes from «caester» and is pronounced predictably, unless you forget that the stress falls on the first syllable. Although, again, in the local dialect this name sounds like [ˈɛgzɛdə].

The situation is somewhat more complicated when this suffix becomes «-cester». Often, one syllable just falls out, as in Leicester [ˈlɛstə], Gloucester [ˈɡlɒstə], Towcester [ˈtəʊstə], Bicester [ˈbɪstə] and Worcester [ˈwʊstə]. Unfortunately, there is always an exception to the rule — Cirencester [ˈsaɪərənsɛstə].

The situation is similar with the names derived from the Old English «mynster» (ie «monastery»): Beaminster [ˈbɛmstə] and Leominster [ˈlɛmstə], but again we have Westminster — [ˌwestˈmɪnstə].

Alas, poor Warwick!

(Alas, Poor Warwick! In the original line from Hamlet — Yorick)

The suffixes «-wich» and «-wick» come from Old English «wic» — a village, a city. Another meaning of it is «dairy farm», which can be traced in the name of the airport Gatwick [ˈgætwɪk], literally «goat farm» — goat farm. However, the presence of these suffixes in the name should immediately alert you.

Fans of American singer Dionne Warwick may be surprised to learn that the city of Warwick is pronounced [ˈwɒrɪk].

Other such examples include Berwick-upon-Tweed [ˈbɛrɪk-], Keswick [ˈkɛzɪk], Alnwick [ˈænɪk], Hawick [ˈhɔɪk], Greenwich [ˈɡrɪnɪdʒ], and Norwich [ˈnɒrɪtʃ] — although in the latter example the locals call their city [nɒrɪtʃ] …

Ewell never walk alone

(You’ll Never Walk Alone is a popular Broadway hit)

Many names reflect the Great Vowel Shift of the Middle Ages, well known to linguists. The most famous example is London [ˈlʌndən], but Derby [ˈdɑːbi], Berkshire [ˈbɑːkʃə], Hertford [ˈhɑːtfəːd], Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ), Reading [ˈrɛdɪŋ], Holyhead [ˈhɒewlɪ ˈ], Lːɪdlu , Steyning [ˈstenɪŋ], Keynsham [ˈkeɪnʃəm] and Wisbech [ˈwɪzbiːtʃ].

Names beginning with «E» are especially capricious: Erith [ˈɪərɪθ], Ewell [ˈjuːl], Eyam [iːm], Esher [ˈiːʃə], as well as Ely [ˈiːli] in Cambridgeshire (Ely in Wales sounds different — [ ˈƐli], but this is a completely different story, since there it comes from the Celtic word).

Vowel shifts are also irregular. The pronunciation of Uckfield in Sussex is as expected, but substitute «C» and we get a completely different reading — Cuckfield [ˈkʊkfɪld]. The neighboring towns of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells in Kent both begin with [ˈtɒnbrɪdʒ]. Didcot in Oxfordshire got rid of the vowel — [ˈdɪdkt], and the name of the Cherwell River sounds [ˈtʃɑːwɛl].

In some cities there is no agreement at all. The population of the town of Shrewsbury is divided into three camps — some say [ˈʃrəʊzbri], others — [ˈʃrʊzbri], others generally [ˈʃʊzbri]. Holborn in central London has always been pronounced [ˈhəʊbən], but with the influx of newcomers, the historical version is quickly being replaced by the more natural one [ˈhɒlbəːn].

Leave it to Beaver

(Leave It To Belvoir, a reference to the TV series Leave It To Beaver)

A number of names in Britain remained from the Norman conquerors, but French sounds did not take root very well, as a result Beaulieu sounds [ˈbjuːli], Belvoir — [ˈbiːvə], and the former royal observatory Herstmonceux — [ˌhɜːsm (ə) nˈsuː].

Boy pop band

(Fowey Zone, a reference to the pop group Boyzone)

Once popular with pirates and now with surfers, Cornwell has always kept himself apart from the rest of England. And although the Cornish language died in Bose as early as the XNUMXth century, some of its words live in place names. Not all of them are read unexpectedly, but there are also such as the village of Mousehole [maʊzl], the port of Fowey [fɔɪ] and the city of Launceston [ˈlænsən].

On the other side of the Tamar River [ˈteɪmɑː] are Torquay [tɔːˈkiː] (by the way, the English capital of surfing Newquay is pronounced similarly — [njuːˈkiː]) and Teignmouth [ˈtɪnməθ].

In fact, most of the time the ending “-mouth” is [-məθ], for example Plymouth [ˈplɪməθ], Portsmouth [ˈpɔːtsməθ] and Bournemouth [ˈbɔːnməθ]. There are exceptions — Tynemouth is pronounced in full [ˈtaɪnmaʊθ]. A similar story with names starting with «South».

Southwell in Nottinghamshire is [ˈsʌðəl] and Southall in London is [ˈsaʊθɔːl]. An extra “H” [saʊθˈhæmptən] appears in Southampton, but not in Northampton [nɔːˈθæmptən].

British Hollywood

(Tintwistle Town: «Tinseltown» is an alternate title for Hollywood)

In the north of England, the order in the names is even less. Here we have Tideswell [ˈtɪdsəl] and Vivienne Westwood’s hometown of Tintwistle [ˈtɪnsəl].

Darwin in Lancashire is pronounced [ˈdærən], Blackley — [ˈbleɪkli], Heysham — [ˈhiːʃəm], Small and Large Peover — [ˈpiːvə], Whalley — [ˈwɔːli], Claughton — [ˈklæftən], and finally the absolutely inimitable Oltwald …

To the east in Yorkshire we have Keighley [ˈkiːθli] and Great Barugh [greɪtˈbɑːf], which are clearly associated with “great barf”.

Torpenhow in Cumbria has an unusual sound, more characteristic of Cornwell — [trəˈpɛnə]. It is curious that the parts that make up this name — «tor», «pen» and «how» — mean approximately the same thing — «ridge, hill, summit», only taken from different dialects. It turns out, something like «Three times Hill». And nearby there is also Torpenhow Hill — «Three times Hill».

Scotland and Wales

Geographical names in Wales and Scotland were not just influenced by old languages. Welsh and Scottish are to this day the official languages ​​of these territories, along with English. Moreover, both belong to the Celtic languages, i.e. completely unrelated to English. Accordingly, both the spelling and phonetic systems of these two languages ​​are hell from the point of view of the English language.

Take the 58-letter village name in Wales — Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. She, of course, has an abbreviated name — Llanfair PG, but even it is pronounced in such a way that the international phonetic alphabet is not able to reflect it adequately — [hlan’vaɪr]. I listened to audio examples in three sources, and in each I hear a different sound at the beginning.

In general, I just skip this piece of the original article.

And in pursuit

Cambridge College Magdalene is pronounced [ˈmɔːdlɪn] and Caius [ˈkiːz]. Kent is home to Wrotham [ˈruːtəm], Trottiscliffe [ˈtrɒzli] and Meopham [ˈmɛpəm].

Source: http://lingorado.com/british-placenames/