Learn English and conduct conversations with confidence. What do you do when others can’t understand what you are saying?
Do you raise your voice? Do you speak at a slower pace? Does this help? Many native speakers resort to repeating what was not understood in the first place. They unknowingly treat a comprehension problem as a hearing problem. Raising the volume doesn’t improve comprehension. To prevent communication failure, read the following suggestions.
Comprehension Soars When You Do These 2 Things
Develop the habit of speaking whenever you can. Remember that making mistakes is a part of learning, not a sign of weakness or shame. So, what two features of speech increase intelligibility?
Intonation
Proper enunciation of certain letters (to be provided)
That’s all you need to maximize your impact on your audience.
The Tone of Your Voice Is Important
The tone of your voice-also known as vocal variety-adds meaning to words, expresses emotion, and conveys attitude. Don’t shy away from using vocal variety. In sentences, English intonation starts high and ends low.
ex: In sentences,↑intonation starts high and ends low↓.
Word stress is important. Stress nouns. They are the most (high value) part of a sentence.
Which Letters Cause the Most Confusion?
Can you guess? Vowels or consonants. The mispronunciation of consonants can cause a breakdown in communication. Enunciate consonants to avoid causing confusion for native listeners.
Would you like to learn more? Call 781.385.0231. Or get a free accent screening.