Pronunciation is as important as grammar, right? yes of course!
Why is it important to pronounce things properly. Here are my personal reasons... of course, you can add your experiences, depending on the exposure you have been with the English speakers.
1. The listener needs to here you correctly. Some of us, depending on the country that we have been with, may come from a soft or thick way of speaking things. As a result of this, the way they (we) speak the English language tends to be similar to it. This also include the stresses of words, especially, if it's a three or more syllabic type of word.
2. You need to convey the right message (coming from the right pronounced words). You may not agree on me with this, but sometimes, when you mispronounced something, you may convey a wrong signal such as being sarcastic, rude or soft.
3. You may look uneducated. I know this word is strong, but we don't want you to start you on the wrong foot when you're trying to create your first impression. (But remember this, if you can't, it doesn't matter, because this maybe your second language or you are just learning this and they need to respect you for that. Also, it would not harm and will serve as an additional point to your favor, if you know how to use this skill.. would you agree? :) ).
What is my solution?
I have been using two sites in assisting me with the right pronunciation. These sites are the following:
1. Dictionary.com (http://www.dictionary.com/) - if you wan't to find out the right meaning, pronunciation, thesaurus (similar words), flashcards (for studying), quotes, encyclopedia, translator and Spanish.
2. Google Translate (http://translate.google.com/) - if you wan't to translate one language to another language. This is cool!, because you can type the words and hear how the words are being pronounce in a complete sentence. This will also provide you an alternative sentence, if the program found a possible mistake in what you have typed.
Here they are:
For The Dictionary.com:
If you click this, http://www.dictionary.com/ , it will bring you to the Dictionary.com site. The site will look like this (see picture below).
Dictionary.com Website
Start entering the word on the search button. For instance, type pronunciation (step 1) and click search. This will bring you to the searched site (see picture below). When the searched result is shown, scroll down and look for the word with a corresponding sound icon and click it (step 2) to hear the right pronunciation.
Dictionary.com with Search Word
For Google Translate:
Firstly, you have to click Google Translate Website (http://translate.google.com/). Then you will be brought to this page. Be sure to choose English (see picture below).
Google Translate Site
Write the sentence in the box provided (step 1) and then click the sound icon to here how the words are said (step 2). The other translation can also be seen and heard (see picture below).
Google Translate with Sentence
Conclusion: There are many tools on the net that can help you pronounce properly. Of course, there is no substitute for an English teacher, if you can find one. But if you can't, or you are in a hurry or can't afford to pay for school, well, then you can go to these sites and use the available tools for free. :)
Cheers!
Curiosity
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