Pronunciation (was Chinese Learning English)

Ria wrote:
>  You get the word 'one'; just teach them that we write o-n-e but we
> say /w-u-n/.  Why do you need IPA?  We write b-u-s-i-n-e-s-s and we
> say /b-i-s-i-n-e-s-s/.  What's so difficult in teaching that?
--------------

>This could open a can of worms. I say /bizness/. I'm British but I
>think some Americans are like me too.
>Dick

hmmm. I say bizness too. Doesn't everyone? So just tell the students to
say bizness and forget the i. There must be lots of words (I can't think of) 
that have redundant vowels.

My fave hobbyhorse is that vowels don't matter much. When we hear b.zn.ss we 
connect bizness unless something is way out and we get bossiness, but the 
context should correct that. Am I way off course thinking along this line? I 
admit I did meet an Irishman at a seminar and it was half a day before I 
understood what he was saying.

Dave Nevin
expecting a mixed bag of freshmen for Oral E in Sept.





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