Re: Re: Pronunciation (was Chinese learning English)

Merton Bland <mert_bland-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  May I suggest that our aim with pronunciation is not to teach RP, 'Stryne, 
Midwestern, or whatever our own regionism is (even if we acknowledge other 
accents), but the student's own accent AS LONG AS THAT PRONUNCIATION IS 
COMPREHENSIBLE TO THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PERSONS NOT SHARING THAT ACCENT.
Mert
 
  Great comment Mert. I've found from teaching at a university that the 
students have a difficult time understanding regional accents, even ones that 
are very common, such as Midwestern U.S. or outside London English. They've 
learned to listen to perfect English by hearing a recording three times or 
hearing the better Chinese teacher speaking Chinglish. 
  There is a lack of imagination if the sounds they hear are even a little 
different then what they have learned. I believe the problem is caused because 
the Chinese language is so exact in sounds and tones. I hear this problem 
amongst the Chinese when they encounter a regional Chinese pronunciation. They 
don't understand each other.
  In my own school for younger students we try to expose the students to 
various accents. We have Chinese teachers whose original language was Mandarin 
or Sichanese or even a country accent who all pronounce English in a different 
way. I have a Midwest accent and also we occasionally have other foreign 
speakers from other parts of the world speak to the students. The students have 
the opportunity to hear many accents and to use their imagination to decipher 
what they have not heard before. 
   
  Robert Lenkart in Mianyang
   

                
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