26 Feb Using Onomatopoeia and Visualisation to Learn a British Accent
Let’s use onomatopoeia-style techniques to practise consonant clusters and other aspects of English pronunciation in accent reduction training
Some consonant clusters can be visualised or imagined as abstract noises and this can help you say them
1. What does /pl/ sound like?
As in… “apply”…
Maybe it sounds like flicking water at your sibling using a plastic straw during a water fight, or maybe it sounds like… paint splattering on your hardwood floor…
What do you think? …
2. What does /sks/ sound like?
As in… “tasks”…
Maybe it sounds like an air hockey puck skidding along the table, then hitting the side and skidding some more, or maybe it sounds like the noise you make to chase away the magpies that are eating your birdseed in the garden…
What do you think? …
3. What does /bl/ sound like?
As in… “blue”…
Maybe it sounds like dripping blood in your favourite crime drama…
What do you think? …
4. What does /tr/ sound like?
As in… “train”…
Maybe it sounds like a car that won’t start…
What do you think? …
5. What does /kl/ sound like?
As in… “clear”…
Maybe it sounds like water trying to get down a blocked drain…
What do you think? …
6. What does /gl/ sound like?
As in… “glass”…
Maybe it sounds like drinking a bottle of Coca Cola when you’re very thirsty…
What do you think? …
7. What does /tʃt/ sound like?
As in… “watched”…
Maybe it sounds like a steam train coming to an abrupt stop…
What do you think? …
Take a listen to the consonant clusters of English and some vowel linking examples below:
Get the e-books that contain this audio and more
or
Take the courses and learn how to pronounce all the sounds of English here
Another aspect of English pronunciation that can be improved using visualisation includes:
8. Visualisation can help you with your British English intonation!
A high-fall intonation pattern can sound like an object going down a slide – like this:
Get the e-books that will help you learn the rules and exceptions of English intonation here