One of the most important aspects of learning English is pronunciation. Without clear pronunciation, it is difficult to make yourself understood. First start by learning individual sounds. After that, focus on the music of the language. You might be surprised by the following statement: Pronouncing every word correctly leads to poor pronunciation! Good pronunciation comes from stressing the right words - this isbecause English is a time-stressed language.
發音是學習英語最重要的方面之一。如果發音不夠清晰，就很難使別人聽懂你的話。首先得從單個發音開始。然後，將注意力集中在語調上。聽到下面這句話你可能會很驚訝：將每個詞的音都正確地發出來只會練出糟糕的發音!好的發音在於對正確的詞進行強調——這是因為英語是一門強調重音的語言。
In other words, some words - the content words - receive more focus, whereas other words - function words - are less important. Learn more below.
也就是說，人們更多強調的是實詞，而其他的詞——虛詞的重要性居於次要。請從下面內容獲取更多信息。
Here's How to Improve Your Pronunciation:
以下是提高發音的方法：
1.Start with learning individual sounds. These are called phonemes.
從聽單個的發音(即音素)開始。
2.Use minimal pairs to practice individual vowel sounds. Minimal pairs are words in which only one sound changes. For example, pop - pep - pip - pap changes the vowel sound. Using minimal pairs helps you isolate a sound to really focus on the small changes in sounds between vowels.
使用最小對立體來練習單個的元音。最小對立組就是只有一個發音不同的詞組。例如，pop - pep - pip – pap中只有元音在變化。使用最小對立組能夠使你將一個音單獨挑出，將注意力集中在小小的元音變化上。
3..Learn pairs of consonants that are voiced and voiceless and practice through minimal pairs. For example, f / v the 'f' sound is voiceless and the 'v' voiced. You can recognize the difference between voiced and voiceless by placing a finger on your throat. Voiced sounds vibrate, whereas voiceless sounds do not vibrate. These pairs include: b / p - z / s - d / t - v / f - zh / sh - dj / ch.
將清音和濁音的輔音通過最小對立組進行成對練習。例如，f/v中的f是清音，而v是濁音。你可以通過將手指放在喉嚨處來判斷清音和濁音的區別。如果是濁音，喉嚨會震動，清音則不會。這些組合包括：b / p - z / s - d / t - v / f - zh / sh - dj / ch.
4.Learn the difference between pure vowels and diphthongs such as the 'oi' sound in 'boy' or 'aee' sound in 'tray'.
學習單元音和雙元音之間的差別，例如boy中的oi, tray中的aee。
5.Learn the following rules concerning pronunciation.
學習下列有關發音的規則。
6.English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic.
英語強調重音，其他語言則強調音節主音。
7.In other languages, such as French or Italian, each syllable receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its own length).
在其他的語言中，例如法語和義大利語，每一個音節都同樣重要。(雖然也有重音，但每個音節都有自己的音長。)
9.English pronunciation focuses on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, non-stressed, words.
英語的發音強調某一個具體的重音，而其他的非重音則可帶過。
10.Stressed words are considered content words: Nouns e.g. kitchen, Peter - (most) principal verbs e.g. visit, construct - Adjectives e.g. beautiful, interesting - Adverbs e.g. often, carefully.
重讀的詞語一般都是實詞。例如，名詞：kitchen, Peter;(絕大多數)重要的動詞：visit, construct;形容詞：beautiful, interesting;副詞：often, carefully。
11. Read the following sentence aloud: The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance.
大聲讀出下面的句子：The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance.(美麗的山佇立在遠方。)
12. Read the following sentence aloud: He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening.
大聲讀出下面的句子：He can come on Sundays as long as he doesn't have to do any homework in the evening.(只要他晚上不用做家務，就可以星期天來。)
13. Notice that the first sentence actually takes about the same time to speak well!
注意第一句要花上相同的時間讀出來!
14. Even though the second sentence is approximately 30% longer than the first, the sentences take the same time to speak. This is because there are 5 stressed words in each sentence.
即使第二句比第一句要多大約30%，兩句話也要在相同的時間裡讀出來。因為每句話裡都有5個重讀詞。
15. Write down a few sentences, or take a few example sentences from a book or exercise.
寫下幾句話，或者從書或練習中找到例句。
16. First underline the stressed words, then read aloud focusing on stressing the underlined words and gliding over the non-stressed words.
首先在重讀詞下面畫上橫線，然後大聲讀出來，注意劃線詞語，然後將非重讀詞語帶過即可。
17. Be surprised at how quickly your pronunciation improves! By focusing on stressed words, non-stressed words and syllables take on their more muted nature.
對你的發音進步的速度之快感到驚訝吧!在關注重讀詞時，可以發現非重讀詞和音節發音更加柔和自然一些。
18. When listening to native speakers, focus on how those speakers stress certain words and begin to copy this.
在聽本土人士說話時，注意觀察他們是怎麼重讀一些特定的詞，並仿效學習。
（編輯：何瑩瑩）