Pronunciation
You don’t have to sound like a British or North American native speaker in order to function effectively in
English. However, certain pronunciation errors can lead to misunderstanding and work should be done to
eliminate them.
The following materials focus on six particular problems faced by Cantonese speakers.
1
Vowel sounds 1 – (bad / bed)
Cantonese speakers have particular difficulty telling the difference between the ‘a’ sound in ‘bad’ and the ‘e’
sound in ‘bed’.
2 Vowel sounds 2 - (ship / sheep)
Another pair of vowel sounds that can confuse Cantonese speakers is the long and short ‘e’ sound as in ‘ship’
(short), and ‘sheep’ (long).
Listen to the teacher model the sounds. Then try the pair work exercise with your partner.
3
Consonant clusters
Consonant clusters are groups on consonants. These can be difficult for speakers of languages where they
are not common.
Practice saying these words with your partner. If you have difficulty, slow down and say the consonants one
at a time.
shrimp
thread
scratch
sprain
strict
shrink
stray
spring
Often it is difficult to hear the difference between two similar clusters or between a cluster and a simple
consonant + vowel combination.
Example: pay /
play / pray
fee / flea / free
Practice the tongue twister with your partner.
The players pay a fee to play but prayers are free.
Three grey geese in green fields grazing
4
Final consonants
Final consonants tend to be very light in Cantonese, whereas in English they are usually pronounced clearly
(except in certain cases where similar consonants come together and one is dropped.)
Practice saying the sentences below with your partner. Choose one of the pair or words in bold. Your partner
must say which one you said.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The shopping is in the bag / back.
A wide / white dusty road wound its way up the hill.
I’ve never seen his place / plays.
I thought she said ‘safe / save’ but I must have misheard her.
You’re going to need a cab / cap.
5 Word endings: s
Words ending with ‘s’ are pronounced in a three difference ways. Mispronouncing these is a common error
and can lead to misunderstand.
Say the words aloud with your partner and arrange them in three groups according to the pronunciation of
the ‘s’ ending
6
watches
buses
churches
Alice’s
washes
books
my sister’s
David’s
classes
cups
my boss’s
Derek’s
judges
works
Andy’s
decides
loses
horse’s
Alex’s
relates
Word endings: ed
Words ending with ‘ed’ are also pronounced in different ways and cause problems for Hong Kong speakers.
This can easily lead to misunderstanding.
Say the words aloud with your partner and put them in three groups according
to the pronunciation of the ending of the words.
started
worked
opened
played
traded
laughed
mended
wanted
Student A
1 Consonant clusters
(1) Read to your partner
Read the sentences below to your partner.
Then listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
the word you hear.
I told him when and where to play
There are some rats breeding in the cellar
Which brand did you like best?
It was growing brighter and brighter.
(2) Listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
the words you hear
pick / peak
sill / seal
teens / tins
mill / meal
Ripper / Reaper
wit / wheat
will / wheel
slip / sleep
(2) Listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
3 Vowel sounds – (bad / bed)
the words you hear
(1) Read the sentences to your partner
bake
blake
I need to get a new pan.
beach
plank
spayed
fame
bleach breach
prank
sprayed splayed
flame frame
brake
There was a wide bend near the top
I’ll give you a bet.
They worried about landing it.
I’m having problems with my ex.
(2) Listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
the words you hear
2 Vowel sounds - ship / sheep)
(1) Read the sentences to your partner
Could you take those beans into the kitchen?
Do you think they can fill it?
Don’t heat it or you’ll damage it.
He said he wanted dinner.
He’s bought a new sheep.
I think we’ll seat them over there.
It all depends on the gin.
It’s difficult walking on this heel.
rabble / rebel
track / trek
cattle / kettle.
celery / salary
vat / vet
Student B
1 Consonant Clusters
(1) Read to your partner
Read the sentences below to your partner.
Then listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
the word you hear.
She has no idea how to brake properly
I think he said the bleach.
It was only a prank so it doesn’t matter.
We’ve had them sprayed– I thought it was best.
Its flame was clear for all to see.
(2) Listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
the words you hear
pay play pray
bead breed bleed
boom bloom
broom
band bland brand
going glowing growing
(2) Listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
the words you hear
bins / beans
fill / feel
hit / heat
dinner / Dina.
ship / sheep
sit / seat
gin / gene.
hill / heel
3 Vowel sounds – (bad / bed)
(1) Read the sentences to your partner
I’d like to know the price of the kettle.
Have you paid for the vet?
How much was the celery?
It was a long trek but we got there eventually.
With this rabble on the loose, the government
won’t last a week.
(2) Listen to your partner’s sentences and circle
the words you hear
2 Vowel sounds - (ship / sheep)
(1) Read the sentences to your partner
Let me a take a peak.
Looks like the window sill needs replacing.
There are too many tins – that’s the problem.
They had a large meal on the banks of the Thames.
They’re afraid of Jack the Ripper.
They’re known for their wheat.
What you need is a strong will.
Whatever you do, don’t slip.
pan / pen.
band / bend
bat / bet.
landing / lending
axe / ex.