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.

　　发音是学习英语最重要的方面之一。如果发音不够清晰，就很难使别人听懂你的话。首先得从单个发音开始。然后，将注意力集中在语调上。听到下面这句话你可能会很惊讶：将每个词的音都正确地发出来只会练出糟糕的发音!好的发音在于对正确的词进行强调——这是因为英语是一门强调重音的语言。

　　In other words, some words - the content words - receive more focus, whereas other words - function words - are less important. Learn more below.

　　也就是说，人们更多强调的是实词，而其他的词——虚词的重要性居于次要。请从下面内容获取更多信息。

　　Here's How to Improve Your Pronunciation:

　　以下是提高发音的方法：

　　1.Start with learning individual sounds. These are called phonemes.

　　从听单个的发音(即音素)开始。

　　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.

　　使用最小对立体来练习单个的元音。最小对立组就是只有一个发音不同的词组。例如，pop - pep - pip – pap中只有元音在变化。使用最小对立组能够使你将一个音单独挑出，将注意力集中在小小的元音变化上。

　　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.

　　将清音和浊音的辅音通过最小对立组进行成对练习。例如，f/v中的f是清音，而v是浊音。你可以通过将手指放在喉咙处来判断清音和浊音的区别。如果是浊音，喉咙会震动，清音则不会。这些组合包括：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'.

　　学习单元音和双元音之间的差别，例如boy中的oi, tray中的aee。

　　5.Learn the following rules concerning pronunciation.

　　学习下列有关发音的规则。

　　6.English is considered a stressed language while many other languages are considered syllabic.

　　英语强调重音，其他语言则强调音节主音。

　　7.In other languages, such as French or Italian, each syllable receives equal importance (there is stress, but each syllable has its own length).

　　在其他的语言中，例如法语和意大利语，每一个音节都同样重要。(虽然也有重音，但每个音节都有自己的音长。)

　　9.English pronunciation focuses on specific stressed words while quickly gliding over the other, non-stressed, words.

　　英语的发音强调某一个具体的重音，而其他的非重音则可带过。

　　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.

　　重读的词语一般都是实词。例如，名词：kitchen, Peter;(绝大多数)重要的动词：visit, construct;形容词：beautiful, interesting;副词：often, carefully。

　　11. Read the following sentence aloud: The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance.

　　大声读出下面的句子：The beautiful Mountain appeared transfixed in the distance.(美丽的山伫立在远方。)

　　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.

　　大声读出下面的句子：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务，就可以星期天来。)

　　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时间读出来!

　　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约30%，两句话也要在相同的时间里读出来。因为每句话里都有5个重读词。

　　15. Write down a few sentences, or take a few example sentences from a book or exercise.

　　写下几句话，或者从书或练习中找到例句。

　　16. First underline the stressed words, then read aloud focusing on stressing the underlined words and gliding over the non-stressed words.

　　首先在重读词下面画上横线，然后大声读出来，注意划线词语，然后将非重读词语带过即可。

　　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.

　　对你的发音进步的速度之快感到惊讶吧!在关注重读词时，可以发现非重读词和音节发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.

　　在听本土人士说话时，注意观察他们是怎么重读一些特定的词，并仿效学习。

（编辑：何莹莹）