Whatever the method, at least for me, learning a language starts with becoming at least very familiar with its sound system, its melody, etc. I always found that that made learning everything else in the language easier.
Thank you, Chu, for all your suggestions. I will try to incorporate some, and see where it leads.
Below is an attempt to compare some sounds in English, French Spanish and Russian, followed by notes on different accents and dialects of English.
It began with:
Ordering the sounds used in different languages
On the same website, there are a few simplified charts. After working with the data, joining the lists, inserting a reference number (the one to the left below), and ordering, it looks like this:
64 French (IPA) a ➔ année /a.ne/ travail /tʁa.vaj/
88 Spanish (IPA) a ➔ casa /ˈka.sa/ una /ˈu.na/
14 British English (IPA) aɪ ➔ eye /ˈaɪ/ time /ˈtaɪm/
50 American English (IPA) aɪ ➔ eyes /ˈaɪz/ time /ˈtaɪm/
22 British English (IPA) aɪə ➔ fire /ˈfaɪ.ə/ science /ˈsaɪ.əns/
17 British English (IPA) aʊ ➔ out /ˈaʊt/ down /ˈdaʊn/
51美式英语(IPA)ʊ➔/ˈʊt / /ˈdaʊn/
25 British English (IPA) aʊə ➔ hour /ˈaʊ.ə/ power /ˈpaʊ.ə/
120 Russian (IPA) ɐ ➔ они /ɐ.ˈnʲi/ какой /kɐ.ˈkoj/
38 American English (IPA) ɑ ➔ father /ˈfɑ.ðɚ/ not /ˈnɑt/
75 French (IPA) ɑ̃ ➔ ensuite /ɑ̃s.ɥit/ seulement /sœl.mɑ̃/
9 British English (IPA) ɑː ➔ father /ˈfɑː.ðə/ last /ˈlɑːst/
49 American English (IPA) ɑr ➔ art /ˈɑrt/ large /ˈlɑrdʒ/
5 British English (IPA) ɒ ➔ lot /ˈlɒt/ not /ˈnɒt/
113 Russian (IPA) ɕː ➔ щёки /ˈɕːɵ.kʲɪ/ вещь /ˈvʲeɕː/
28 British English (IPA) ð ➔ there /ˈðeə/ mother /ˈmʌð.ə/
57 American English (IPA) ð ➔ there /ˈðɛr/ mother /ˈmʌð.ɚ/
95 Spanish (IPA) ð ➔ todo /ˈto.ðo/ nada /ˈna.ða/
32 British English (IPA) dʒ ➔ just /ˈdʒʌst/ age /ˈeɪdʒ/
61 American English (IPA) dʒ ➔ just /ˈdʒʌst/ age /ˈeɪdʒ/
83 French (IPA) dʒ ➔ budget /byd.ʒɛ/ Djibouti /dʒi.bu.ti/
2 British English (IPA) e ➔ said /ˈsed/ bed /ˈbed/
65 French (IPA) e ➔ été /e.te/ général /ʒe.ne.ʁal/
89 Spanish (IPA) e ➔ señor /se.ˈɲoɾ/ creo /ˈkɾe.o/
116 Russian (IPA) e ➔ чем /ˈt͡ɕem/ где /ˈɡdʲe/
19 British English (IPA) eə ➔ air /ˈeə/ where /ˈweə/
13 British English (IPA) eɪ ➔ say /ˈseɪ/ make /ˈmeɪk/
53 American English (IPA) eɪ ➔ able /ˈeɪ.bəl/ make /ˈmeɪk/
21 British English (IPA) eɪə ➔ player /ˈpleɪ.ə/ layer /ˈleɪ.ə/
7 British English (IPA) ə ➔ about /ə.ˈbaʊt/ after /ˈɑːf.tə/
42 American English (IPA) ə ➔ about /ə.ˈbaʊt/ people /ˈpi.pəl/
73 French (IPA) ə ➔ besoin /bəz.wɛ̃/ ne /nə/
121 Russian (IPA) ə ➔ думал /ˈdu.məl/ только /ˈtolʲ.kə/
16 British English (IPA) əʊ ➔ over /ˈəʊ.və/ both /ˈbəʊθ/
24 British English (IPA) əʊə ➔ mower /ˈməʊ.ə/ follower /ˈfɒl.əʊ.ə/
39 American English (IPA) ɛ ➔ said /ˈsɛd/ bed /ˈbɛd/
74 French (IPA) ɛ ➔ elle /ɛl/ nouvelle /nu.vɛl/
93 Spanish (IPA) ɛ ➔ el /ɛl/ está /ɛs.ˈta/
115 Russian (IPA) ɛ ➔ это /ˈɛ.tə/ цели /ˈt͡sɛ.lʲɪ/
77 French (IPA) ɛ̃ ➔ ainsi /ɛ̃.si/ loin /lwɛ̃/
47 American English (IPA) ɛr ➔ air /ˈɛr/ where /ˈwɛr/
44 American English (IPA) ɚ ➔ percent /pɚ.ˈsɛnt/ never /ˈnɛv.ɚ/
12 British English (IPA) ɜː ➔ early /ˈɜː.li/ first /ˈfɜːst/
45 American English (IPA) ɝ ➔ early /ˈɝ.li/ first /ˈfɝst/
96 Spanish (IPA) ɣ ➔ algo /ˈal.ɣo/ amigo /a.ˈmi.ɣo/
34 American English (IPA) i ➔ even /ˈi.vən/ these /ˈðiz/
66 French (IPA) i ➔ ville /vil/ qui /ki/
90 Spanish (IPA) i ➔ aquí /a.ˈki/ dinero /di.ˈnɛ.ɾo/
8 British English (IPA) iː ➔ see /ˈsiː/ these /ˈðiːz/
1 British English (IPA) ɪ ➔ if /ˈɪf/ which /ˈwɪtʃ/
35 (IPA)ɪ美国英语➔ if /ˈɪf/ which /ˈwɪtʃ/
122 Russian (IPA) ɪ ➔ идёт /ɪ.ˈdʲɵt/ если /ˈje.slʲɪ/
18 British English (IPA) ɪə ➔ ear /ˈɪə/ year /ˈjɪə/
46 American English (IPA) ɪr ➔ ear /ˈɪr/ years /ˈjɪrz/
117 Russian (IPA) ɨ ➔ быстро /ˈbɨ.strə/ чтобы /ˈʂto.bɨ/
33 British English (IPA) j ➔ yet /ˈjet/ new /ˈnjuː/
62 American English (IPA) j ➔ yet /ˈjɛt/ yesterday /ˈjɛs.tɚ.ˌdeɪ/
85 French (IPA) j ➔ Dieu /djø/ fille /fij/
106 Spanish (IPA) j ➔ bien /ˈbjɛ̃n/ tiene /ˈtje.ne/
109 Russian (IPA) j ➔ его /jɪ.ˈvo/ такое /tɐ.ˈkoj.ə/
102 Spanish (IPA) ʝ ➔ mayor /ma.ˈʝoɾ/ oye /ˈo.ʝe/
103 Spanish (IPA) ɟ ➔ ya /ɟʝa/ yo /ˈɟʝo/
104 Spanish (IPA) ʎ ➔ ella /ˈe.ʎa/ allí /a.ˈʎi/
79 French (IPA) ɲ ➔ gagner /ɡa.ɲe/ ligne /liɲ/
98 Spanish (IPA) ɲ ➔ señor /se.ˈɲoɾ/ años /ˈa.ɲos/
26 British English (IPA) ŋ ➔ thing /ˈθɪŋ/ going /ˈɡəʊ.ɪŋ/
55 American English (IPA) ŋ ➔ thing /ˈθɪŋ/ going /ˈɡoʊ.ɪŋ/
67 French (IPA) o ➔ aucune /o.kyn/ nouveau /nu.vo/
91 Spanish (IPA) o ➔ como /ˈko.mo/ esto /ˈɛs.to/
71 French (IPA) œ ➔ valeur /va.lœʁ/ seul /sœl/
78 French (IPA) œ̃ ➔ un /œ̃/ brun /bʁœ̃/
54 American English (IPA) oʊ ➔ over /ˈoʊ.vɚ/ both /ˈboʊθ/
41 American English (IPA) ɔ ➔ all /ˈɔl/ want /ˈwɔnt/
72 French (IPA) ɔ ➔ homme /ɔm/ comme /kɔm/
76 French (IPA) ɔ̃ ➔ longtemps /lɔ̃.tɑ̃/ nom /nɔ̃/
10 British English (IPA) ɔː ➔ all /ˈɔːl/ more /ˈmɔː/
15 British English (IPA) ɔɪ ➔ oil /ˈɔɪl/ point /ˈpɔɪnt/
52 American English (IPA) ɔɪ ➔ oil /ˈɔɪ.əl/ point /ˈpɔɪnt/
23 British English (IPA) ɔɪə ➔ royal /ˈrɔɪ.əl/ loyal /ˈlɔɪ.əl/
48 American English (IPA) ɔr ➔ order /ˈɔr.dɚ/ morning /ˈmɔr.nɪŋ/
118 Russian (IPA) ɵ ➔ живёт /ʐɨ.ˈvʲɵt/ всё /ˈfsʲɵ/
99 Spanish (IPA) r ➔ razón /ra.ˈθõn/ rápido /ˈra.pi.ðo/
63 American English (IPA) ɹ ➔ right /ˈɹaɪt/ through /ˈθɹu/
100 Spanish (IPA) ɾ ➔ ahora /a.ˈo.ɾa/ quiero /ˈkjɛ.ɾo/
80 French (IPA) ʁ ➔ raison /ʁɛ.zɔ̃/ sera /sə.ʁa/
112 Russian (IPA) ʂ ➔ шёл /ˈʂol/ наш /ˈnaʂ/
29 British English (IPA) ʃ ➔ social /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/ show /ˈʃəʊ/
58 American English (IPA) ʃ ➔ she /ˈʃi/ social /ˈsoʊ.ʃəl/
81 French (IPA) ʃ ➔ chef /ʃɛf/ riche /ʁiʃ/
111 Russian (IPA) t͡ɕ ➔ чего /t͡ɕɪ.ˈvo/ ничего /nʲɪ.t͡ɕɪ.ˈvo/
110 Russian (IPA) t͡s ➔ цель /ˈt͡sɛlʲ/ лицо /lʲɪ.ˈt͡so/
31 British English (IPA) tʃ ➔ child /ˈtʃaɪld/ teacher /ˈtiː.tʃə/
60 American English (IPA) tʃ ➔ child /ˈtʃaɪ.əld/ teacher /ˈti.tʃɚ/
84 French (IPA) tʃ ➔ tchèque /tʃɛk/ match /matʃ/
101 Spanish (IPA) ʧ ➔ mucho /ˈmu.ʧo/ noche /ˈno.ʧe/
36 American English (IPA) u ➔ school /ˈskul/ who /ˈhu/
68 French (IPA) u ➔ ouvrir /u.vʁiʁ/ souvent /su.vɑ̃/
92 Spanish (IPA) u ➔ tú /ˈtu/ usted /us.ˈtɛð/
11 British English (IPA) uː ➔ school /ˈskuːl/ who /ˈhuː/
119 Russian (IPA) ʉ ➔ любит /ˈlʲʉ.bʲɪt/ любил /lʲʉ.ˈbʲil/
87 French (IPA) ɥ ➔ situation /si.tɥa.sjɔ̃/ lui /lɥi/
6 British English (IPA) ʊ ➔ good /ˈɡʊd/ book /ˈbʊk/
40 American English (IPA) ʊ ➔ good /ˈɡʊd/ book /ˈbʊk/
123 Russian (IPA) ʊ ➔ ушёл /ʊ.ˈʂol/ могут /ˈmo.ɡʊt/
20 British English (IPA) ʊə ➔ sure /ˈʃɔː/ pure /ˈpjʊə/
4 British English (IPA) ʌ ➔ other /ˈʌð.ə/ one /ˈwʌn/
43 American English (IPA) ʌ ➔ other /ˈʌð.ɚ/ one /ˈwʌn/
86 French (IPA) w ➔ oui /wi/ loi /lwa/
107 Spanish (IPA) w ➔ cuando /ˈkwãn.do/ bueno /ˈbwe.no/
97 Spanish (IPA) x ➔ gente /ˈxɛ̃n.te/ trabajo /tɾa.ˈβa.xo/
69年法国(IPA) y / y➔独一无二的。尼克/练习曲/e.tyd/
108 Russian (IPA) ʐ ➔ жить /ˈʐɨtʲ/ тоже /ˈto.ʐɨ/
30 British English (IPA) ʒ ➔ vision /ˈvɪʒ.ən/ measure /ˈmeʒ.ə/
59 American English (IPA) ʒ ➔ decision /dɪ.ˈsɪʒ.ən/ measure /ˈmɛʒ.ɚ/
82 French (IPA) ʒ ➔ jamais /ʒa.mɛ/ déjà /de.ʒa/
3 British English (IPA) æ ➔ man /ˈmæn/ back /ˈbæk/
37 American English (IPA) æ ➔ ask /ˈæsk/ back /ˈbæk/
114 Russian (IPA) æ ➔ взял /ˈvzʲæl/ меня /mʲɪ.ˈnʲæ/
70 French (IPA) ø ➔ Europe /ø.ʁɔp/ lieu /ljø/
94 Spanish (IPA) β ➔ favor /fa.ˈβoɾ/ sabes /ˈsa.βes/
27 British English (IPA) θ ➔ three /ˈθriː/ nothing /ˈnʌθ.ɪŋ/
56 American English (IPA) θ ➔ three /ˈθɹi/ nothing /ˈnʌθ.ɪŋ/
105 Spanish (IPA) θ ➔ gracias /ˈɡɾa.θjas/ hacer /a.ˈθɛɾ/
It is interesting to notice some sounds appear in the standard pronunciations of several languages, while others are less common.
One can copy the above data, paste it in new spreadsheet and order the first column to find the order for each language. In some formats, importing does not work well since the arrow signs can not be read. It works in Google Docs, though I used Notepad, Notepad++, and LibreOffice/Excel to sort the list.
Pronunciations, accents, and dialects
The pronunciations of a word fall within a range, therefore the accuracy of the phonetic transcription will be specific to a particular accent. In the following, there are two words used frequently, accent and dialect. An
accentsounds different, a
dialectalso has differences in vocabulary and grammar.
The Wiki, on
Regional accents of English, has:
This article provides an overview of the numerous identifiable variations in
pronunciation; such distinctions usually derive from the
phoneticinventory of local
dialects, as well as from broader differences in the
Standard Englishof different primary-speaking populations.
Accentis the part of dialect concerning local
pronunciation。
Vocabularyand
grammarare described elsewhere; see
List of dialects of the English language。
The Wiki for
List of dialects of Englishmentions:
Dialects
arelinguistic varietiesthat may differ inpronunciation,vocabulary,spellingandgrammar。For the classification of varieties of
Englishonly in terms of pronunciation, see
regional accents of English。
In school systems,
Standard Englishin many forms are important, though this may vary according to region, the above Wiki has:
In an English-speaking country,
Standard English(
SE) is the variety of English that has undergone substantial regularisation and is
associated with formal schooling, language assessment,官方印刷出版ications, such as
public service announcementsand
newspapers of record, etc.
[1]It is local to nowhere: its grammatical and lexical components are no longer regionally marked, although many of them originated in different, non-adjacent dialects, and it has very little of the variation found in spoken or earlier written
varietiesof English. According to Trudgill,
[2]Standard English is a dialect pre-eminently used in writing that is largely distinguishable from other English dialects by means of its
grammar。
Standard English in Britain is
British English
British English(
BrE) is the
standard dialectof the
English languageas spoken and written in the
United Kingdom。
[5]
In relation to the teaching of British English to foreign students, the above Wiki mentions Received Pronunciation as a model:
Most people in Britain speak with a regional accent or dialect. However, about 2% of Britons speak with an accent called
Received Pronunciation
[16](also called "the Queen's English", "Oxford English" and "
BBCEnglish"
[17]), that is essentially region-less.
[18]
[19]It derives from a mixture of the Midlands and Southern dialects spoken in London in the early modern period.
[19]
It is frequently used as a model for teaching English to foreign learners.
[19]
To explain the time of formation of Received Pronunciation, there is:
The
early modern periodof
modern historyfollows the
late Middle Agesof the
post-classical era。Although the chronological limits of this period are open to debate, the
timeframespans the period after the late post-classical or Middle Ages (c. 1400–1500) through the beginning of the
Age of Revolutions(c. 1800).
Another frequent model for foreign students learning English can be
General American English。The Wiki has:
General American Englishor
General American(abbreviated
GAor
GenAm) is the umbrella
accentof
American Englishspoken by a majority of Americans and widely perceived, among Americans, as lacking any distinctly regional, ethnic, or socioeconomic characteristics.
[1]
[2]
[3]In reality, it encompasses a continuum of
accentsrather than a single unified accent.
[4]Americans with high education,
[5]or from the
North Midland,
Western New England, and
Westernregions of the country, are the most likely to be perceived as having General American accents.
[6]
[7]
[8]The precise definition and usefulness of the term
General Americancontinue to be debated,
[9]
[10]
[11]and the scholars who use it today admittedly do so as a convenient basis for comparison rather than for exactness.
[9]
[12]Other scholars prefer the term
Standard American English。
[3]
[5]
Standard Canadian Englishaccents are sometimes considered to fall under General American,
[13]especially in opposition to the
United Kingdom's
Received Pronunciation; in fact, typical Canadian English accents align with General American in nearly every situation where
British and American accents differ。
[14]
To explain further,
General American Englishis an
American Englishwithin
North American Englishthat also includes Canadian English. Some of the above pages goes into details with the differences in pronunciation and have even links to sound bits. Se also:
North American English regional phonology。
The range of dialects
For an illustration of the range of dialects and accents across the British Isles and North America, below are three images. From the
List of dialects of English:
From
North American EnglishCanada and mainland US:
Understanding different accents and dialects
The advice of one teacher I watched was to expose oneself to the sounds of different dialects in order to increase the range of Englishes one can understand. If you are required or have chosen to imitate a particular dialect, you will have to see how to go about that when exposing yourself to many others.