Pratique du Shadowing: Change the ND sound like this in English! - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today, I'd like to talk about one particular rule in American English Connected Speech, then I'll illustrate it using an example from a long conversation that I wrote.
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Let's take a look.
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So the rule is that we drop the D in some words ending in ND before a consonant.
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So we have this word around, around the space, and we can simply take out this D, around the space.
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This is such a natural thing for people to do.
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You hear people do this all the time without even thinking.
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People don't even notice that they're making this pronunciation change.
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Around the space.
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What also happens in this particular example is that the N and the TH connect.
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Normally, an N is made with your tongue behind the front top teeth, but when it's before a TH, it actually goes between your teeth.
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So, around the space, as if that D didn't exist.
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Let's see how it looks in an example.
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So, for this conversation, I've written a short dialogue between a student and an owner of a pottery studio.
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And the student is interested in maybe signing up for a pottery class.
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The student says, oh yeah, like what?
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I was thinking about signing up for like an intro to pottery class.
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Oh yeah, like what?
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What?
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So we take off this T at the end of what here, it turns into a glottal stop.
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Oh yeah, like what?
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I was thinking about, thinking about, when we have ing in a word that has more than one syllable,
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usually a verb with ing at the end, we often delete this ing and just say in instead.
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Thinking, thinking about.
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I was thinking about signing up.
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Thinking about.
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Again, we have a glottal stop instead of the t.
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I was thinking about signing up for like an intro to pottery class.
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Fur, like an.
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So four turns into fur.
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Fur, like an, like an, like an, here like and an connect together and the vowel in and kind of gets reduced.
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For like an intro to pottery class.
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Intro to pottery class.
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We definitely have those.
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We definitely have those.
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Definitely has a glottal stop in the middle.
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We definitely have those.
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Those are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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Those are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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You see we take out the D before the consonant here.
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Those are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.
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From 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.
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To gets reduced into to 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.
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Can you show me around the space?
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Can you show me around the space? Can ya?
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U turns into ya.
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Can you show me around the space?
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Around turns into around the, like we saw in the rule here.
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Can you show me around the space?
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I would be happy to.
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I would be happy to.
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Here would be, we reduce this D here before the B.
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I would be happy to.
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Here's the pottery area.
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Here's the pottery area.
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Pottery area.
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Remember, we have a lot of vowels here and we're going to connect them like this.
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Pottery area.
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We don't want to separate these two words with a glottal stop.
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It's not pottery area.
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It's pottery area.
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Here's the pottery area with the wheels, with the, with the wheels, with the.
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When we connect these two sounds, it's mostly a voiceless th sound with a tiny little voiced one at the end with the,
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with the, with the wheels and the kiln.
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Take off the D here in and.
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And the kiln in the back.
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The wheels and the kiln in the back.
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In the also connects together just like we have around the, in the.
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The kiln in the back.
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A kiln is a special type of oven used in a pottery studio.
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That word isn't very common in everyday speech, but in the context of this conversation, it's an important vocabulary word to know.
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Alright, let's read the whole thing one last time.
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Oh yeah, like what?
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I was thinking about signing up for like an intro to pottery class.
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We definitely have those.
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Those are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30 to 7.30pm.
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Can you show me around the space?
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I would be happy to.
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Here's the pottery area with the wheels and the kiln in the back.
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Alright, if you thought that was interesting, then you might enjoy the full video.
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In the full video, I talk about a much longer conversation, and I examine not only the connected sounds, but also the intonation, the specialized vocabulary,
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and the politeness and formality levels used by each person in the conversation.
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I put the link to the full video in the comments in the description below, so if you're interested, check it out.
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I'll see you there.
Context & Background
In the video titled "Change the ND sound like this in English!", the speaker, Alex, delves into the nuances of American English Connected Speech. This form of speech often leads to modifications in pronunciation that can initially confuse English learners. The focus is on a particular phonetic rule where the letter 'D' is commonly dropped in words that end in 'ND' before a consonant. For instance, the word "around" may simply sound like "around" instead of the full pronunciation, creating a more fluid conversational tone. Understanding these subtleties is crucial for anyone looking to improve their spoken English, especially for those preparing for IELTS speaking practice or aiming to learn English with YouTube.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Can you show me around the space?” – A practical phrase for asking for a tour or introduction to a new environment.
- “I was thinking about signing up for…” – Useful for expressing interest in classes or activities.
- “What? Those are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” – An example of clarifying scheduling; notice the dropping of sounds for fluency.
- “Oh yeah, like what?” – A natural way to ask for elaboration in conversation, demonstrating an informal tone.
- “From 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.” – Essential for discussing time and scheduling in daily interactions.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
Utilizing the shadowing technique can greatly enhance your spoken English. Here’s how to tackle the specific challenges presented in this video:
- Listen Actively: First, watch the video carefully. Focus on how Alex drops the 'D' in "around" and pronounces other connected phrases. Pay attention to the natural flow of speech.
- Repetition: Use the shadow speech method by mimicking Alex’s pronunciation after each sentence. Start with phrases like “Can you show me around the space?” Repeat it several times until you feel comfortable.
- Breathe and Pace: Don’t rush. Speak at a natural pace, pausing to form the connected sounds. This is especially important when transitioning from “thinking” to “thinking about.”
- Record Yourself: After practicing, record your practice sessions. Compare your pronunciation with the original to identify areas for improvement.
- Integrate into Real Conversations: Use these phrases in daily conversations or role-playing scenarios. This will help solidify your pronunciation and improve fluency, essential for anyone preparing for IELTS speaking practice.
Consistent practice using these shadowing techniques will not only refine your accent but also boost your confidence in speaking English.
Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?
Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.