5 Key Differences Between British Pronunciation and American Pronunciation

英语口语 — 美式发音和英式发音

Hi I'm Oli. Welcome to Oxford Online English. In this lesson you can learn about the differences

嗨，我是Oli。欢迎来到Oxford Online English。 在本节课里，您可以学到

between American and British pronunciation. I'm going to teach Oli how to say words like

美式和英式发音之间的差异。 我来教Oli怎样正确地说像是

'water' or 'clock' correctly. No, no. I'm going to teach Gina how to pronounce 'water'

“water”或“clock”的单词。不，不，我来 教Gina怎么适当地发“water”

and 'clock' properly. We're joking of course. There's no one correct way to pronounce English.

和“clock”的音。我们当然在开玩笑。 没有一个正确的方式念英语。

There are many ways to speak English, not just British or American.

有很多讲英语的方式，不仅 是英式的或美式的。

Also, remember that both the UK and the USA are big countries and not everybody talks

同样，记得英国和美国二者是最大的 不是每个人都以相同方式

the same way. What you'll see in this lesson are general differences between British and

说话的国家。您在本节课里看到的是 英式和美式发音之间

American pronunciation. Let’s start with one of the biggest differences

的一般区别。 我们从最大区别中的

between British and American pronunciation. This is a difference you can see.

一个开始。 这是您看到的一个区别。

Watch an American person talk; watch a British person talk. What do you notice?

看一个美国人谈；看一个英国人谈。 您注意到什么了？

British English is much more frontal; it uses the lips a lot more.

英式英语是更为突前；使用 嘴唇很多。

By contrast, American English speakers move their lips less. The lips are more relaxed

相反，讲美式英语者比较少使用 他们的嘴唇。嘴唇更放松

and the mouth is generally wider.

并且嘴开得一般比较宽。

In American English, sounds generally come from further back in the mouth, closer to

在美式英语里，听起来一半 来自嘴巴的后端，

the throat.

更接近咽喉。

British English is a lot ‘tenser’. To sound British, you need to produce a lot of

英式英语是更“紧”。要听起来像 英国英语，您需要在您的

sounds at the front of your mouth. Vowel sounds are often shorter than in American English,

嘴巴前端发很多音。 元音声音 通常比美式英语的要短，

meaning you need to move between sounds faster.

意思是您需要在每个发音之间移动更快。

All of this means you need to use the muscles of your lips and cheeks more.

这完全意味着您需要更多地用 您的嘴唇和脸颊肌肉。

For example, let’s think about the word water.

例如，我们考虑单词“water”。

When I say it, the first vowel sound is much more relaxed.

在我说它时， 第一个元音听起来更放松。

I don’t use my lips to pronounce the sound at all: water.

我没有使用我的嘴唇来发 单词的全部音：water。

The vowel sound is often a little longer than in British English. Then, the rest of the

元音听起来通常比英式发音长 一点。然后，声音的剩余

sounds come from further back: water.

部分来自更深的地方：water。

When I say water, the vowel sound is much tenser. I’m using

当我说“water”时， 元音声音会更紧。我正在

the muscles of my cheeks, and pushing my lips into a small, rounded shape: water.

我的脸颊的肌肉，把我的嘴唇挤成 一个小的、圆的形状：water。

I then pronounce the rest of the sounds near the front of my mouth, without really relaxing

然后，我用靠近我的嘴的前端 部位发剩余的音，

back much: water. Water.

没有真正地放松下来：water. Water。

Let me try that the American way: 'water'. 'Water'.

我们来试一下美式英语方式：“water”。 “Water”。

Hmm...can I do it in the British style? 'Water'. 'Water'.

嗯..我可以用英式英语方式做到吗？ “Water”。“Water”。

So, American English is more relaxed, and tends to be spoken

那么，美式英语是更放松的， 试图用更宽的

with a wider mouth, using the lips less. British

嘴巴来讲话，少用嘴唇。

English is tenser, more frontal, and uses the lips a lot more.

英式英语是比较紧的，更突前， 使用嘴唇很多。

What other effects does this have on pronunciation? Think about the word phone.

这对发音有什么其他影响？ 想想单词“phone”。

This word has a diphthong: a double vowel sound: /əʊ/.

这个单词有一个二元音：一个 双重元音发音： /əʊ/。

In British English, this sound is produced with fast, minimal movements. To sound British,

在英式英语里，这听起来像是用最少的、快的 动作发音。要听起来像是英式英语，

you should move your mouth as little as possible: phone.

您必须尽可能快的移动 您的嘴巴：phone。

In American English, you need to relax your jaw and move your mouth more. The sound is

在美式英语里，您需要放松您的颚骨 和移动您的嘴巴更多。发音

longer, and the two parts of the vowel are more distinct: phone.

听起来更长一点，元音的两个部分 更加不同：phone。

You can find a similar difference in other diphthongs. For example, think about the word

您可以在其他的二元音里找到 相似区别。例如，

how.

想想单词“how”。

When I say it, my mouth is more relaxed and I move more compared

在我说它的时候，我的嘴巴是 更放松的，与讲英式

to a British English speaker.

英语的人相比，我移动更多。

Again, this means the sound is slightly longer, and the two parts of the vowel sound are more

同样，这意味着声音是长一点， 元音声音的两个

separated: how.

部分更分离：how。

When I say how, I produce the diphthong with a very small

在我说”how“时， 我用我嘴唇的一个小动作

movement of my lips. The movement is all near the front of my mouth.

来发出双元音。全部动作是 接近我的嘴巴的前端。

This produces a shorter, faster sound. The two parts of the vowel sound aren’t very

这发出更短、更快的声音。 元音声音的两个部分是没有

distinct, because I’m moving through the sound quickly: how.

很清楚的，因为我正在让 声音快速移动： how。

You can see a similar difference with words like train or rice, which also contain diphthongs:

通过也含有双元音的单词像是 train或是rice，您可以看到

/eɪ/ and /aɪ/.

一个相似的区别：/eɪ/和/aɪ/。

In British English, the diphthongs are pronounced with smaller movements, and the sounds are

在英式英语里，双元音是用更小的 动作发音的，声音更短

shorter and faster: train, rice.

并更快： train、rice。

In American English, the vowels are pronounced with the mouth more relaxed, the mouth moves

在美式英语里，双元音是用更 放松的嘴巴发音，嘴巴

more, and the sounds are longer and more ‘separated’: train, rice.

移动多，声音更长以及更 “分开”：train、rice。

However, the differences in pronunciation aren’t just in diphthongs. Some other vowel

然而，发音上的区别不仅是双元音。 一些其他元音的

sounds are also different in British and American pronunciation.

声音在英式发音和美式 发音上也是不同的。

For example, think about the word cat.

例如，想像单词“cat”。

This word has an /æ/ vowel sound.

这个单词有一个/æ/ 元音声音。

In American English, this is a diphthong. You move your tongue through the sound, so

在美式英语里，这是一个双元音。 您在声音里移动您的舌头，

the vowel sound changes as you pronounce it: cat.

所以元音声音在您发音时改变了： cat。

In British English, the /æ/ sound isn’t a diphthong. It’s a single sound. To pronounce

在英式英语里，/æ/ 声音不是一个 双元音。它是一个单元音。要用

the sound with a British accent, again you need to use more tension.

英式声调发这个声音，您 一样要更紧凑。

This is because you have to hold the sound until you pronounce the following consonant.

这是因为您必须保持声音直到 您发出跟随的辅音的声音。

You can’t relax into the consonant like you can in American English: cat.

您不能像美式英语里那样 放松地发出辅音：cat。

You have to hold the tension, which for this sound is

您必须保持紧凑， 声音接近

near the throat in the back of the mouth: cat.

嘴巴后面的喉咙：cat。

I find the American /æ/ very difficult, and while writing this script, I realized I can't

我发现美式英语的 /æ/很难，在写 这个脚本的同时，我意识到

pronounce it at all: 'cat'. 'Cat'. Yeah, see? Gina? Does that work both ways?

我根本不会发它的音：“cat”。“Cat”。嘢！看？ Gina？这两种方法都可以吗？

Let's see if I can do it in the British way. I have to hold the vowel tense instead of

我们来看看我能用英式英语发音吗。 我必须保持元音紧凑直到发

relaxing into the consonant. Let's try: 'cat'. 'Cat'.

辅音而不是放松地发辅音。 我们来试试：“cat”。“Cat”。

Some vowel sounds are just different, in that words are pronounced with different vowel

一些元音声音是不同的，就是说， 在英式英语和美式英语里，

sounds in British and American English.

那些单词发音是不同的。

This is particularly common with the vowels /æ/, like the ‘a’ in cat, and /aː/,

这在元音 /æ/尤为常见， 像是“cat”里的“a”，以及/aː/，

like the ‘a’ in father.

像是“father”里的“a”。

Sometimes, words which have one sound in British English will have the other sound in American

有时，在英式英语里有一个音 的单词在美式英语里会

English.

有其他的发音。

For example, in British English, we say ban/ɑː/na, sult/ɑː/na, keb/æ/b and las/æ/gne...

例如：在英式英语里，我们说 ban/ɑː/na、 sult/ɑː/na、keb/æ/b和las/æ/gne...

...But in American English, we would say ban/æ/na, sult/æ/na, keb/ɑː/b and las/ɑː/gne…

...但是在美式英语，我们会说ban/æ/na、 sult/æ/na、keb/ɑː/b和las/ɑː/gne…

The sounds are exactly opposite.

声音完全相反。

There are many, many differences between vowel sounds in British and American pronunciation—too

在英式英语和美式英语的元音发音之间 有很多、很多的区别 — 太多了

many to list here! Let’s look at one more important one:

无法在这里完全列出！ 让我们看一个更重要的：

There are many examples where the sounds /æ/ and /aː/ switch with the sound /eɪ/.

有很多发音/æ/和 /aː/ 切换成发音/eɪ/的例子。

A famous example is the word tomato. It’s pronounced with an /eɪ/ sound in American

一个最有名的例子是单词“ tomato”。 在美式英语里发音

English.

是/eɪ/。

But in British English, it has an /ɑː/ sound: tomato.

但是在英式英语里，它发一个/ɑː/的音： tomato。

Other examples? B/æ/sil, appar/eɪ/tus, comr/eɪ/de or /eɪ/pricot...

其他的例子？ B/æ/sil、appar/eɪ/tus、comr/eɪ/de 或/eɪ/pricot...

...While I would say: b/eɪ/sil, appar/æ/tus, comr/æ/de and /æ/pricot

...虽然我会说: b/eɪ/sil、appar/æ/tus、 comr/æ/de和/æ/pricot

Okay, so that’s all for vowel sounds.

好，那么那都是元音发音。

Key points: American vowel sounds are often longer and more relaxed than British vowel

要点：美式英语的元音发音通常是比较 长的，比英式英语的元音

sounds. Also, many words are pronounced with different vowel sounds in British and American

发音更放松。同样，很多单词的英式 英语和美式英语元音的

English.

发音不同。

What about consonant sounds; are they also different in British and American pronunciation?

那辅音发音呢；在英式英语和美式 英语发音上也有不同吗？

Like with vowels, there are many differences between consonants in British and American

像元音那样，英式英语和美式 英语的辅音发音有

pronunciation.

很多区别。

Let’s start with the two most important differences. These relate to ‘r’ sounds

我们从看看两个最重要的区别 开始。这些是与“r”

and ‘t’ sounds.

和“t”发音有关。

In British English, in words written with a vowel + ‘r’, the ‘r’ is not normally

在英式英语里，在那些书写成一个元音 +“r”的单词，“r”’通常是

pronounced: car, nurse, horse.

不发音的：car、nurse、horse。

In American English, these ‘r’ sounds are pronounced: car, nurse, horse.

在美式英语里，这些“r”是发音的： car、nurse、horse。

Also, ‘r’ sounds at the end of a word are pronounced. Look at this question:

同样，在一个单词末尾的“r”是发音的。 看这个问题：

Are there any more people over there?

Are there any more people over there?

In this question, every word has an ‘r’ sound at the end, except for any and people

在这个问题里，每个单词在末尾有一个 “r”音，除了any 和 people。

Listen again. Can you hear the ‘r’ sounds?

再听一次。您可以听到“r”音吗？

Are there any more people over there?

Are there any more people over there?

In the UK, we pronounce ‘r’ at the end of a word only if the next word starts with

在英国，如果下一个单词字母用一个 元音起头，我们才发

a vowel:

单词末尾的“r”音：

Are there any more people over there?

Are there any more people over there?

I don’t pronounce ‘r’ sounds on are, more, over or there. I pronounce

我没有在are、 more、over或there发“r”的音。我在

‘r’ on the first there because the next word—any—starts with a vowel

第一个there发“r”的音，因为下一个 单词—any—是元音开头的

Listen once more:

多听一次：

Are there any more people over there?

Are there any more people over there?

So, ‘r’ sounds are one big difference between British and American pronunciation.

那么，“r”音是英式英语和美式英语 发音之间的一个很大的区别。

What’s the other big difference? ‘T’ sounds.

那另一个大区别呢？“T”音。

Look at a sentence:

看一个句子：

Betty’s daughter’s butter is better than Tamara’s or Matt’s.

Betty’s daughter’s butter is better than Tamara’s or Matt’s.

In American English, when you have a ‘t’ sound between two vowel sounds, the ‘t’

在美式英语里，当在两个元音 之间有一个“t”音时，“t”会

changes to a ‘d’ sound:

变成一个"d"音：

Be/d/y’s daugh/d/er’s bu/d/er is be/d/er than Tamara’s or Matt’s.

Be/d/y’s daugh/d/er’s bu/d/er is be/d/er than Tamara’s or Matt’s.

What about the ‘t’ sounds in the names Tamara and Matt? Do they change?

那“t”音在Tamara和Matt名字里 呢？他们会改变吗？

No, they’re pronounced normally. Why?

没有，他们正常发音。为什么？

Remember, the ‘t’ sound changes only if it’s between two vowels. In other cases,

记住，如果在两个元音之间，“t”音才会 改变。在其他的事例里，

‘t’ is pronounced normally.

“t”是正常发音的。

This doesn’t happen in British English. To sound British, you should pronounce all

在英式英语不是这样的。要发英式 英语的音，您必须

of the ‘t’ sounds:

发出所有“t”的音：

Be/t/y’s daugh/t/er’s bu/t/er is be/t/er than Tamara’s or Matt’s.

Be/t/y’s daugh/t/er’s bu/t/er is be/t/er than Tamara’s or Matt’s.

Those are the biggest differences with consonant pronunciation, but we’ll look at one more.

那些是在辅音发音上最大的区别， 但是我们再多看一个。

Another difference is in words like Tuesday, tutor, duty, or news.

另一个在单词上的区别像是Tuesday、 tutor、duty或news。

What connects these words?

这些单词有什么关联？

They all start with a consonant plus an /ʊː/ sound.

他们所有都用一个辅音加 一个/ʊː/音起头。

In American English, the pronunciation is closer to the spelling: Tuesday, tutor, duty,

在美式英语里，发音更接近拼写： Tuesday、tutor、duty、

news.

news。

So how’s it different in British pronunciation?

那么英式英语发音的区别是怎样呢？

Listen and see if you can hear the difference: Tuesday, tutor, duty, news.

听下并看看是否您可以听到区别： Tuesday、tutor、duty、news。

There’s an extra sound there, which isn’t in American pronunciation.

在这里有一个额外的在美式 英语发音里没有的声音。

In British English, you need to add a /j/ before the /ʊː/ sound: Tuesday, tutor, duty,

在英式英语里，您要在 /ʊː/音的前面增加一个/j/： Tuesday、tutor、duty、

news.

news。

This happens when you have an /ʊː/ sound after certain consonants, like /t/, /d/ or

当在某些辅音的后面有一个/ʊː/ 时，会这样，像是/t/、/d/或

/n/.

/n/。

Okay, so now you know something about the differences in the pronunciation of sounds

好，那么现在您知道在英式英语和 美式英语发音

between American and British English?

之间的某些区别了？

Are there other important differences? Yes, there are. There are also differences in word stress

有其他重要的区别吗？是的，有。英式英语 和美式英语之间在

between American and British English.

单词重音上也有区别。

For example, listen to five words:

例如，听听五个单词：

advertisement inquiry

advertisement inquiry

moustache adult

moustache adult

translate

translate

When I say them, where’s the stress?

在我念他们时，重音在哪？

Now, listen to Oli:

现在听Oli的：

advertisement inquiry

advertisement inquiry

moustache adult

moustache adult

translate

translate

Where’s the stress when I pronounce them? Can you hear the difference with Gina’s pronunciation?

当我念时，重音在哪？您可以听到 和Gina之间的区别吗？

Listen once more.

多听一次。

Advertisement, inquiry, moustache, adult, translate.

Advertisement, inquiry, moustache, adult, translate.

Can you hear the stresses? Here they are:

您可以听到重音吗？它们在这：

Now, listen to the British pronunciation one more time. Try to hear where the stress is,

现在，再多听英式英语发音一次。 试着听出重音在哪，

and how it’s different.

它的区别是怎样的？

ad’vertisement in’quiry

ad’vertisement in’quiry

mou’stache ‘adult

mou’stache ‘adult

trans’late

trans’late

Can you hear?

您可以听出来吗？

Here are the stresses

重音在这，

As usual with word stress, there aren’t really rules. However, it’s useful to know

和单词重音一样，真的没有规则。 但是，了解英式英语和

that word stress can be different in American and British English.

美式英语的单词重音区别 是有用的。

Let’s look at one more difference between British and American pronunciation.

我们再看一个英式英语和美式 英语发音之间的区别。

Do you know this sound?

您知道这个音吗？

It’s a schwa. It’s common in both British and American English.

那是一个schwa音。 那在英式英语和 美式英语里是常见的。

However, in British English, other vowel sounds reduce to a schwa sound much more often than

然而，通常，在英式英语里其他元音 减弱成一个schwa音要

in American English.

比美式英语的更多。

What do I mean by ‘reduce?’

”减弱“的意思是什么？

Look at five words:

看五个单词：

In British English, all of these words have at least one schwa sound. Can you hear where

在英式英语里，所有这些单词至少 有一个”schwa“音。您可以

it is? Strawberry, ordinary, innovative, category, ceremony.

听出它们在哪里吗？ Strawberry、ordinary、 innovative、category、ceremony。

Now listen to Gina and see if you can hear the difference:

现在听Gina的，并看看是否您 可以听出区别：

strawb/e/rry ordin/eə/ry

strawb/e/rry ordin/eə/ry

innov/eɪ/tive categ/ɔ/ry

innov/eɪ/tive categ/ɔ/ry

cerem/əʊ/ny

cerem/əʊ/ny

Can you hear the difference? In British English, the ‘e’ in strawberry is pronounced with

您可以听出区别吗？在英式英语里， strawberry里的”e“是发

a schwa sound. The ‘full’ vowel sound is reduced to a schwa.

一个schwa音。”完整“的元音声音 减弱成一个schwa。

However, in American English, we pronounce the vowel with its full sound: /e/.

然而，在美式英语里，我们 发它的完整声音：/e/。

Listen to the five words one more time. Pay attention to the highlighted vowel sounds:

再听五个单词一次。注意 标出的元音声音：

strawb/e/rry ordin/eə/ry

strawb/e/rry ordin/eə/ry

innov/eɪ/tive categ/ɔ/ry

innov/eɪ/tive categ/ɔ/ry

cerem/əʊ/ny

cerem/əʊ/ny

Now, listen to Oli one more time. Hear how British English reduces these vowels to schwa

现在，再听一次。听英式英语怎样 减弱这些元音成

sounds:

schwa音：

strawb/ə/rry ordin/ə/ry

strawb/ə/rry ordin/ə/ry

innov/ə/tive categ/ə/ry

innov/ə/tive categ/ə/ry

cerem/ə/ny

cerem/ə/ny

Can you hear it now?

现在您可以听出来吗？

This reduction is more common in British English, but sometimes it goes the other way, too.

这个减弱在英式英语里是常见的， 但是有时情形也会相反。

If a word ends –ile, like fragile or mobile, then the ‘i’ vowel will have its full

如果一个单词以 –ile结尾，像是fragile或 mobile，那么在英式英语里，“i”

vowel pronunciation in British English.

元音必须有一个完整的元音发音。

In American English, the ‘i’ can be reduced to a schwa sound: frag/ə/le, mob/ə/le.

在美式英语里，“i”可以减弱成一个 schwa音：frag/ə/le、mob/ə/le。

The same is true for other words ending in –ile, like hostile or volatile.

以-ile结尾的其他单词也是如此， 像是hostile或volatile。

So now, you’ve learned about differences between British and American pronunciation

所以现在，您学到了英式英语和美式 英语之间在元音、辅音、单词

with vowel sounds, consonants, word stress and vowel reductions.

重音的发音以及元音减弱上的区别。

Do you know any other differences in pronunciation

您知道英式英语和美式英语之间的

between American and British English?

其他区别吗？

Let us know in the comments below!

请在下面的评论栏让我们知道。

To see more of our great, free English lessons check out our website OxfordOnlineEnglish.com. Thanks for watching!

要看更多我们的很棒的免费英语课程，请浏览我们 的网站 OxfordOnlineEnglish.com。感谢观看！