5 Key Differences Between British Pronunciation and American Pronunciation

英文發音 — 美語發音和英式英文發音

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

嗨，我是Oli。歡迎來到Oxford Online English。 在本節課裡，您可以學到

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

美語和英式英文發音之間的差異。 我來教Oli怎麼正確地說像是

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

“water”或“clock”的單字。不要，不要，我來 教Gina怎麼恰當地發“water”

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

和“clock”的音。我們當然是在開玩笑。 沒有一個正確的方式來唸英文。

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

有很多講英文的方式，不僅 英式的或美式的。

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

同樣，記得英國和美國二者是最大的 不是每個人都以相同方式

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

講話的國家。您在本節課裡看到的是 英式和美式發音之間

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

的一般區別。 我們從最大區別裡的

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

一個開始。 這是您看到的一個區別。

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

看一個美國人說；看一個英國人說。 您注意到什麼了？

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

英式發音時嘴唇更為突前；使用 嘴唇很多。

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

相反，講美語者比較少用 他們的嘴唇。嘴唇會更放鬆

and the mouth is generally wider.

並且嘴開得一般比較寬。

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

在美語裡，聽起來一半 來自嘴巴的後端，

the throat.

更接近咽喉。

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

英式發音則是“更緊”。要聽起來像 英式發音，您需要在您的

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

嘴巴前端發很多音。母音聲音 通常比美式發音要短，

meaning you need to move between sounds faster.

意思是您需要在每個發音之間更快地移動。

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

這完全意味著您需要更多地用 您的嘴唇和臉頰肌肉。

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

例如，我們想想單字“water”。

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

在我唸它時， 第一個母音聽起來更放鬆。

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

我沒有用我的嘴唇來發 單字的全部音：water。

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

母音聽起來通常比英式發音長 一點。然後，聲音的剩餘

sounds come from further back: water.

部分來自更深的地方：water。

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

當我說“water”時， 母音會更緊湊。我正在

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

用我的臉頰的肌肉，把我的嘴唇擠成 一個小的圓形：water。

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

然後，我用靠近我的嘴唇前端的 部位發剩餘的音，

back much: water. Water.

沒有真正地放鬆下來：water. Water。

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

我們來試一下美式發音方式：“water”。 “Water”。

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

嗯.我可以用英式發音方式做到嗎？ “Water”。“Water”。

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

那麼，美式發音是更放鬆的， 試著用更寬的

with a wider mouth, using the lips less. British

嘴巴來講話，少用嘴唇。

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

英式發音是比較緊湊的，嘴唇更前突， 用嘴唇很多。

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

這對發音有什麼其他影響？ 想想單字“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,

在英式發音裡，這聽起來像是用最少的、快的 動作發音。要聽起來像是英式發音，

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

您要盡可能快地移動 您的嘴巴：phone。

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

而美式發音，您需要放鬆您的顎骨 和移動您的嘴巴更多。發音

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

聽起來更長一點，母音的兩個部分 更加不同：phone。

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

您可以在其他的雙母音裡找到 類似區別。例如，

how.

想想單字“how”。

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

在我唸它的時候，我的嘴巴是 更放鬆的，和講英式

to a British English speaker.

英文的人相比，我移動更多。

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

同樣，這意味著聲音是長一點， 母音的兩個

separated: how.

部分更分離：how。

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

在我說”how“時， 我用我嘴唇的一個小動作

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

來發雙母音。全部動作是 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

這發出更短、更快的聲音。 母音發音的兩個部分是沒有

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

很清楚的，因為我正在加速 聲音移動： how。

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

通過也含有雙母音的單字像是 train或是rice，您可以看到

/eɪ/ and /aɪ/.

一個類似的區別：/eɪ/和/aɪ/。

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

在英式發音裡，雙母音是用更小的 動作發音的，聲音更短

shorter and faster: train, rice.

並更快： train、rice。

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

在美式發音裡，雙母音是用更 放鬆的嘴巴發音，嘴巴

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

移動多，生意更長以及更 “分開”：train、rice。

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

然而，發音上的區別不僅是雙母音。 一些其他母音的

sounds are also different in British and American pronunciation.

音在英式發音和美式 發音上也是不同的。

For example, think about the word cat.

例如，想想單字“cat”。

This word has an /æ/ vowel sound.

這個單字有一個/æ/ 母音的音。

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

在美式發音裡，這是一個雙母音。 您在發音時移動您的舌頭，

the vowel sound changes as you pronounce it: cat.

所以母音的音在您發音時改變了： cat。

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

在英式發音裡，/æ/ 音不是一個 雙母音。它是一個單母音。要用

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

英式聲調發這個音，您 一樣要更緊湊。

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

這是因為您必須保持聲音直到 您發出跟隨的子音的聲音。

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

您不能像美式發音那樣 放鬆地發出子音：cat。

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

您要保持緊湊， 聲音更接近

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

嘴巴後面的喉嚨：cat。

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

我發現美式發音的 /æ/很難，在寫 這個腳本時，我意識到

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

我根本發不出它的音：“cat”。“Cat”。耶！看看？ Gina？這兩種方法都可以嗎？

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

我們來看看我可以做到英式發音嗎。 我要保持母音緊湊直到發

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

子音而不是發送地發出子音。 我們來試試：“cat”。“Cat”。

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

一些母音聲音是不同的，就是說， 在英式發音和美式發音裡，

sounds in British and American English.

那些單字發音是不同的。

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

這在母音 /æ/尤為常見， 像是“cat”裡的“a”，以及/aː/，

like the ‘a’ in father.

像是“father”裡的“a”。

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

有時，在英式發音裡有一個音的 單字在美語裡會有

English.

其他的發音。

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

例如：在英式發音裡，我們說 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…

...但是在美式發音，我們會說ban/æ/na、 sult/æ/na、keb/ɑː/b和las/ɑː/gne…

The sounds are exactly opposite.

聲音完全相反。

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

在英式英語和美語的母音發音之間 有很多、很多的區別 — 太多了

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

無法在這裡完全列出來！ 我們來看一個更重要的：

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

有很多/æ/和 /aː/發音 變成/eɪ/發音的例子。

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

一個最有眾所周知的事例是單字 “ tomato”。美語發音是

English.

/eɪ/。

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

但是在英式發音裡，它發/ɑː/的音： tomato。

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

其他的事例？ 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

...雖然我會說: b/eɪ/sil、appar/æ/tus、 comr/æ/de和/æ/pricot

Okay, so that’s all for vowel sounds.

好，那麼那都是母音發音。

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

要點：美語的母音發音通常是比較 長的，比英式發音的母音

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

發音更放鬆。同樣，很多單字的英式 英語和美語母音的

English.

發音不同。

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

那子音發音呢；在英式英語和美語 發音也有不同嗎？

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

像母音那樣，英式英語和美語 的子音發音有

pronunciation.

很多區別。

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

我們從看看兩個最重要的區別 開始。這些是與“r”

and ‘t’ sounds.

和“t”的發音有關。

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

在英式英語裡，在那些書寫為一個母音 +“r”的單字，“r”通常是

pronounced: car, nurse, horse.

不發音的：car、nurse、horse。

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

在美語裡，這些“r”是發音的： car、nurse、horse。

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

同樣，在一個單字末尾的“r”是發音的。 看這個問題：

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

在這個問題裡，每個單字在末尾有一個 “r”音，除了any和people。

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

再聽一次。您可以聽到“r”音嗎？

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

在英國，如果下一個單字的字母是 一個母音起頭，我們才

a vowel:

發單字末尾的“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

我沒有在are、 more、over或there發“r”的音。我在

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

第一個there發“r”的音，因為下一個 單字—any—是母音起頭的

Listen once more:

多聽一次：

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.

那麼，“r”音是英式發音和美語 發音之間的一個很大的區別。

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

那另一個大區別呢？“T”音。

Look at a sentence:

看一個句子：

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’

在美語裡，當在兩個母音 之間有一個“t”音時，“t”會

changes to a ‘d’ sound:

變成一個"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名字裡 呢？他們會改變嗎？

No, they’re pronounced normally. Why?

沒有，他們正常發音。為什麼？

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

記住，如果在兩個母音之間，“t”音才會 改變。在其他的事例裡，

‘t’ is pronounced normally.

“t”是正常發音的。

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

英式英語不是這樣的。在英式英語 裡，您必須

of the ‘t’ sounds:

發所有“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.

那些是在子音發音上的最大區別， 但是我們在多看一個。

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

另一個在單字上的區別像是Tuesday、 tutor、duty或news。

What connects these words?

這些單字有什麼關聯？

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

他們所有都用一個子音加 一個/ʊː/音起頭。

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

在美語裡，發音更接近拼寫： Tuesday、tutor、duty、

news.

news。

So how’s it different in British pronunciation?

那麼英式英語發音的區別是怎樣呢？

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

聽一下並看看您能否聽到區別： Tuesday、tutor、duty、news。

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

在這裡有一個額外的在美式 發音裡沒有的聲音。

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

在英式英語裡，您要在 /ʊː/音的前面加一個/j/： Tuesday、tutor、duty、

news.

news。

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

當在某些子音的後面有一個/ʊː/ 時，會這樣，像是/t/、/d/或

/n/.

/n/。

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

好，那麼現在您知道在英式英語和 美式英語發音

between American and British English?

之間的某些區別了？

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

有其他重要的區別嗎？是的，有。英式英語 和美式英語之間在

between American and British English.

單字重讀上頁有區別。

For example, listen to five words:

例如，聽聽五個單字：

advertisement inquiry

advertisement inquiry

moustache adult

moustache adult

translate

translate

When I say them, where’s the stress?

在我唸它們時，在哪重讀？

Now, listen to Oli:

現在聽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?

當我唸時，在哪重讀？您可以聽到 和Gina之間的區別嗎？

Listen once more.

多聽一遍。

Advertisement, inquiry, moustache, adult, translate.

Advertisement, inquiry, moustache, adult, translate.

Can you hear the stresses? Here they are:

您可以聽到重讀嗎？它們在這：

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

現在，再多聽英式發音一次。 試一下聽出重音在哪，

and how it’s different.

它的區別是怎樣的？

ad’vertisement in’quiry

ad’vertisement in’quiry

mou’stache ‘adult

mou’stache ‘adult

trans’late

trans’late

Can you hear?

您可以聽出來嗎？

Here are the stresses

重讀在這，

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

和單字重讀一樣，真的沒有規則。 但是，了解英式英語和

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

美語的單字重讀區別 是有用的。

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

我們再看一個英式英語和美語 發音之間的區別。

Do you know this sound?

您知道這個音嗎？

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

那是一個schwa音。那在英式發音和 美式發音裡是常見的。

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

然而，通常，在英式英語裡其他母音 弱化成一個schwa音要

in American English.

比美語的更多。

What do I mean by ‘reduce?’

”弱化“的意思是什麼？

Look at five words:

看五個單字：

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

在英式英語裡，所有這些單字至少 有一個”schwa“音。您可以

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

聽出它們在哪裡嗎？ Strawberry、ordinary、 innovative、category、ceremony。

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

現在聽Gina的，並看看您 能否聽出區別：

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

您可以聽出區別嗎？在英式英語裡， strawberry裡的”e“是發

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

一個schwa音。”完整“的母音聲音 弱化成一個schwa。

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

然而，在美語裡，我們 發它的完整聲音：/e/。

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

再聽五個單字一次。注意 標出的母音聲音：

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

現在，再聽一次。聽英式英語怎樣 弱化這些母音成

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?

現在您可以聽出來嗎？

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

這個弱化在英式英語裡是常見的， 但是有時情形也會相反。

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

如果一個單字以 –ile結尾，像是fragile或 mobile，那麼在英式英語裡，“i”

vowel pronunciation in British English.

母音必須有一個完整的母音發音。

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

在美式英語裡，“i”可以弱化成一個 schwa音：frag/ə/le、mob/ə/le。

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

以-ile結尾的其他單字也是如此， 像是hostile或volatile。

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

所以現在，您學到了英式英語和美語 在母音、子音、單字

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

重讀的發音以及母音的弱化上的區別。

Do you know any other differences in pronunciation

您知道英式英語和美語之間的

between American and British English?

其他區別嗎？

Let us know in the comments below!

請寫在下面的留言板裡。

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

要看更多我們的很棒的免費英文課程，請瀏覽我們 的網站 OxfordOnlineEnglish.com。感謝觀看！