Places and Idioms! American English Pronunciation

In this American English pronunciation video, we're going to talk about places.

In this video, we're talking about trips we've taken recently. Notice how we use phrases

like 'for work', 'for fun', 'for school' when talking about a trip. 'For' is one of those

words that's often reduced (to 'fer'). You'll also hear several idioms.

So Annie is our dear, dear friend visiting from Denver. Denver. Now, my voice went up,

Denver, because I was making a pause but not done with my thought. But normally, that word

would be said 'Denver'. Stress is on the first syllable, and the -er ending, unstressed,

as always, must be very short: -ver, -ver, -ver. Denver.

>> Now, where were you before you came here? >> Um, I was in Boston.

Boston. Another two syllable city name with stress on the first syllable. So the second

syllable, unstressed, must be short to contrast the length and shape of the first syllable. Boston.

>> Annie, now, where were you before you came here?

>> Um, I was in Boston. >> For work?

>> Yes, indeed. >> Umm-hmm.

>> There was a minor hiccup with a situation with a badge where I was not allowed access.

>> Wait, hold on, I love your use of the word 'hiccup' here. Now, can you explain it? What

do you mean by hiccup? >> Um, there was a situation which was not

ideal, it was a bump in the road. >> Bump in the road. Now that's a---that's

also an idiom. Could you explain that? >> It was really what I would call a hurdle

that I had to jump. >> A hurdle.

We're laughing because sometimes it's hard to explain an idiom without using another

idiom. A hiccup. A bump in the road. A hurdle to jump. So a hiccup or a bump in the road

is something that comes up that was not planned. So, during her new job orientation, there

was a hiccup. A hurdle to jump, meaning there were some unforeseen difficulties that she

had to deal with. Listen again to this string of idioms.

>> There was a minor hiccup with a situation with a badge where I was not allowed access.

>> What do you mean by hiccup? >> Um, there was a situation which was not

ideal, it was a bump in the road. >> Bump in the road. Now that's a---that's

also an idiom. Could you explain that? >> It was really what I would call a hurdle

that I had to jump. >> A hurdle.

>> And you were---you had this hiccup in your new job orientation.

>> Yes. >> How excited are you though for your new

job? >> I'm excited. Um, it's a great opportunity,

um, just such an amazing experience to meet some new people. This is all very genuine.

Um, um yeah. >> I may or may not be putting you on the

spot.

To be put on the spot, or, to put somebody on the spot. This is an idiom that means to

ask somebody to do something or make a decision without preparation, and maybe in front of

other people. In this case, I'm putting Annie on the spot because I'm asking her to talk

about something in front of the video camera with no preparation. Here the T in 'put' is

a flap T, or a D sound, because it comes between two vowels when we link the words together.

Put on the spot.

>> Putting you on the spot. Could you explain that idiom?

>> Um, that means that you are the focal point. You are really---there is a certain amount

of pressure. >> And there was no preparation, maybe.

>> Hot seat. Hot seat. No preparation. It's spontaneous, it's, um...

>> You didn't know you were going to be asked to speak.

>> Yes. >> Now, the other idiom you came up with

was 'hot seat'. >> Yes it was.

>> Can you make up a sentence with 'hot seat'? >> Man. I hate being in the hot seat when

topic turns to something I am not quite comfortable answering.

>> Yeah. Shall I take you off the hot seat? >> Please do, Rachel.

>> Now Katherine, you were saying earlier that you've been on a trip recently.

>> Yes, I went to Baltimore. >> I thought you went to DC?

>> I went to DC too.

Two more place names. Baltimore. Stress is on the first syllable, so that should be the

longest. After the stressed syllable, the voice will come down in volume and pitch.

So the last syllable: -more, -more, -more, will be quick, low in pitch, and low in volume.

Baltimore. With DC, it's just the opposite. Stress is on the last syllable.

Any time you're naming

something by a list of letters, like DC or HBO or MLK, stress is always on the last letter.

So that letter will be the longest and have the most shape. DC, C, DC.

>> So, tell me a little bit about that trip. >> To DC?

>> Well, either one. >> Um, well, I went to a college in DC. Um,

and I looked at a fashion show, and looked at portfolios, and ... um...

>> So this was for work. >> This was for work.

>> Well thanks for telling me about your trips to Baltimore and DC.

>> We were just talking, I went to India. >> Oh you did? Recently?

>> About four years ago. >> Was that for work or for fun?

>> For fun. >> What did you do there?

>> I studied Buddhism and Tibetan community politics.

>> That sounds like it's for school. >> It was for school, but it was, ah, I took

a semester off from college to go.

>> Renee, and, I hear that you took a trip last weekend.

>> I did. >> Where did you go?

>> I went to upstate New York. >> Nice.

>> Town called Hudson, on the Hudson River. It was actually---are you interested in why

it was founded? >> Yes.

>> It was founded by whalers who originally whaled in Nantucket. But they decided to move

their families up the Hudson River to another place that would still be on the water.

>> Why did they want to move their families away from Nantucket?

>> I don't remember that part of the story.

>> Sara, where were you last weekend? >> I went to visit my sister's family in Virginia.

>> Virginia. That's a fun state name. >> It's a great state.

>> Where did you go? >> I went to Florida.

>> Florida. Is that where you're from? >> That's where I'm from!

>> I know, but you're from further north, and I'm from further south.

>> I know. What did you do there? >> Spend time with my family at my parent's

house. Went in the pool. I went to the beach a bit, walked at sunset. And that's about it.

>> That sounds lovely. Guys, thank you, everybody,

for telling me about the places that you've recently been.

>> Absolutely. >> Oh, we were so happy to share.

>> Really appreciate it.

>> Katherine. >> Yes?

>> If you were going to work on your American English pronunciation---let's say you already

know some of the concepts, you've seen some videos, but you want to really work it, to

get it into your habit. What would you do to do that?

>> I would take the Rachel's English video class.

>> Do you mean the Rachel's English online course in July and August?

>> I'd take the Rachel's English ... >> Ok, who can keep a straight face in here?

Because she can't, and she can't.

To keep a straight face is to be able to do something without laughing. Something my friends

clearly have a difficult time doing, which is why we have so much fun together. Take

two.

>> Katherine. >> Yes.

>> If you felt like you wanted to work on your American English pronunciation this summer,

what would you do? >> I would take the Rachel's English course

in July and August. >> That sounds like a very smart woman. If

you didn't know, I am giving an online course in July and August of 2012. Check out my website

for more details.

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.

Don't stop there. Have fun with my real-life English videos. Or get more comfortable with

the IPA in this play list. Learn about the online courses I offer, or check out my latest

video.