Meet My Parents! American English Pronunciation

In this American English pronunciation video, you're going to meet my parents.

Now, I've been spending a lot of time teaching you English, and I thought it would be fun

to show you who taught me English. These are my parents Rita and Stan.

Rita. Notice we have a flap T there, because the T is coming between two vowel sounds.

-ta, -ta, Rita. Stan. Now here we have the AA as in BAT vowel followed by the N consonant.

When this vowel is followed by the N or the M consonant, we get an extra sound. Aa-uu,

uu, an uh-like sound before the nasal consonant. Stan, Stan, Stan.

These are my parents Rita and Stan. >> Hello.

>> So guys, do you remember what my first word was?

>> I remember your brother's first word. >> Ok. So, I'm the youngest of two. Clearly

I'm not a memorable child because the first one is the more interesting one.

>> His first word was 'hi'. >> Hi.

>> And, I don't remember Rachel's first word, but once she started speaking, she never stopped.

>> That's true. >> So you don't remember my first word either?

>> It was probably 'mama'. >> But you don't actually know.

>> I don't actually know. >> Ok.

The pronunciation of this word is four syllables, and with the CH consonant sound. Actually.

But I notice both my Mom and I here pronounced it actually. We're reducing the word by substituting

the CH with a SH sound, that has no stop; we're making it a little bit smoother. And we're

dropping the schwa syllable altogether. Actually. Actually.

>> But you don't actually know. >> I don't actually know. >> Ok.

>> They're trying to think of something cute that I might have said to tell you guys. But

my Mom said: >> I can think of something cute your brother

said. >> Yeah. See? It's terrible.

>> Well, I remember doing lots of things with you.

>> Right. No, it's fine. >> I remember riding you to school on the

handlebars of my bike. >> Yeah. That hurt. I always wished that he

would buy an actual seat to put on the bike. >> One thing I remember is sending off a card

three days before she left for summer camp so she would receive a card on the first day

of summer camp. >> Yeah. That was nice. I used to go away

for two weeks, and Mom was very good about sending cards and also treats.

>> Well, thanks Mom and Dad so much for being willing to meet my Rachel's English audience.

One last thing I want to say about them is tomorrow is their 45th wedding anniversary.

So, happy anniversary, guys! >> Thank you!

>> Are you ok? >> Yeah.

>> This is my favorite uncle John. This is my dad's older brother. Isn't he cute? John,

this is Rachel's English. >> Hi Rachel's English. How are you? Rachel

comes from a very talkative family. >> Yeah. We, we all talk a lot.

>> Yeah. >> It makes sense that I'm doing what I'm

doing. >> Right. I'm the quietest one I think.

>> Yeah, probably. And he's not that quiet.