Placement and Intonation Exercise: How’s it going?

In this American English pronunciation video, we’re going to focus on placement in American English.

Topic: How’s it going?

This video is a placement exercise, and it’s going to get a little weird,

The fun thing about this is we’re totally playing with language.

-Yeah! -I mean like, this is cracking us up.

Absolutely, yeah!

But stick with me.

Placement refers to where in your body the vibrations of your voice are happening.

Sometimes the difference in the sound of the voice is subtle, and sometimes more obvious.

I’m going to say a phrase with three different placements:

That’s so weird.

That’s so weird.

That’s so weird.

That’s so weird.

That’s so weird.

For American English, I always try to get my students to bring the resonance down.

Very low, very relaxed.

Uhhhh is the feeling of placement where I want them to imitate.

In this video, Tom and I are going to have a short conversation.

Then we’ll go back over it, phrase by phrase, and copy the intonation, but just on uh.

This seems silly, but it is literally something we do with our students to bring the focus on placement.

When you take out the actual words, it’s easier to focus on placement and other qualities of the voice.

Do it out loud with us.

The sound we’re using is the UH as in BUTTER vowel.

Everything in the mouth and face is relaxed.

Uh-uh.

First, the conversation.

Hey Tom! How’s it goin?

Good! I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

Oh cool! Where were you?

Up in Beacon, we were visiting friends.

That sounds really nice!

It was really great.

Now let’s break it down, phrase by phrase.

We’ll listen to each phrase, and repeat it back with the same placement and intonation,

but on ‘uh’.

This first time through, just listen.

Hey Tom! How’s it goin? Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

Good! Uh!

I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

Oh cool!

Uh-uh

Where were you? Uh-uh-uh?

Up in Beacon, Uh-uh-uh-uh-

we were visiting friends. uh-uh-uh-uh-uh.

That sounds really nice! Uh-uh-uh-uh!

It was really great. Uh-uh-uh-uh.

Now we’ll hear the conversation phrase by phrase, with the UH imitation three times.

Repeat the third time, just on UH, copying what you hear.

Think about everything in the face and neck being relaxed, and the placement low.

Maybe even put your hand here.

Uh—

Hey Tom! How’s it goin?

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh?

Good!

Uh!

I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh.

Oh cool!

Uh-uh Uh-uh

Uh-uh Where were you?

Uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh Up in Beacon,

Uh-uh-uh-uh- Uh-uh-uh-uh-

Uh-uh-uh-uh- we were visiting friends.

uh-uh-uh-uh-uh uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

uh-uh-uh-uh-uh That sounds really nice!

Uh-uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh-uh It was really great.

Uh-uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh-uh Now we’ll put the text back in.

But, to stay focused on the placement, we’re going to slow the speech down.

Yeah, I think it’s awesome to think about like we’re under anesthesia a little bit

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah, totally.

I just got back from a long— pause.

And you know, who knows, it may be the most worthless video ever.

First, the conversation.

Hey Tom!

How’s it goin?

Hey Tom!

How’s it goin?

Good!

Good!

I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

Oh cool!

Oh cool!

Where were you?

Where were you?

Up in Beacon, Up in Beacon,

we were visiting friends.

we were visiting friends.

That sounds really nice!

That sounds really nice!

It was really great.

It was really great.

We’re almost there.

Now, we’ll hear the UH phrase once at regular pace,

Repeat it at regular pace.

Then we’ll hear the phrase at regular pace.

Repeat it at regular pace.

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh Hey Tom!

How’s it goin?

Hey Tom!

How’s it goin?

Hey Tom!

How’s it goin?

Uh— Uh—

Uh— Good!

Good!

Good!

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

I just got back from a long weekend upstate.

Uh-uh Uh-uh

Uh-uh Oh cool!

Oh cool!

Oh cool!

Uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh Where were you?

Where were you?

Where were you?

Uh-uh-uh-uh- Uh-uh-uh-uh-

Uh-uh-uh-uh- Up in Beacon,

Up in Beacon, Up in Beacon,

uh-uh-uh-uh-uh uh-uh-uh-uh-uh

uh-uh-uh-uh-uh we were visiting friends.

we were visiting friends.

we were visiting friends.

Uh-uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh-uh That sounds really nice!

That sounds really nice!

That sounds really nice!

Uh-uh-uh-uh Uh-uh-uh-uh

Uh-uh-uh-uh It was really great.

It was really great.

It was really great.

Tom sounds like he’s uh- uh- uh- uh— But that’s the whole point, I mean that’s

what we do at the end of phrases you know?

Morning…

Exactly!

We bring it down!

Once you get the feel for this, think about placement every time you speak English.

It can truly transform your American Accent.

For free weekly English lessons sent right to your inbox,

be sure to sign up for my mailing list by clicking here, or in the description below.

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