English: A Stress-Timed Language - American Pronunciation

In this American English pronunciation video, we're going to go over why some words sound

在這段「美語發音」影片中

我們要來講解，為何有些字發音會改變

different when they're said on their own than they do when they're said as part of a sentence,

本身是一種念法

放在句子中，又是另一種念法

like 'for', 'fer'.

如：「for」（本身）念成 「fer」（在句子中）

A lot of people think, when they're studying a language and they're new to it, that they

很多人認為，當他們初學一種語言時

必須完整、清楚地念出每個字，才能讓人完全聽懂

need to pronounce each word fully and clearly in order to be well-understood. But in English

但英語並非如此

that's actually not the case. English is a stress-timed language. That means some syllables

英語是一種「重音計時」的語言

這表示有些音節會念長一點

will be longer, and some will be shorter. Many languages, however, are syllable-timed,

而有些音節會念短一點

而有些語言卻是「音節計時」

這表示每個音節都念一樣長

which means each syllable has the same length. Examples of syllable-timed languages: French,

「音節計時」的語言，舉例如下：

法語、西班牙語、粵語（廣東話）

Spanish, Cantonese. So, when an American hears a sentence of English, with each syllable

所以，當美國人聽到一個英文句子

句子裡每個音節都一樣長

having the same length, it takes just a little bit longer to get the meaning. This is because

就要花更長時間，才知其意

這是因為我們已習慣聽「重音節」

we are used to stressed syllables, syllables that will pop out of the line because they're

重音節會從一句話中彈出來

longer and they have more shape. Our ears, our brains, go straight to those words. Those

因為它們音節較長，形態也較多

我們的耳朵、大腦直接聽那些字

are the content words. When all syllables are the same length, then there's no way for

那些字都是「內容字」

當所有音節都一樣長時

耳朵就無法聽出哪些字是最重要的

the ear to know which words are the most important.

所以，這就是「重音」在美語中如此重要的原因

So this is why stress is so important in American English. It's a stress-timed language. When

美語是一種「重音計時」的語言

當你給我們清楚的重音節形態時

you give us nice shape in your stressed syllables, you're giving us the meaning of the sentence.

你就給我們這句話的意思

而這也表示其他的音節必須輕讀

This means that other syllables need to be unstressed --- flatter, quicker --- so that

語調平一點，念快一點

the stressed syllables are what the ear goes to. This is why it's so important to reduce

這樣「重音節」才是耳朵要去聽的東西

這就是「功能字」能省音就省音，在美語中如此重要的原因

function words that can reduce in American English. When those function words are part

當那些「功能字」放在整句中

of a whole, part of a sentence, they are pronounced differently. Let's look at some examples.

或在句子中

它們的念法就不同

讓我們看一些例子

----. 你知道我在講什麼嗎？

----. Do you know what I'm saying? A native speaker might not either. But, in the context

英語母語人士可能也聽不出來

但從下句的上下文中

of a sentence, "I'm going to the store," a native speaker would know exactly what I was

我正前往那家店

英語母語人士就完全知道我剛講的話

saying. I'm going to the store. I'm going to the store. When 'to the' is pronounced

我正前往那家店；我正前往那家店

在念「to the」時

---- (reduced and linked), 'going' and 'store' become the obvious words in that sentence.

---- ，經過省音及連音之後

「going」及「store」就會在句子中凸顯出來

我正前往那家店

I'm going to the store.

What about ----? Can you understand what I'm saying? A native speaker might not either.

這個 ---- 怎麼樣？

你聽得出我講什麼嗎？

英語母語人士可能也聽不出來

But, in the sentence fragment "Because of my job," "Because of my job," a native speaker

但在以下「不完整句子」中：

因為我的工作；因為我的工作

英語母語人士就完全知道我剛講的話

would know exactly what I was saying. Because of my job. Because of my job. 'Because' and

因為我的工作；因為我的工作

「because」跟「of」都予以輕讀、省音及降音

'of' are so unstressed, so reduced and low in pitch, that the word 'job' is able to really

「job」這個字，真的就能從句子中蹦出來

jump out of the sentence. Because of my job.

因為我的工作

在美語發音中，這真的是最重要的了

This is really of primary importance in American English pronunciation. As you're working on

當你在努力學發音時

pronunciation, keep in mind this idea of a word being part of a whole.

請牢記此觀念：「單字僅是整句的一部分」

The word 'for': part of a word becomes fer, fer, fer you, fer me, fer dinner. Practice

「for」這個字，放在整句中，就念成 「fer」、「fer」

為了你；為了我；為了晚餐

請依此練習，並再三反覆訓練

it this way. Drill it over and over. Other words that can reduce: 'and' can become 'n'.

還有其他「省音字」嗎？

「and」可念成「n」、「n」

'Them' can become 'thum' or 'em'. 'At' can become 'ut'. 'To' can become 'tuh' or 'duh'.

「them」可念成「thum」或「em」

「at」可念成「ut」、「ut」

「to」可念成「tuh」或「duh」

'Can' can become 'kun', 'kun'. 'Are' can become 'er', 'er'. 'Was' can become 'wuz', 'wuz'.

「can」可念成「kun」、「kun」

「are」可念成「er」、「er」

「was」可念成「wuz」、「wuz」

'That' can become 'thut', 'thut'. 'Your' can become 'yer', 'yer'. 'At the' can become 'ut

「that」可念成「thut」、「thut」

「your」可念成「yer」、「yer」

「at the」可念成「ut the」、「ut the」，等等

the', 'ut the'. And so on. So keep an eye out for this as you're studying pronunciation

請多留意此事（重音及省音），就在你學習發音

and listening to native speakers.

及聆聽英語母語人士講話時

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

就這樣，非常感謝使用 Rachel 的英文

I'm excited to announce that I'm running another online course, so do check out my website

我很興奮地宣布：我正在開辦另一門線上課程

一定要來我的網站查看一下詳情

for details. You'll find on there all sorts of information about the course, who should

你會在那裡找到各種課程的相關資訊

包含哪些人該來上課，以及上課條件

take the course, and requirements. I really hope you'll check it out and consider signing

我真的希望你們去查看一下，並考慮報名參加

up. I've had a blast with my first online course, and I'm looking forward to getting

對於我的線上課程處女作，內心高興至今

我很期待能好好認識你們

to know you.

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

光是那樣還沒完

還要以愉快心情觀看我的 「實用生活美語」影片

或更能適應此清單中的「國際音標（IPA）」

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

請了解一下我提供的線上課程

或是查看一下我最新的影片

video.