Physiology of speech
- The trick is to focus on the physiology of pronunciation. When you speak English (assuming that's your native language), pay attention to where you place your tongue to make certain sounds -- on the roof of your mouth? behind or between your teeth? close to the back of your throat? Also focus on the shape of your lips and how your throat moves in respect to certain sounds. You will begin to learn how specific sounds are physically created. The next step is to pay attention to native Spanish sounds and focus on the minute differences from their English counterparts. Then, in order to make authentic Spanish sounds rather than mimic them with English ones, practice changing the position of your tongue, lips, and throat until you find the right match. It will take some practice to add these new physiological positions to your permanent memory, and it will feel really goofy and unnatural at first! But don't be bashful, it's a good way to break out of mimicry and into fluency.
- —Guest Nephiril
Listen to music
- One of the best things for me was listening to music that I liked and singing along. It really helped me to get my Spanish to sound more normal and not like a stuttering American.
- —Guest spanish teacher
Improving Your Accent
- Many agree that improving your accent is a great way to show natives you care enough to not murder their language. A few ways I have improved my Spanish pronunciation are: -- Listening to music -- Speaking a lot -- Recording myself on my cell phone or mp3 player and playing it back -- Mimicking natives no matter how silly I sound -- Asking natives to correct me and speak slowly
- —Guest Ducktart
Previous16-18 of 18
