Many people tell me that although they find my videos interesting, it seems impossible for them to apply everything discussed.
Here’s the thing. YOU DON’T HAVE TO.
Even if you only listen to a video, you improve your perception. And perception is key for improving your accent and understanding of English.
And even if you only get one thing from it – it’s absolutely worthwhile.
But to really master a new sound or word – you need to practice.
So this week’s challenge is to pick five difficult words and repeat each word 5 times every day. And let’s say that one of these words is going to be.. ‘interpretation’!
Watch video: How to Pronounce ‘interpretation’.
TRANSCRIPT
Howdy, it’s Hadar. And this is the Accent’s Way, your way to finding clarity, confidence, and freedom in English. Sucre asked me to explain how to pronounce the word ‘interpretation’. So we’re going to talk about the word ‘interpretation’ and the verb ‘to interpret’, ‘interpret’.
The word ‘interpretation’ begins with ‘in’, as in ‘come in’. ‘in’. It’s a relaxed ‘I’ sound, and then we lift the tongue up for the N – ‘in’. Then we drop to a schwa sound: t’r. So it’s a T sound, and then you pull it in for the R directly. There is no vowel there, it’s a reduced vowel: ‘t’r’ as in Turkey or terminal. t’r.
The second syllable is yet another schwa – pr’. So it’s a P sound, then you pull it in for an R – pr, and then you relax the tongue for a schwa – pr’. Then the primary stress – a strong T with a long ‘ei’ – TEI. ‘in-t’r-pr’-TEI’. So you go higher in pitch for the primary stress. And then you drop again to a schwa – to reduced vowel – in sh’n: a SH sound, then directly N – sh’n. ‘in-t’r-pr’-TEI-sh’n’.
Now, the verb ‘to interpret’ is almost the same, except for the stress. So, the stress here shifts to the second syllable. We begin the same: ‘in’ and then T’R. It sounds the same because it’s the ‘ur’ as in STIR vowel sound, it’s just like the schwa. So, you don’t pronounce… it’s not ‘in-TER’, although there is an E here. It’s a T that shifts to the R directly: T’R. ‘in-T’R’.
And then you drop to ‘pr’t’: pr – pull the tongue in for the R, round your lips – pr, schwa- pr’. And then you close it with a T – pr’t. You don’t pop the T, so it doesn’t have to be ‘interpreT’. No, a T at the end of the word is sometimes just an abrupt stop of air: ‘in-T’R-pr’t’. All right? Good.
That’s it. Thank you for watching. And don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t yet. Please share this video with your friends if you liked it. And come on over to my website to get more great content and to put your hands on my free Accent Crash course.
And remember that practice makes perfect, so keep on practicing. And I will see you next week in the next video. Bye.
Remember that you are not expected to pronounce this word perfectly after watching the video. Just pay attention to the Schwa, stress and R – and focus on those things when you practice. Tell me how it goes!
