Pronouncing a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert with (1) __0 j$ L% ~% g/ H) b" c0 f* P
The skill of pronouncing his own language; but few people are even
: t- A0 C) c- r4 F moderately proficient at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there many* n( U J$ |) Y$ z. L1 T4 Y+ f
reasons this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest (2) __
$ a2 T+ o4 @5 z that the fundamental reason which people in general do not speak (3) __
4 l6 M1 n0 p. ]1 x4 t foreign languages very much better than they do are that they never (4) __
: T3 Z2 I5 y! z/ d m D) g fail grasp the true nature of the problem of learning to pronounce, (5) __
. O$ |: U; W5 z, G; Q' _ and consequently never set to tackling it in the right way. Far (6) __! V5 G8 D4 S" X% ?& K+ [
too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language/ i/ K* y4 v% L4 D4 M K- n
is a skill--- one needs careless training of a special kind, (7) __
, {, _ g$ `( s" w9 t$ y and one that cannot be acquired by just leaving it to take care of1 o$ |5 `1 I P! l1 S/ @
itself. I think even teachers of language, while recognizing the
. v* a* t+ G7 n& s' n" N5 D importance of a good accent, tend to neglect, in their practical+ K8 Q/ L9 Q0 f4 i6 o9 w# G" p
teaching, the branch of study concerning with (8) __
5 P/ C4 D3 d4 V" [- p& g, y speaking the language. So the first point which I want to make is (9) __
: \* @, _2 U0 K* Y that English pronunciation must be taught; the teacher. h! ?3 j" O2 _
should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to this," V' k( G2 F0 `
and by his whole attitude to the subject should get the student
2 Q: H5 o* j6 ]2 x' { to feel that here is a matter worthy receiving his close attention. (10) __ |