This tome offers an entirely fresh approach on how to improve the clarity and quality of English pronunciation. Written by a speech pathologist, rather than a language specialist, it provides a quite different perspective to any other book on the market. Plain English has been used throughout so that both trainers and self-help students will find it simple to use.
The book outlines a total training model based on principles and techniques developed by the author over many years. The approach is holistic, or multi-sensory, in nature. The ClearSpeak Model of Pronunciation Change © covers all stages of the training process from the assessment of sounds that require change, to the drawing up of a training plan, to a series of 33 Sound Guides for training each sound (a total of 620 pages with over 240 illustrations). Around 85 detailed techniques are provided. Background information on phonetics and speech melody has been deliberately simplified for non-expert readers. The layout is clear with many headings, illustrations and short paragraphs. Each Sound Guide includes TROUBLE SHOOTER tips on how to fix the most common problems. You simply identify the nature of the error and follow the corrective instructions. There are shaded boxes called TECHNICAL TALK spread throughout the text, targeted mainly at trainers.
All training techniques are aimed at producing Standard Neutral English which, as the name implies, does not represent any particular, identifiable accent. At the same time, guidance is provided on the major English varieties of ‘Queen’s English’, General American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and South African English.
Who it is for
• Anyone wishing to improve their own English pronunciation, in particularly ESL speakers.
• ESL language and pronunciation teachers as well as teachers of the severely hearing impaired.
• Speech trainers, drama specialists, and speech pathologists.
The book includes an Audio DVD of ‘listen and repeat’ exercises.