How to take IELTS preparation as a professional in the IT/Business/Freelancing/any job sector (Part -2)
For part 1 click here
Pronunciation is a crucial part of the IELTS test. To take your speaking skill to the next level, during daily practice it is important to give special concern to pronunciation.
uses a full range of pronunciation features with precision and subtlety — IELTS Band Descriptor 9
As a beginner, you can practice these pronunciation techniques, and it will also help to imitate the native speakers.
Blending: Consonant & Vowel
When a word ends with a consonant and the next word starts with a vowel the sound can be blended.
“Makeover” to be pronounced as “Ma-kover”.
“Hold on” to be pronounced as “Hol-don”.
“Sneak out” to be pronounced as “Snea-kout”.
Exercise : Hold on a second! Can you pick up some milk for us at the store?
Ans: Hol-dona second! Ca-nu pic-kup some milk fo-rusat the store?
Assimilation: Changing sounds
When the /t/ and /y/ assimilate, the sounds merge into the ‘ch sound’ /ʧ/.
“don’t you” to be pronounced as “donch-ou”.
“can’t you” to be pronounced as “canch-ou”.
“get you” to be pronounced as “gech-ou”.
Exercise: Nice to meet you.
Ans: Nice to me-cheu.
Flap T
When the /t/ is between two vowels or there is a /r/ and a vowel between /t/, then the /t/ will be pronounced as /d/
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flapping
“party” to be pronounced as “pardy”
“better” to be pronounced as “bedder”
Exercise: How do you know that is your book?
Ans: How do you know thad-is your book?
Glottal stop
When the /t/ and /n/ sound meet togetherwith a vowel, then the /t/ sound can be unreleased
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glottal_stop
“button” to be pronounced as “butn”
“Contain” to be pronounced as “Contn?
Exercise: That’s not important right now.
Ans: That’s not importnt right now.
That’s all for this article. I have practiced these basic rules to improve my speaking skills. These also helped me to attain a good band score in my IELTS speaking test.
