4. Why pronunciation is important when learning a language

欢迎收听InFluency播客。

Welcome to the InFluency Podcast.

我是哈达尔，这是第四集。

I'm Hadar and this is episode number four.

大家好，感谢收听，希望你们今天过得非常美好。

Hey everyone, thank you for tuning in and I hope you are having a beautiful beautiful day.

早上、下午、晚上，无论你什么时候听这期节目。

Morning, afternoon, evening, whenever you're listening to this.

今天我们要谈谈为什么我们需要改善口音。

And today we're going to talk about why we even need to improve our accent.

这有什么重要性呢？

Why does it matter?

我想跟你们讲一个小故事。

I want to tell you a little story.

当我刚开始教授口音课程时，那是在……让我想想，大概是2007年或2008年。

When I first started giving accent lessons, that was back in, let me think, I think 2007 or 2008.

我当时在做完全不同的事情。

I was doing something completely different.

我实际上是特拉维夫一家餐厅的总经理。

I was actually the general manager of a chef restaurant in Tel Aviv.

我真的很忙，但赚的钱不够多，对所做的事也不满意。

And I was really busy but I wasn't making enough money and I wasn't happy with what I was doing.

因为，我的意思是，每天去同一家餐厅确实会变得无聊。

Because, I mean, it can get boring to just go to the same restaurant every single day.

尽管服务很棒，接触的人也不同，还会有各种冲突。

Even though the service was great, like interesting, different people, different conflicts.

我经常被厨师吼，还挺有意思的。

I would get yelled at by the chef, a lot of fun.

但当我回到家时，我就觉得我的生活需要一些改变。

But when I got back home I would be like I need something more in my life.

于是我对自己说：嘿，我其实可以开始教口音和发音了。

So I thought to myself hey I can actually start teaching accent and pronunciation.

我已经做过，而且我很擅长。

I've done it, I'm really good at it.

我应该去试试。

I should just try.

我在第二集中更详细地讲了我的故事，如果你想深入了解，可以回去听一下。

And I talk more about my story in episode number two so you can go back and listen to it if you want to hear the story in-depth.

但当我刚开始教口音时，人们对此反应很奇怪。

But basically when I first started teaching accent, people would have a really strange reaction to this.

他们会问：为什么？

They would be like, Why?

你为什么要改善口音？

Why do you need to improve your accent?

这不应该是你该关注的重点。

This is not where you should focus on.

有口音有什么不好？

What's wrong with having an accent?

这纯粹是奢侈品。

And this is just luxury.

我的语法也很差。

I mean, I struggle with my grammar.

我真的从一家大公司的CEO那里得到过这样的反应。

I really had that response from CEO of a big company.

他们想请我去那里授课，但他却说：这简直是胡扯，我不会允许这种事情在我的公司发生，太荒谬了。

And they wanted me to come and teach there, but he was just like, this is BS, I'm not going to allow this to happen in my company, this is ridiculous.

他并没有说‘荒谬’，我想是我自己加的，这是我给自己讲的故事。

He didn't say ridiculous, I think I added it, that's the story I'm telling myself.

但他确实不希望我去那里教他们如何用不同的口音说话，或者如何改善他们的美式口音。

But he really didn't want me to go there and teach them how to speak with a different accent or how to work on their American accent.

我能理解这种抵触情绪。

And I can understand the resistance.

我也意识到，我在谈论这个问题时的方式确实有问题。

And I understood that there is something wrong about how I talk about it.

而且我觉得，那时我看待这个问题的方式是想要听起来更像美国人，但现在我对为什么我们需要改善口音有了不同的看法。

And also I think back then the way I perceived it was really to sound more American and now I have a different take on why we need to improve our accents.

这正是我今天要谈论的内容。

And this is exactly what I'm going to talk about today.

如果你是英语为第二语言的说话者，我相信你一定会非常喜欢这一集。

So I think you're going to really enjoy this episode if you are a speaker of English as a second language.

你觉得自己听起来不够好，对自己的发音不满意。

That you feel that you don't sound, you're not happy with the way you sound.

好吧，你感到不满意，你一直在努力改善口音，也许你一直难以被人理解，你知道自己在表达清晰度上存在问题，也许你很难听懂母语者说话，或者你是一位想教授发音或口音的老师，却无法让周围的人相信这也很重要——那么这一集对你同样有价值。

Okay, you are unhappy, you have been working on improving your accent, maybe you struggle with being understood, you know that there's some clarity issues there, maybe it's hard for you to understand native speakers or maybe you're a teacher who's looking to teach pronunciation or accent but you can't convince the people around you that this is also important so this episode holds value for you too.

你也绝对应该继续听下去。

You should definitely stick around as well.

我想告诉你的第一件事是，改善口音与为了听起来像美国人而刻意模仿毫无关系。

And the first thing I want to tell you is that improving your accent has nothing to do with sounding American for the sake of sounding American.

这并不是你的目标。

This is not your goal.

因为拥有外国口音本身并没有什么错。

Because there is nothing wrong about having a foreign accent.

我认为这是一种巨大的特权。

I think it's a huge privilege.

我认为这是一种巨大的优势。

I think it's a huge advantage.

它表明你是与众不同的。

It shows that you're different.

这意味着你可能会为团队带来独特的价值。

That means that you may bring something different to the table.

它表明你拥有更多的知识，因为你掌握另一种语言，并来自不同的文化。

It shows that you have more knowledge because you know another language and you come from a different culture.

至于那些对你的口音有意见或抱有偏见的人，你知道，你可能需要重新考虑是否值得与这样的人交往。

And honestly people who may have an opinion about you having an accent or prejudice around it then you know these are people that you might want to think again whether or not you want to be around them.

是的，如果这些人在权力位置上，让你觉得难以应对，比如经理、客户，我知道这确实是个难题，而这正是我认为你需要掌握自己的发音的原因。

And yes if these are people in a position of power where you feel like you know it's just like managers or clients or I know that there is a struggle and this is exactly why I do think that you need to be in control of your pronunciation.

但这并不意味着你需要放弃自己的身份。

But it doesn't mean that you need to lose your identity.

这就是我不喜欢‘说得像母语者一样’这句口号的原因。

This is why I am not a fan of the slogan Speak like a native.

因为首先，这句话暗示了你现在的状态还不够好，但我在这里告诉你，无论你犯多少错误，无论你的口音有多重，或者你的声音有多不同，你都已经足够好了，你不需要听起来像任何人。

Because first of all, it means that the way you are now is not enough I'm here to tell you that you are enough no matter how many mistakes you make or no matter how strong your accent is or how different your voice is, you are enough and you don't need to sound like anyone else.

现在你可能会说，好吧，我想说得像母语者一样，这样在英语中也能像在母语中一样自信。

Now you can say okay I want to speak like a native so I feel as confident in English as I do in my native tongue.

然后我会说，好的，我理解，我唯一希望的就是你能实现这个目标。

And then I say, okay I get that and wish nothing more than that for you.

但我可以告诉你，没有任何语言能像你与生俱来的母语那样。

But I can tell you that there is nothing like your native language, the language that you are born into.

一旦你接受了这个差距——顺便说一句，英语永远不可能像希伯来语那样让我有同样的感觉。

And once you reconcile with the gap I have, by the way English will never be or will never feel the same as Hebrew feels.

对吧？

Right?

我对这一点感到坦然。

And I'm okay with that.

通过不再设定必须像希伯来语或母语那样感觉的过高期望，我真正地成长了，放下了包袱，并带着自己的错误自信地做自己。

And by just not setting up this high expectation that it needs to feel like Hebrew or it needs to feel like my first language allowed me to really grow and let go and feel confident the way I am with my mistakes.

这就是为什么我认为‘说起来要像母语者’这个口号带来的害处远大于它对你的帮助。

So this is why I feel that the speak like a native slogan is just doing more harm than it advances you.

因为这并不是关于你，而是关于他们。

Because it's not about you, it's about them.

这是关于要听起来像他们。

It's about sounding like them.

我将在另一集中更详细地谈这个，但目前我就先留给你这个想法。

I'm going to talk more about that on another episode, but for now, just going to leave you with that thought.

话说回来，如果你还不了解我，那我最初是作为一名口音教练起步的。

Having said that, if you don't know me, then I have started as an accent coach.

我至今仍然主要做这一行。

I still, this is mainly what I do.

我的标志性课程叫做口音改造，主要教大家如何改善发音。

My signature program is called Accent Makeover and it's all about how to improve your pronunciation.

但更重要的是，它关乎如何在英语中表达得清晰且自信。

But more than sounding American, it's about how to be clear and confident in English.

所以我仍然认为这非常重要，也认为它应该作为课程的一部分纳入学校教育，成为英语作为第二语言教学中不可或缺的一环，因为口音是理解并掌握口语英语的钥匙。

So the reason why I still think it's really important and I still think that it needs to be taught in schools as part of the curriculum it has to be an integral part of teaching English as a second language is because an accent is the door to understanding spoken English and mastering spoken English.

它是自信表达和清晰沟通的秘诀。

It is the secret of speaking with confidence and communicating clearly.

那么，让我们深入探讨这些原因。

So let's dive deep into all of those reasons.

第一个原因是自信——当你感到自己被理解时，或者干脆说，我要再深入一点。

The first reason is confidence when you feel understood or you know what, I'm going to go even deeper.

当你讲一种语言时，大脑里会有一种对语言声音的预期，你知道某个词或某个音应该是什么样的，它的音质如何。

When you speak a language, there is the way the language sounds in your head, how you know the word should sound or a certain sound should sound, the quality of it.

你知道它应该是什么样的，因为你接触过这种语言，在我们的情况中就是英语。

You know how it sounds because you're exposed to the language, in our case English.

你接触了这么多英语，所以你知道它应该怎么发音。

So you're so exposed to English, you know how it should sound.

但在这个过程中，当你说出这个词或发出这个音时，情况就变了。

But something along the way, as you say that word or make that sound, changes.

突然间，你嘴里发出的声音和你脑海中的声音对不上了。

And all of a sudden what comes out of your mouth doesn't sound like the way it sounds in your head.

这就会导致缺乏自信。

And that creates lack of confidence.

这首先会让你措手不及。

That creates like first of all it throws you off.

你会觉得这里出了什么问题。

You feel like there's something wrong here.

所以当你说话时，这种情况发生了，你会对自己的发音变得敏感，因为你清楚自己说的不该是这个样子，却又不知道该怎么办。

So when you're speaking and that happens and you become self conscious about your pronunciation because you know that what you're saying shouldn't come out that way and you don't know what to do about it.

首先这会让你措手不及，然后还会分散你的注意力，可能导致其他错误，或者让你停顿、卡壳，这些我们都不希望发生。

Well first of all it throws you off and then it distracts you and that can cause like other mistakes or you'll stop speaking or you'll get stuck, so we don't want that.

但接着你会觉得自己无能，或者自己哪里有问题。

But then you feel like you're incapable or there is something wrong with you.

因为你无法掌控，所以你对自己的发音变得不自信。

You become insecure about your pronunciation because you are not in control.

一切都显得模糊不清，而当你讲第二语言时，这种状态并不好。

Everything feels ambiguous and vague and that's not a good place to be in when you speak a second language.

你希望掌控一切。

You want to be in control.

当这种情况发生时，你就失去了控制，对吧？

And when that happens you are out of control, right?

就像你无法掌控说话的部分。

Like you don't have the control of the speaking part.

所以当你练习发音时，当你知道如何发出这些音，当你明白如何把脑海中的声音或单词准确地说出来，当你掌握了这些方法，你就会感到掌控了全局。即使你仍然会犯错——因为学会发出某个音是一回事，而能自然地在日常对话中运用它又是另一回事——但第一步，也就是知道该怎么做，至关重要。当你达到这一步，当你明白了这些，你就会感到强大得多。

So when you work on pronunciation, when you know how to articulate sounds, when you know how to make whatever sounds in your head, how to say or how to execute whatever sound you have in your head or a word, When you learn how to do that, you feel in control And even if you still make mistakes because it's one thing to learn how to make that sound it's another thing to incorporate it spontaneously in your day to day speech But the first part like knowing what needs to be done is huge and when you're there, when you know that then you feel a lot more empowered.

所以如果有人听不懂你，你就知道具体需要改哪里，才能表达得更清楚。

So if someone doesn't understand you, you know what exactly you need to change in order for you to be clear.

因此，掌握一门第二语言的发音对于建立自信至关重要。

So mastering the pronunciation of a language if that language is your second language is crucial for building up your confidence.

同时，它还能为你带来清晰度。

Also it provides you with clarity.

这就是发音重要的第二个原因。

That's the second reason why pronunciation matters.

为什么改善口音真的很重要。

Why working on your accent is really important.

如果你想变得流利，想成为一个自信的说话者。

If you want to become fluent and if you want to become a confident speaker.

这种清晰度不仅指别人能听懂你，还指你知道自己需要改进什么，对吧？

And it's not just clarity in terms of okay you're clear people understand you but it's clarity in terms of you know what you need to do, right?

我认为这也与我之前提到的内容相关，但关键在于，你的头脑中一切都更有条理了。

I think it also relates to what I've said in the previous reason but it's really about you know it's all more organized in your head.

没有任何东西是模糊混杂的。

Nothing blends in.

你不能把发音和拼写混为一谈。

You don't confuse pronunciation with spelling.

你对如何控制语音有更好的理解。

You have a better understanding of how to control the sounds.

你对如何控制发音器官有更好的理解。

You have a better understanding of how to control your articulation organs.

所以你会更清晰。

So you have clarity.

当你清晰时，你就会更有信心。

And when you have clarity you have confidence.

但当然，这也与你的清晰度有关，也就是表达清楚。

But of course it also has to do with clarity, your clarity, like being clear.

因为如果你不够清晰，别人听不懂你，那就出问题了。

Because if you're not clear, if people are not going to understand you, then we have a problem.

休斯顿。

Houston.

休斯顿，我们遇到问题了。

Houston, we have a problem.

因为当你第一次对母语者或非母语者说话时，他们会说：‘不好意思，你刚说的是什么？’

Because the first time you say something to a native speaker or a non native speaker and they listen to you, they'd be like excuse me what was that?

或者他们会用头部做出某种动作，你就会明白，然后重复一遍。

Or they'll just make this movement with their head and you'll understand and repeat it.

然后你第二次重复时，他们可能会再问一次：‘抱歉，能再说一遍吗？’但如果第三次你还是说不清楚，他们就不会让你尴尬了。

And then you repeat it the second time and then they'll maybe ask you again I'm sorry But then if you say it again and they don't understand you they won't put you on the spot.

他们不会让你第三次重复。

They won't ask you to repeat yourself the third time.

于是你的信息就打了折扣，你原本想表达的内容、想从对方那里获得的东西就无法传达了。

And then your message is compromised what you want to say, what you want to get from them.

如果你想从另一个说话者那里获得什么，不管是母语者还是非母语者，都没关系，你都必须说清楚。

If you want to get something from another speaker, whether it's a native speaker or a non native speaker, doesn't matter, then you want to be clear.

有时候，你嘴巴或声音的某些动作，或者你改变发音的方式，只是因为你一直习惯这样。

And sometimes something that you're doing with your mouth or your voice or how you change the pronunciation of sounds because this is how you're used to it.

这就是你平时说话的方式。

This is how you're used to speaking.

这没什么不对的。

There's nothing wrong with that.

这是你从小养成的说话习惯，虽然不是出生就会，但你一直用这种方式说话，现在却需要完全改变。

It's how were born, well not really born but you grew up speaking a certain way and now you need to do it completely differently.

好吧，想想看，到目前为止你一直都是用脚走路，或者说用腿走路，假设从明天开始你必须改用手走路。

Okay think about this, think about like up until now you've been walking on your feet, or on your legs actually and let's say starting from tomorrow you have to start walking on your hands.

这并不是不可能的。

Now it's not impossible.

我见过有人会这么做。

I have met people who know how to do that.

但我自己一点也不想这么做。

I have no interest in doing that myself.

但确实有人会这样做。

But people do do it.

所以想象一下，突然有人对你说：好了，现在开始这样走路吧，谢谢。

So imagine all of a sudden someone would be like Okay start walking like this, okay thank you.

你会想：我到底该怎么做到这一点？

You're like How the heck am I supposed to do that?

那你该怎么办呢？

So what would you do?

一开始你会感觉很糟糕，可能还会有点头痛和焦虑，但你会开始努力练习，逐渐锻炼出相应的肌肉，并原谅自己摔倒，因为你从未这样走过路；但你大概也会对自己很有耐心，因为这要求实在太荒谬了。

You'd feel horrible at the beginning and maybe have a slight headache and anxiety attack, but you'll start working at it and you'll build your muscles and you'll forgive yourself for falling because you were never used to walking like this but you would probably be pretty patient with yourself because it's a ridiculous demand.

现在，让你用正确的发音说一种不同的语言，从技术上讲也是一种荒谬的要求，因为你必须使用以前从未用过的肌肉，以全新的方式发声，张开嘴巴的方式也是你从未体验过的。

Now asking you to speak a different language with the right pronunciation is also technically a ridiculous demand because you need to use muscles that you've never used before and you need to place your voice differently and open your mouth in a way that you've never experienced before.

所以我想说的是，这需要练习，需要肌肉训练，更需要对自己保持宽容，告诉自己：第一次当然不容易，但我必须做，因为我需要表达得清晰明白。

So what I'm trying to say is that it takes practice and it takes some muscle building and it takes some grace that you need to be graceful with yourself and tell yourself Hey, it's not easy the first time I just need to do it because I need to be clear.

因为如果我想融入那种语言环境，我就必须使用这些要素。

Because if I need to fit in in that language I need to use those elements.

这就像是你走进一个所有人都用手走路的地方，仅此而已。

It's like if you are walking into a land when everyone walks on their hands and that's it.

就像如果你用腿走路，就会被视为异类。

Like if you walk on your legs, are an outcast.

我的意思是，现在想想，这个比喻并不太恰当。

I mean, it's not the best analogy now that I come to think about it.

但我认为你明白我的意思。

But I think you get the point.

无论如何，以英语为第二语言或正确使用英语发音可能很有挑战性，但并非不可能。

Anyway, speaking English as a second language or using the pronunciation of English properly can be demanding, not impossible.

但回到清晰度的问题，使用正确的发音会让你听起来更清晰。

But going back to clarity, using the right pronunciation will make you sound more clear.

这并不是为了让别人对你的口音感到舒适，而是为了让你达成自己的目标。

And it's not about making them feel comfortable about your accent, it's about you getting what you want.

我已经说过这一点，而且在本集中我还会多次提到。

I've said that and I'm going say that many more times in this episode.

好吧，关键在于你能否达成自己的目标，而为此，他们必须理解你。

Okay, so it's about you getting what you want and for that they need to understand you.

使用你母语的元音、辅音和节奏，可能会让你听起来不够清晰，因为那不是他们预期听到的。

And using the vowels and consonants and rhythm of your native tongue may make you sound unclear because that's not what they're expecting to hear.

当你听别人说话时，其中涉及很多因素，一切都与期望有关——人们熟悉的语言模式，而这正是他们所关注的。

When you listen to someone speak there's so much that goes into it and it's all about expectations like paradigms of speech that people are used to and that's what they look for.

如果这些预期没有实现，他们就会感到困惑；当他们第一次和你交谈时，可能听不懂你的话——不是因为你做错了什么，而是因为你做得不一样。因此，理解美式发音并加以运用，我总是说，学习一种新口音就像买一件衣服，你可以随时穿上或脱下。

And if that doesn't happen then they're confused And if they speak to you for the first time they may not understand you Not because you're doing something wrong but because you're doing something different So understanding American pronunciation and using it I always say that learning a new accent is like buying a costume that you can put on and take off whenever you want.

它为你服务，当你需要时，当你想达成某个目标时，你就应该使用它。

It serves you and you should use it when you need to when you need to get something.

对吧？

Right?

比如在电话里或和陌生人交流时。

Like on the phone or with new people.

这可能是你更需要注意自己发音的时候。

This is probably when you want to be a bit more aware of your pronunciation.

所以，清晰度肯定是关键。

So clarity for sure.

使用正确的美式口音——我不想说‘正确的’口音，我差点就说出来了，但我及时纠正了自己。

Using the right the American accent I don't want to say the right accent, I almost said that but I caught myself.

没有所谓的‘正确’口音。

It's not the right accent because there is no right accent.

通用美式口音也不是‘正确’的口音。

General American is not the right accent.

它比其他口音更清晰。

It's an accent that is more clear than others.

我认为，对于美国听众和国际听众来说，它可能比苏格兰口音更清晰。

It's probably clearer than a Scottish accent to American speakers and international speakers, I would say.

但在苏格兰，苏格兰口音才是‘正确’的口音。

But a Scottish accent is the right accent in Scotland.

所以这真的取决于你的视角。

So it really depends on your perspective.

好的，接下来，为什么用口音或正确的英语发音、运用英语语调很重要，是因为它能建立融洽关系。

Okay, so the next reason why speaking with an accent or with a proper pronunciation of English and using the intonation of English is important is because it creates rapport.

融洽关系是指人与人或群体之间建立的一种亲密和谐的关系，在这种关系中，各方能够理解彼此的感受或想法，并进行良好的沟通。

Rapport is a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.

这是一种在对话中产生的内在联系、非语言的连接，它能建立信任与同情心，而当我们沟通时，这正是我们希望激发的情感。

So it's this internal connection, non verbal connection, that is created in a conversation and it creates trust and sympathy and of course when we communicate this is the emotion that we want to generate.

我们在对话中希望建立融洽的关系。

We want to have rapport in a conversation.

使用相同的口音、相同的语调，尤其是相同的节奏，能够建立融洽关系。

And speaking in the same accent, using the same intonation and definitely using the same rhythm creates rapport.

正如我所说，回到服装的比喻，当你与某人交谈时，如果你能掌握他们的节奏、语调，如果面对面交流，甚至他们的肢体语言和手势的使用方式，这些都能建立融洽关系。

So as I said going back to the costume analogy, when you speak to someone and you know how to use their rhythm, their intonation, if you're in front of them, even their body language and the way they use their hands, these things create rapport.

因此，了解美式语调很重要，比如如果你希望使用美式口音，或者与美国人士交流，理解他们沟通时所使用的节奏和方式，并将其作为建立融洽关系的手段融入你的表达中，这将有助于你作为说话者。

So having an understanding of what is the American intonation let's say you want to speak with an American accent or you're speaking with American speakers then understanding what are the things that they're doing to communicate what is their rhythm and using that as a way to achieve rapport and use that in your communication helps you as a speaker.

好的，我们谈到了自信，谈到了清晰度，谈到了融洽关系，现在我们来谈谈影响力。

Okay, so we talked about confidence, we talked about clarity, we talked about rapport, and now let's talk about impact.

作为人类，我们都希望有能力影响他人。

Well, as human beings we want to be able to influence people.

我们通常通过语言来影响他人。

And we influence people usually with our language ideally.

你当然不希望只是把人推来推去地影响他们，对吧？

You don't want to influence people by just pushing them around the room, right?

所以我们希望用言语去影响他们。

So we want to influence them with our words.

这就是为什么这个播客叫“InFluency”，因为当你对一门语言流利时，你就能影响他人。

This is why this podcast is called InFluency because you influence people when you're fluent in a language.

总之，你希望对他人产生影响。

Anyway, so you want to impact people.

我们该怎么做呢？

How do we do that?

是什么让人能够影响他人？

What makes a person influence others?

是什么让一位伟大的领导者变得伟大？

What makes a great leader great?

他们是如何沟通的？

How do they communicate?

去观察和聆听优秀的演讲者，分析他们的说话方式，这真的很有意思。

It's really interesting to explore or listen to great speakers and try to analyze the way they speak.

是什么让他们的表达如此吸引人、清晰且富有沟通力？

What makes it so engaging and communicative and clear?

当然，这与信息本身以及用词的选择有关。

So of course it has to do with the message and the choice of words.

但不仅仅如此。

But it's not just that.

你可能会遇到一个枯燥乏味的演讲者，即使他讲的是最精彩的语言、思想或哲学，你也只想睡过去。

You can have a boring ass speaker speaking the most incredible words or ideas or philosophy but it's just like you just want to go to sleep.

所以，光有好的信息是不够的，你必须懂得如何有效地传达它。

So it's not enough to have a good message you really have to know how to deliver it.

当你正确运用语言时，就开始产生影响力了。

And when you use the language properly you start having impact.

当你知道该强调哪些词时。

When you know what words to stress.

当你懂得如何制造悬念，让人即使在你的重点并不那么重要时，也迫切期待你的观点。

When you know how to build suspense and to create anticipation when people are eager for your main point even if it's not that important.

你如何将其分解，使其简单清晰，让听众无需费力就能理解你所说的内容。

How you break it down so it's simple and clear for them to understand and they don't have to work too hard to try to make sense of what you've just said.

所以，如果你想产生影响力，想吸引听众，那就掌握某种口音——英语的正确口音。我教授的是通用美式口音，当然通用英式口音，也就是标准发音，只要适合你都可以。

So if you want to have impact if you want to engage people, then owning a certain accent, the accent of English, the proper accent of English I teach General American but of course General British is also okay, received pronunciation, whatever works for you.

但一旦你选择了清晰、标准且广泛使用的口音，你就能开始理解如何在说英语时产生更大的影响力，如何更有效地吸引听众。

But once you choose a certain accent that is clear and clean and vastly used then of course you can have you can start understanding how you can have more impact when speaking English and how to engage people more.

接下来的原因是，它能带给你一种掌控感，因为这不仅仅是用更好的口音说话，更是意识到你曾面对障碍，但你已经克服了它。

Also the next reason is it gives you a sense of empowerment because it's not just about speaking with a better accent it's knowing that you had an obstacle but you've overcome it.

你知道曾经看似遥不可及的事情，突然变得清晰、可能且可行。

It's knowing that something that was unattainable to you is all of a sudden clear and possible and feasible.

一旦你开始拆解它，事情就变得可能；当你看到进步时，它会提升你的沟通能力，增强你的自信——我们之前谈过这一点，还会改善你从未想过要提升的其他英语能力。

Once you start breaking it down it makes it possible and when you start seeing improvement it helps you in your communication, it builds up your confidence we talked about that and it starts improving other aspects in English that you've never even thought about before.

但它也能在个人层面上帮助你。

But it also helps you personally possible.

所以它能给你一种掌控感，而拥有这种感觉总是好的，因为我觉得，你知道语法，然后你又学了一个新的语法规则，这只不过是你完成的一件事，你因此变得更好；但如果发音一直是你的难题，你过去曾认为这对你来说不可能，没人能改变口音，而突然间你发现这是可能的——这意义重大。我认为作为一名英语教师，向学生展示这是完全可能的非常重要，英语中没有任何方面是他们无法掌握的。

So it gives you a sense of empowerment and it's always good to have that because I feel that okay, so you know grammar and then you learn another grammar rule that's just something that you've done and you get better at it but if pronunciation has been a challenge and you've thought in the past that this is not possible for you or no one can change their accent and all of a sudden you see that it's possible I mean that's huge And I think that as a teacher of English it's really important to show your students that it is possible that there aren't any aspects in English that are unattainable for them.

改善口音对提升英语能力和流利度至关重要的最后一个原因是，理解英语口音或正确的英语发音对于理解说话者至关重要。

The last reason why improving your accent is essential for improving your English and your fluency is because understanding the accent of English or proper pronunciation of English is essential for comprehension, for understanding speakers.

第一个原因是，当你在脑海中将语言分解为音素、单位、单词，并理解语调时，你就更能敏锐地捕捉到对方所说的内容。

The first reason is because when you break down a language in your head by breaking it down into sounds and units and words and you understand the intonation it's a lot like you detect it better whatever is being spoken to you.

但人们也经常简化很多词语。

But also people reduce a lot of words.

有很多简化现象，比如他们如何重读单词。

There are a lot of reductions like how they stress words.

这不是你在教科书上学到的东西。

It's not something that you learn from a textbook.

而且由于英语发音与拼写并不一致，许多英语学习者最初是通过阅读和写作学习英语的，因此他们期望听到的英语和书写形式完全一致。

And because English and pronunciation do not correspond a lot of times because English learners begin learning English through reading and writing then they expect to hear English as it's written.

当两者冲突时，就会出现问题。

And when it clashes then there is a problem.

你会觉得是自己哪里不对，因为你听不懂他们在说什么。

Like you feel like there's something wrong with you because you don't understand what they're saying.

但并不是你听不懂他们在说什么，而是你在寻找不同的词。

But it's not that you don't understand what they're saying you're looking for different words.

你在寻找那些你熟悉其拼写形式的单词。

You're looking for the words that you know the way they're written.

所以我们需要改变这一点，通过理解语言的发音和语调，你能更好地理解别人对你说的话。

So we need to change that and by understanding the pronunciation of the language and intonation you are able to understand better what people are saying to you.

它还能帮助你理解不同的口音。

Also it really helps you understand different accents.

无论是美式口音，还是像南方口音或苏格兰口音这样的地域口音。

Whether it's an American accent, a regional accent like a Southern or Scottish accent.

当你理解了语言的发音，你就更容易理解这些口音，因为你能迅速识别出音素的替换，从而更容易理解其含义。

When you understand the sounds of the language it's a lot easier for you to understand those accents because you understand the substitutions really quickly and it's easier for you to make sense of it.

所以，学习并改善你的英语口音，能帮助你更好地理解英语母语者，尤其是美国母语者。

So learning improving your accent in English helps you understand English speakers better or American speakers Native speakers.

母语者。

Native speakers.

更好地理解母语者。

Native speakers better.

明白吗？

Okay?

所以，我认为这些理由已经足够充分，值得你去改善口音，接受口音训练。

So I think these are good enough reasons to improve your accent, to pursue accent training.

下次如果有人嘲笑你改善口音，你就可以告诉他们：我来告诉你为什么你需要改善口音，把我们刚才说的那些理由都列出来。

So the next time someone makes fun of you for improving your accent, you can be like, well, I'll tell you why you need to improve your accent and list all those things that we talked about.

顺便提醒一下，我的网站上提供了海量免费课程和视频，你可以随时去学习，自己提升。

This is also a good opportunity to tell you that I have a gazillion lessons and videos for you totally free on my website that you can just go and start learning and improving on your own.

它叫《口音之道》杂志，就在我的网站上。

It's called The Accent's Way magazine and it's on my website.

我会在描述中发布一个链接，你可以立即去查看。

I'm going to post a link to it in the description so you can go ahead and check it out right after.

另外，如果你想了解更多关于我每半年举办一次的标志性课程《口音重塑》，也可以点击节目笔记中的等待名单加入。

Also if you want to learn more about my signature program Accent Makeover that I run twice a year, You can also click to join the waitlist in the show notes.

好了，就这样。

Okay, that's it.

我很想听听你对这个的看法，欢迎在我的Instagram账号hadar上留言评论。

I would love to hear what you think about this so feel free to comment over to my Instagram account hadar.

账号是Accent sway，给我发私信，告诉我你对这期节目的看法，以及你是否同意我的观点。

Accent sway and send me a DM and tell me what you thought about this episode and tell me if you agree with me.

或者你可能觉得这全是胡说八道。

Or maybe you think it's all nonsense.

我也很想知道这种看法。

I'd love to hear that too.

所以别害羞，快来留言打个招呼吧。

So don't be shy, comment over and say hi.

这真是个不错的押韵。

And that was a nice rhyme.

现在想想，我本该当个诗人的。

I should have been a poet now that I think about it.

总之，感谢你的收听，我们下次再见。

Anyway, thank you for tuning in and I'll see you next time.

再见。

Bye.