phonetics. Now, I said there's going to be a secret on how to improve your pronunciation

語音學。現在，我要說個關於如何增進你的英文發音的

in English - here's the secret. Are you ready? There is no secret. It takes hard work, it

秘密 - 要開始說囉。你準備好沒？就是，沒有秘密。需要下苦工，

takes practice, it takes perseverance. You have to do things, you have to practice things,

這需要練習，需要毅力。你需要下一些功夫，需要去練習，

you have to use your dictionary. You always have to keep working at it, that's the secret.

你需要使用你的字典。你需要不斷地繼續努力精進，這裡頭沒有秘訣。

But I'll give you a little bit of a tip on how to make this a little bit easier for yourself.

但我會給你一些小撇步關於如何去讓這件事情對你而言簡單一點。

Okay?

可以嗎？

What we have here is a list of words, each one looks very similar, but it has a different phonetic sound.

我們這邊有一列的字，每個字看起來都很類似，但有不同的語音學發音

Now, "phonetics" means the sound of the syllables in the word. "Syllables"...

現在「語音學」即是研究一個字裡頭的音節所發出的聲音。「音節」

I'll just write that word here. A "syllable" is the sound part of a word. For example:

我剛寫下那個字。一個「音節」是一個字發音的部份。舉例而言：

the word "cat" has one syllable. The word "beautiful", "beau-ti-ful" - three syllables. Okay?

「貓」這個字有一個音節。「漂亮的」，「漂-亮-的」 - 三個音節。明白嗎？

So we're going to learn how to look at syllables, how to find the sound for each

接下來我們要學習如何讀懂音節，以及如何找出一個字中每一個

syllable in a word to know how to pronounce the full word.

音節的音，以幫助我們知道如何去讀一整個字。

So we're going to start with these words because, again, these are very common words.

所以我們要從這些字開始，再次解釋，這些字是非常常見的。

These are words that all sound very similar, plus I had a request on www.engvid.com

這些字全部都很類似，加上我被觀眾要求在www.engvid.com上

in the comment section on how to pronounce these.

的討論區中製作一個關於這些字如何應該如何發音的清單。

Let me say all these words first. "Look", "lock", "luck", "lack", "lake", "like", "lick",

先讓我來念過一遍。"look"，"lock"，"luck"，"lack"，"lake"，"like"，"lick"，

"leek", "Luke", "bloke", and "let". Now, "bloke" and "let" are obviously different words,

"leek"，"luke"，"bloke"，和"let"。好，"bloke"和"let"是明顯不同的字，

but there's no such word as "loke" and there's no such word as "lek", so I had to improvise.

但並沒有像"loke"和"lek"這兩個字，所以我只能即興表演囉。

But we have a bunch of other ones. Now, for some of you, a lot of these words sounded

但我們有很多其他的例子。現在，對於你們其中一些人來說這些字中，很多聽起來

exactly the same I'm guessing. Right? They're not. They're very different.

都一模一樣，我猜。對吧？但它們並不是。它們相去甚遠。

So "lock" and "luck" have completely different meanings. They have no relationship to each

所以"lock"和"luck"有完全不同的意義。它們兩互不相干，除了，

other except that they share one, two, three; one, two, three similar letters.

它們在這一、二、三個字和這一、二、三個字母是一樣的。

"Aw", "ah", very similar vowel sound as well.

"aw"，"ah"，也是兩個讀音很相近母音。

So, what you notice above each of these words is the phonetic symbol.

好，你會注意到這裡每個字的上面會有語音學符號。

Now, there are different phonetic lists. Everybody has their own list. Find one that you like.

現在，這些事不同語音學符號的列表。每個人都會有自己習慣的列表形式。用你自己喜歡的就可以。

I took these symbols from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, that's the American dictionary.

這些符號我是取自梅里亞姆-韋伯斯特字典，那是本美式英語字典。

If you want to find it online: www.m-w.com. It's a good dictionary

若你要在網路上搜尋請打：www.m-w.com。這是本好字典

and that's where I got these symbols from. Once you start studying phonetics, stick to one list. Okay?

而且也是這些符號的來源。一旦你開始學習語音學，請專一在一種列表上。明白嗎？

If you want to study British English, use a British dictionary; American English, use an American dictionary.

若你要學英式英文，用本英式英語字典；美式英語，則用本美式英語字典。

Most of the words are going to be the same or similar; some of them will be completely different.

兩種字典裡頭絕大多數的字都相同或相似；但某些卻是完完全全不同。

So choose your dictionary, stick to it, practice.

所以挑本你的字典，專注在上面，勤於練習。

Now, if you look at these words in the dictionary on Merriam-Webster, you will find the phonetic spelling.

現在，你若在梅里亞姆-韋伯斯特字典中找這些字彙，你會找到它們的語音學拼法。

The "phonetic spelling" means they spell the word according to its sound. So

所謂的"語音學拼法"指的是以它們的讀音來拼組這個字彙。所以

this "u" with a dot-I hope you can see that dot-"look", "uh". "book", "took", "bull".

這裡的"u"會有個點在上頭 - 我希望你看的清楚這裡有個點 - "uh"，"book"，"took"，"bull"。

It doesn't matter what the letters on either side are,

這跟字母在哪一側無關，

the vowel sound is going to be the same with this symbol.

母音都會是以這個符號來表示。

With "lock", you have "a" with two dots on top of it. "Lock", "rock", "sock", "font".

而"lock"，我們會以"a"上頭加兩個點來標示。"lock"，"rock"，"sock"，"font"。

If you're not sure what a font is, if you have Microsoft Word or whatever typing tool you use,

你若不確定什麼是字體，如果你有使用微軟的文字處理軟體或任何的文字軟體，

there are different fonts; Times New Roman, Agency, and Calibri,

它們都會有不同的字體供使用；Times New Roman，Agency，和 Calibri，

or whatever they're called. These are font, but the sound is "aw".

或其他等等。這些就是字體，但它的讀音為"aw"。

"Luck", "ah", sort of like an upside down, an inverted "e". "Luck", "truck", "duck",

"luck"，"ah"，讀音標示有點像是顛倒過來的，一個倒"e"。"luck"，"truck"，"duck"，

"brother".

"brother"。

"Lack", just a regular "a", "sack", "pack", "apple".

"lack"，讀音標就只是一個正常的"a"，"sack"，"pack"，"apple"。

"Lake", "a" with a line across it makes it a bit longer, it's called a diphthong because

"lake"，一條橫現在"a"上方，標示讀音拉長的效果，它叫做一個雙元音，因為

it's "ae", it's like almost two vowel sounds in one. "Shake", "bake", "trade".

它讀音標為"ae"兩個字元組成，幾乎像是有兩個母音濃縮在一個裡頭。"sanke"，"bake"，"trade"都是。

"Like", "i" with a long symbol on top of it, "i". It's also a diphthong. "Bike", "spike",

"like"，一個長橫線在"i"的上方，"i"。也是一個雙元音。像是"bike"，"spike"，

"flight". All the same vowel sound.

"fight"。都是相同的母音發音。

"i", regular "i" with nothing on top. "Lick", "ih", "stick", "pick", "little". Okay?

"i"，正常的"i"，不帶有任何額外標示在其上。"lick"，"ih"，"stick"，"pick"，"little"。明白了嗎？

"e", "e" with a long line on top. "Peek", "seek", "freedom".

"e"，"e"上頭加一長橫線。"peek"，"seek"，"freedom"。

"Luke", "Luke" is a man's name, it's also from the Bible. "u" with two dots, it looks

"luke"，"luke"是一個男子名，出處來源是聖經。"u"上頭有兩個點，看起來

like a bit of a happy face with a little dimple. "Fluke", "hookah". Now, before I continue

像是一張快樂的臉帶著酒渦。"fluke"，"hookah"。現在，在我繼續下去前

- what is a "hookah"? How many of you have read Alice in Wonderland? You know when Alice

- 說說什麼是一個"hookah"? 你們有幾個讀過艾莉絲夢遊仙境？你知道當艾莉絲

was walking through the forest and she sees this caterpillar, this big worm smoking a hookah?

走過森林看見毛毛蟲時，這隻毛毛蟲正抽著一個hookah嗎？

Still not sure? Hold on. What do I have here? A hookah. I'm missing the little

還是不確定？等等。我這有什麼？一個水煙壺。這裡少了

smoking part of it, but this is a hookah. It's pronounced: "hoo-kah". Okay. If you ever tried them,

它吸嘴的部件，但這的確是個水煙壺。它讀出來是；"hoo-kah"。好的。你若嘗試過

they're actually quite tasty, but we won't get into that.

就知道它們味道其實很不錯，但我們並不會談到那塊。

"School", "oo". "Bloke", now, I had to find a word that had "ok" in it. "Bloke" is a British slang,

"school"，"oo"。"bloke"，現在我找一個帶有"ok"在裡頭的字。"bloke"是一個英式諺語，

it means guy, man - whatever. "That bloke over there is a very well-dressed."

代表著人或男人 - 無論如何。「那邊那個男人穿著相當得體。」

I don't know why I used that example. "Spoke", "joke", "lower". "o", also a diphthong.

我不知道我為何舉這個例子。"spoke"，"joke"，"lower"。"o"，也是個雙元音。

"o",long line.

"o"上有長橫線。

And "let", regular "e", "eh", "jet", "bet", "arrest".

和"let"，正常的"e"，如"eh"，"jet"，"bet"，"arrest"。

Now, why am I showing you these things? Like why am I comparing different words? (A): because

現在，我為什麼要給你看這些？我為何要比較這些不同的字？第一：因為

once you understand the phonetic symbol of a word, any word that you don't know how to

你能看懂一個字的語音標記後，遇到任何你不會發音的字

pronounce - just open the dictionary, find the symbol. Remember what other word you do

- 就只要打開字典，找到音標，你就會了。記得有其他的字

know that has this symbol. All of you know this word "pack", I assume. All of you know

和你知道的字都有這個音標。你們全都知道這個字"pack"，我假設。你們全知道

the word "jet". You see this word, "arrest", you think: "Okay, not really sure what it

"jet"這個字。你看到"arrest"這個字時，你心想：「好的，不確定它的意思。

is. I'm not sure how to pronounce it.", "Ah" like "uck", "luck". "Arrest", "e", "eh", "arrest".

我不確定怎麼念它。」，"ah"唸起來是"uck"，"luck"。"arrest"，"e"，"eh"，"arrest"。

You have one, two syllables. Find each syllable's phonetic symbol, learn how to pronounce it.

你有一、二，兩個音節。找出每個音節的語音音標，學習如何發音。

Another good thing about the Merriam-Webster's site, online site, you can press a button

另一個梅里亞姆-韋伯斯特網站的優點是，網路化，你只需按一個鍵

and it'll say the word; you can hear it as well.

然後你就能聽見那個字的發音；你也能夠聽見它說的。

Now, what do you do with this? So, let's look at these words. Now, remember English is the

現在，你覺得該怎麼利用這個呢？所以，我們來看這些單字。好，記得英文

hardest language to understand in terms of pronunciation because spellings don't mean

在以發音上來了解的話是所有語言中最難的，因為拼字法並不就代表

anything. This "ea" and this "ea" don't sound the same. If you look at the dictionary, you

一切。這邊的"ea"和這裡的"ea"唸起來就不同。如果你查字典的話，你

will find out that this word is pronounced: "feather". This "ea" sounds like this "e",

會找到這個單字發："feather"。這的"ea"聽起來像是"e"，

"eh", "fea", "feather". This "ea" sounds like "e", "feature" like-where are we?-"leek".

"eh"，"fea"，"feather"。這的"ea"聽起來像是"e"，"feature" 像是 - 我們講到哪了？ - "leek"。

"Leek", by the way, is like the thick, long, green onion. It's very delicious as well when

"leek"，順道一提，是種厚、長，的青蔥。當你好好料理它的時候，

you cook it nicely. "Leek", "e", "fea", "feature", "feature".

它是非常地好吃。 "leek"，"e"，"fea"，"feature"，"feature"。

Now, this, you're thinking: "Fasco", "fiasco", no, it's: "fiasco". Again, the "e", "fi-as-co".

現在，這裡，你會想說："fasco"，"fiasco"，不，它唸作："fiasco"。再一次，這個"e"，"fi-as-co"。

Three syllables, "fi-as-co". What is a "fiasco"? It's a big mess of a situation. The government tried to implement a new policy

有三個音節，"fi-as-co"。什麼是"fiasco"？它表示一團遭的情況。政府嘗試去執行一向新政策

and it was a big fiasco; it was a disaster, nobody bought into it. Okay?

而這變成了一團混亂；真是個災難收場，沒人願意投入。明白嗎？

I'll give you another example. How do you pronounce this word? I'll give you a chance.

我會給你另一個例子。你怎麼發這個單字的音？我會給你一次機會。

Separate it into the two syllables. This one sounds like this one. This one sounds like

把它分成兩個音節。這一個聽起來像是這一個。這個聽起來像

this one. So, "bull-et", "bullet", bullet. Right? Okay.

這一個。好的"bull-et"，"bullet"，子彈。明白嗎？好的。

Again, this is just an example.

再次，這只是個例子。

Keep yourself a list. Get yourself a notebook, write down these words. Start making a collection

製作你自己的列表。自備一本筆記本，把這些字寫下來。開始蒐集、整理

of sounds. These are just some of the sounds in English; there are others. Make yourself

這些讀音。這只有部分是英語的讀音；還有其他的。製作出你自己的

a list of sounds. When you learn a new word, put that word into that sound category, and

讀音列表。當你學到一個新字時，把它放進你的讀音分類表當中，然後

that's how you start building your pronunciation skills. Believe me, at the beginning, it will

這是你如何開始增進你的發音技巧的方法。相信我，一開始時，會有

be very difficult. The more you do it, the easier it will become, the more like a native

相當多困難。但隨者你練習越多，就會越簡單，你說起話來就越來越像

speaker you will sound. Okay?

一個母語使用者。明白了嗎？

I do have a little bit of a tricky quiz on www.engvid.com. It's about rhyming. Oh, by

我的確有一些很棘手的小測驗題在www.engvid.com上。是有關於押韻的。喔，

the way, all I'm doing here is rhyming; making words sound similar. A good way to practice

順帶一提，我在這裡所做的就是押韻；讓字聽起來彼此類似。一個不錯的練習方式是

as well is go to... Just Google "rhyming dictionary" and you can look for words that sound similar.

就是上...去Google "押韻字字典" 然後你就能夠查詢相近發音的那些字彙。

Again, but they're usually one or two syllables so not as useful. Go to www.engvid.com, try

還是要說，但它們通常只有一或兩個音節，所以幫助並不大。去www.engvid.com，

the quiz. And, of course, there's a comment section - ask me any questions.

去試測一下。還有，當然，那裡有個討論區 - 歡迎發問。

And I'll see you again soon.

而我們很快就會再見面囉。