different when they're said on their own than they do when they're said as part of a sentence,

為什麼單獨說某些字和它們在句子中的發音聽起來不一樣

like 'for', 'fer'.

像 "for" 和 "fer"。

A lot of people think, when they're studying a language and they're new to it, that they

很多人認為，當他們在學習一個新的語言時，為了讓別人明白意思，

need to pronounce each word fully and clearly in order to be well-understood. But in English

他們必須完整清楚地發出每個字。但是在英語裡，

that's actually not the case. English is a stress-timed language. That means some syllables

情況並不是這樣。 英語是個重音計時的語言。這代表有些音節

will be longer, and some will be shorter. Many languages, however, are syllable-timed,

會比較長，有些會比較短。 然而，許多語言是音節計時語言，

which means each syllable has the same length. Examples of syllable-timed languages: French,

它的意思是每個音節的長度相同。音節計時語言的例子有法語、

Spanish, Cantonese. So, when an American hears a sentence of English, with each syllable

西班牙語和廣東話。所以，當一位美國人聽到一句每個音節都等長的英語

having the same length, it takes just a little bit longer to get the meaning. This is because

對他來說，了解這句話的意思會需要比較長的時間。這是因為

we are used to stressed syllables, syllables that will pop out of the line because they're

我們習慣強調音節，會脫口而出這些音節是因為它們

longer and they have more shape. Our ears, our brains, go straight to those words. Those

比較長而且有更多種形態。我們的耳朵、頭腦會注意那些字。

are the content words. When all syllables are the same length, then there's no way for the ear to know which words are the most important.

那些字是實詞：當所有音節都等長，我們的耳朵無法知道哪些字是最重要的，

So this is why stress is so important in American English. It's a stress-timed language. When

所以這就是為什麼重音在美式英語裡是如此重要。它是個重音計時的語言。

you give us nice shape in your stressed syllables, you're giving us the meaning of the sentence.

當你很好地強調了音節時，你就已經把句子的意思告訴我們了。

This means that other syllables need to be unstressed --- flatter, quicker --- so that

這代表其他音節不需要被強調─ 要更平、更快─ 所以

the stressed syllables are what the ear goes to. This is why it's so important to reduce

耳朵會注意那些被強調的音節。 這就是為什麼儘量弱化虛字

function words that can reduce in American English. When those function words are part

在美式英語裡是如此重要。當那些虛字是整體的一部份，

of a whole, part of a sentence, they are pronounced differently. Let's look at some examples.

或句子的一部份，它們發起來會不太一樣。讓我們來看看一些例子。

----. Do you know what I'm saying? A native speaker might not either. But, in the context

----。你知道我在說什麼嗎？ 一位母語人士可能也不知道。但是，

of a sentence, "I'm going to the store," a native speaker would know exactly what I was saying.

在"I'm going to the store"的前後文裡，一位母語人士會清楚地知道我在說什麼。

I'm going to the store. I'm going to the store.

我正要去那家店。我正要去那家店。

When "to the" is pronounced "de the," "de the" reduced and linked, "going" and "store" become the obvious words in the sentence.

(變弱而且連在一起)，"going"和 "store"變成句子裡較明顯的字。

I'm going to the store. I'm going to the store.

我正要去那家店。我正要去那家店。

What about "ke si," "ke si"? Can you understand what I'm saying? A native speaker might not either.

這個怎麼樣----？ 你聽得懂我在說什麼嗎？一位母語人士可能也不懂。

But in the sentence fragment "because of my job," "because of my job," a native speaker will know exactly what I was saying.

但是，在 " Because of my job," "Because of my job" 這個句子片段裡，一位母語人士會清楚地知道我在說什麼。

Because of my job. Because of my job

因為我的工作。因為我的工作。

'Because' and 'of' are so unstressed, so reduced and low in pitch, that the word 'job' is able to really

'because'和"of"是如此不被強調、被弱化且音調低沉，所以 "job"這個字在句子裡可以

jump out of the sentence. Because of my job.

被凸顯出來。因為我的工作。

This is really of primary importance in American English pronunciation. As you're working on

這是美式英語發音中最重要的。當你在發音時，

pronunciation, keep in mind this idea of a word being part of a whole.

記住「一個字是整體的一部份」這個概念。

The word 'for': part of a word becomes fer, fer, fer you, fer me, fer dinner. Practice

"for"這個字：一個字的部分變成 "fer," "fer", "fer you," "fer me," "fer dinner."

it this way. Drill it over and over. Other words that can reduce: 'and' can become 'n'.

可以這樣練習。 反覆練習它。其他可以弱化的字："and"可以變成 "n"。

'Them' can become 'thum' or 'em'. 'At' can become 'ut'. 'To' can become 'tuh' or 'duh'.

"Them"可以變成 "thum"或 "em"。"At"可以變成 "ut"。"To"可以變成 "tuh"或 "duh"。

'Can' can become 'kun', 'kun'. 'Are' can become 'er', 'er'. 'Was' can become 'wuz', 'wuz'.

"Can"可以變成"kun", "kun"。"Are"可以變成"er", "er"。"Was"可以變成"wuz", "wuz"。

'That' can become 'thut', 'thut'. 'Your' can become 'yer', 'yer'. 'At the' can become 'ut

"That"可以變成 "thut", "thut"。 "Your"可以變成 "yer", "yer"。 "At the"可以變成 "ut

the', 'ut the'. And so on. So keep an eye out for this as you're studying pronunciation

the", "ut the"，等等。所以當你在學習發音時，要特別注意這件事

and listening to native speakers.

還有聽母語人士說話。

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.

就是這樣，也非常感謝你們用Rachel's English。

I'm excited to announce that I'm running another online course, so do check out my website

我很興奮地宣布，我有另一個網路課程正在進行中，所以你們可以來我的網站了解細節。

for details. You'll find on there all sorts of information about the course, who should

你們會在那裏找到所有和課程相關的資訊，像誰適合上這個課，

take the course, and requirements. I really hope you'll check it out and consider signing

和課程要求。我真的希望你們會來看看並考慮加入。

up. I've had a blast with my first online course, and I'm looking forward to getting

我的第一個網路課程讓我很盡興，我也很期待可以開始

to know you.

認識你們。

Don't stop there. Have fun with my real-life English videos. Or get more comfortable with

別止步於此。在我的生活英語影片裡玩得開心吧。或是對這個播放清單裡的IPA

the IPA in this play list. Learn about the online courses I offer, or check out my latest

變得更習慣吧。學習更多我提供的網路課程，或看看我最新的

video.

影片。