Introduction
you want to improve your pronunciation and fluency in American English, you might have tried various methods and techniques, such as listening to podcasts, watching videos, repeating after native speakers, or using online dictionaries. However, these methods may not be enough to help you master the sound system of American English and how to produce the sounds correctly and speak American English like an American.
That’s why you need 2D Sound Motion Technology, a revolutionary technology that uses two-dimensional visual and auditory feedback to help you learn the American accent effectively. This technology was created by Dr. Alex Obskov, a professional linguist and the founder of American Accent Program. LLC, an online platform that offers various courses and programs for learning the American accent: 1-on-1, group learning, and multiple effective subscriptions.
What is 2D Sound Motion Technology?
2D Sound Motion Technology is a technology that shows you each sound of American English as well as many sound interactions in action. You will see how to use your organs of speech, such as your tongue, lips, teeth, and jaw, to produce the sounds correctly. You will also hear how the sounds should sound like in different contexts and situations.
For example, the American [R] sound is a rhotic sound, which means it is pronounced in all positions of a word, including after a vowel. It is also a labialized sound, which means the lips are rounded slightly when producing it. There are two main ways to create the American [R] sound: the standard method and the bunched method.
The standard method involves raising the back of the tongue so that the sides of the tongue touch the back teeth, while leaving a groove in the center of the tongue for the air to flow through. The tip of the tongue may point upward or be left low. This method is common in Received Pronunciation and General American accents.
The bunched method involves curling the tip of the tongue back behind the tooth ridge and lowering the back of the tongue, while raising the middle part of the tongue to create a bump. The lips are also rounded and slightly protruded. This method is common in Southern American English and some Midwestern and Western American English accents.
2D sound motion technology is a technology that uses two-dimensional visual and auditory feedback to help learners master correct pronunciation and fluency in American English. This technology helps learners understand the sound system of American English and how to produce the sounds correctly.
To use 2D sound motion technology to pronounce the American [R] sound, you need to follow these steps:
- Choose a word or a sound that contains the [R] sound, such as “car” or “red”.
- Look at a 2D sound motion simulator that shows you how to position your tongue, lips, and jaw for the [R] sound.
- Try to imitate the native speaker’s pronunciation and mouth movement, while looking at the 2D Sound Motion Simulator for guidance.
- Record your own pronunciation and compare it with the native speaker’s pronunciation from 2D. You can also get feedback from Dr. Alex in 1-on-1 classes or in the Interactive course (Master’s Program Subscriptions) that will be available in 2024. Now you can join the wait list for that type of subsection.
- Repeat the process until you are satisfied with your pronunciation.
- Practice this sound in phonetic exercises, practice sentences, and paragraph practice to sound naturally, and fluently.
The advantage of using 2D sound motion technology to pronounce the American [R] sound is that it provides you with a clear and detailed visual representation of how to produce the sound, as well as auditory feedback and correction. This can help you overcome a lot of the difficulties that learners often face when trying to pronounce this sound, such as:
- Not knowing how to position your tongue and lips correctly
- Not being able to hear or feel the difference between similar sounds, such as [R] and [L]
- Not being aware of your own pronunciation errors or habits
The disadvantage of using 2D sound motion technology to pronounce the American [R] sound is that it may not be accessible or affordable for everyone, as it requires a device that can play audio and video files, as well as a software program that can generate and display 2D sound motion simulations. It may also not be suitable for learners who prefer other learning styles, such as kinesthetic or tactile.
An old method of pronouncing the American [R] sound is to use a mirror and a pencil. This method involves following these steps:
- Choose a word that contains the [R] sound, such as “car” or “red”.
- Listen to a native speaker’s pronunciation of the word and watch how their mouth moves.
- Hold a pencil horizontally between your teeth and look at yourself in a mirror.
- Try to imitate the native speaker’s pronunciation and mouth movement, while keeping your teeth on the pencil.
- Remove the pencil and repeat the word without it.
The advantage of using this method to pronounce the American [R] sound is that it is simple and inexpensive, as it only requires a mirror and a pencil. It can also help you practice keeping your tongue away from your teeth, which is important for producing this sound.
The disadvantage of using this method to pronounce the American [R] sound is that it does not provide you with any visual or auditory feedback on how to position your tongue, lips, and jaw correctly. It may also cause you to distort other sounds in the word, such as vowels or consonants, by forcing your mouth into an unnatural shape.
Conclusion
How does 2D Sound Motion Technology help you learn the American accent?
2D Sound Motion Technology helps you learn the American accent in several ways:
- It helps you understand the sound system of American English and how it differs from your native language. You will learn the phonetic symbols and terms that describe each sound and how they are classified into categories, such as voiced or unvoiced, stops or fricatives, etc.
- It helps you improve your pronunciation accuracy and clarity by showing you how to produce each sound correctly and consistently. You will be able to avoid common mistakes and errors that may affect your communication and comprehension.
- It helps you improve your fluency and intonation by showing you how the sounds interact with each other in words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. You will learn how to use stress, rhythm, pitch, and linking to make your speech more natural and expressive.
- It helps you practice and reinforce what you learn by providing you with various exercises and activities that test your knowledge and skills. You will be able to monitor your progress and get feedback on your performance.
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