Explore every episode of the podcast English Sound Building - British Pronunciation
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 5 recap - Burger burglars and other tongue twisters | 05 Dec 2022 | 00:12:35 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re reviewing all the sounds from season 5, and many others too, with ten tongue twisters. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Luxury and Tranquility - words with /r/ and /l/ | 28 Nov 2022 | 00:08:33 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re looking at words with both ‘l’ and ‘r’. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Completely problematic - clusters with /l/ | 21 Nov 2022 | 00:13:08 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, reviewing a lot of sounds in tricky clusters with /l/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Probably brilliant - tricky clusters with /r/ | 14 Nov 2022 | 00:21:37 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re reviewing /r/, and a lot of other consonant sounds besides, to look at clusters with /r/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Hey, hey, hey! The diphthong /eɪ/ in English | 07 Nov 2022 | 00:15:22 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re practising the diphthong /eɪ/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Her hair - contrasting /ɜː/ and /eə/ in English | 31 Oct 2022 | 00:14:04 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re following on from last week, and contrasting two sounds we’ve looked at before, but not in relation to each other: /ɜ:/ and /eə/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Very varied - contrasting /e/ and /eə/ in English | 24 Oct 2022 | 00:12:01 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re contrasting two sounds we’ve looked at before, but not in relation to each other: /e/ and /eə/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Four or five - intrusive /r/ in English | 17 Oct 2022 | 00:18:58 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re back with connected speech and another intrusive sound: intrusive /r/. Have fun! Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Order, order! More on pronouncing the letter 'r' in English | 10 Oct 2022 | 00:16:43 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re continuing from last week’s look at the /r/ sound, thinking about places where we see the letter ‘r’ in writing, but do not pronounce it in a standard RP accent. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| I'm terribly sorry - saying the letter 'r' in English | 03 Oct 2022 | 00:18:31 | |
Welcome to season 5 of English Sound Building! Today is the first of a few episodes this season looking at the /r/ sound. In particular, this episode considers words where the written letter ‘r’ is always pronounced, and practises the /r/ sound in minimal pairs with /l/ and /w/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Season 4 Recap - Tongue twisters, rhymes and a song | 04 Jul 2022 | 00:17:31 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re recapping the sounds from this season, as well as a few from others, by having fun with some tongue twisters, rhymes and a song. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| How are you? Intrusive /w/ in English | 27 Jun 2022 | 00:16:06 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re back with connected speech, this time looking at another 'intrusive' sound: /w/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Beer or bear? The diphthongs /ɪə/ and /eə/ in English | 20 Jun 2022 | 00:20:44 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Today, we’re picking back up on the /ɪ/ and /e/ sounds from last week, and seeing how they behave in two schwa diphthongs: /ɪə/ and /eə/. We’ll look at the sounds individually, in common words, and in sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| The left lift - /e/ and /ɪ/ in English | 13 Jun 2022 | 00:16:57 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! This week we're revisiting two short vowels we've looked at before: /e/ and /ɪ/, and contrasting them with each other. | |||
| Several business interests - disappearing syllables in English | 06 Jun 2022 | 00:11:45 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Today, we're looking at "syncope" in pronunciation: otherwise known as words with disappearing syllables. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Record the record! Word stress in two-syllable verbs and nouns | 30 May 2022 | 00:16:30 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Today, we're looking at word stress in two-syllable nouns and verbs. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| My best vest - /b/ and /v/ in English | 23 May 2022 | 00:17:12 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Today, we're picking back up on /b/ from last week, but contrasting it with the fricative /v/. We’ll look at the sounds individually, in common words, and in sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Buy pies! /p/ and /b/ in English. | 20 May 2022 | 00:19:43 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Today, we're looking at our last voiceless/ voiced consonant pair: /p/ and /b/. We’ll look at the sounds individually, in common words, and in sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| 'E 'as an 'ard 'at on 'is 'ed... dropping /h/ in English | 09 May 2022 | 00:16:06 | |
Welcome back to season 4 of English Sound Building! Following on from last week's episode all about /h/, this week we're discussing when /h/ is dropped - both by most speakers, in the weak forms of grammar words, and by some speakers, much more often, in some regional English accents. | |||
| Hip hip hooray! | 02 May 2022 | 00:20:38 | |
Welcome back! To kick off season 4, we're practising the /h/ sound. Have fun! | |||
| Season 3 Recap - More Tongue Twisters, Rhymes and Songs | 06 Dec 2021 | 00:15:26 | |
Welcome to season 3 of English Sound Building! It's season 3 recap time already. We're having fun with the sounds we've focused on this season (as well as those from previous seasons) by working on some tongue twisters, a short rhyme, and two songs. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one.
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| She sells seashells - contrasting /ʃ/ and /s/ in English | 29 Nov 2021 | 00:16:04 | |
Welcome to season 3 of English Sound Building! Today, we're contrasting two sounds we've looked at separately before: /ʃ/ and /s/. We're looking at a lot of minimal pairs, and we're practising with some sentences and a famous tongue twister, too. Have fun! Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Be afraid, be very afraid - intrusive /j/ in connected speech | 22 Nov 2021 | 00:13:45 | |
Welcome back to season 3 of English Sound Building! Today, we're looking at how /j/ is heard between sounds in connected speech. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Yeti on a Jetty - the /j/ and /dʒ/ sounds in English | 15 Nov 2021 | 00:15:08 | |
Welcome to season 3 of English Sound Building! Today, we're revisiting the /ʤ/ sound we looked at last season, and contrasting it with /j/. We’re looking at the sounds in words, minimal pairs, and sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Sing a song! The /ŋ/ sound in English. | 08 Nov 2021 | 00:15:01 | |
Welcome to season 3 of English Sound Building! Today, we're looking at just one sound, the nasal consonant /ŋ/. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Cold gold - the /k/ and /g/ sounds in English | 01 Nov 2021 | 00:20:14 | |
Welcome back to season 3 of English Sound Building! Today, we're looking at another voiceless and voiced consonant pair: /k/ and /g/. We'll practise the sounds in individual words, in some minimal pairs, and in sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Gotta go! Contrasting /ɒ/ and /əʊ/ in English | 25 Oct 2021 | 00:16:18 | |
Welcome to season 3 of English Sound Building! Today, we're picking up on the /ɒ/ sound from last week, and contrasting it with the diphthong /əʊ/. Have fun! Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one.
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| You've got guts! The /ɒ/ and /ʌ/ sounds in English. | 18 Oct 2021 | 00:16:45 | |
In this episode, we're practising the contrast between the British English vowel sounds /ɒ/ and /ʌ/. We're reviewing some common words with both sounds, before looking at some minimal pairs and sentences.
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| A proper cup of coffee - weak forms of common grammar words in English | 11 Oct 2021 | 00:14:28 | |
Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Cheap as Chips! The /ɪ/ and /i:/ sounds in English | 04 Oct 2021 | 00:16:32 | |
Welcome to season 3 of English Sound Building! To start season 3, we’re looking at a real classic: the difference between the short vowel /ɪ/ and the long vowel /i:/. We practise the sounds individually in words and sentences, in minimal pairs, and in some mixed sentences at the end. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Season 2 Recap - Tongue Twisters and Rhymes | 12 Jul 2021 | 00:11:57 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building we’re reviewing most of the sounds from Season 2, and some from Season 1, by looking at two tongue twisters and two rhymes. We're also revisiting some of the practice techniques we first spoke about in the S1 recap. Have fun! Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Fewer viewers - /f/ and /v/ | 05 Jul 2021 | 00:14:23 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building we’re picking back up on the /v/ sound from earlier in the season, and contrasting it with its voiceless pair /f/. There's practice with individual words, minimal pairs and sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one.
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| A little chill: the two 'l' sounds in English | 28 Jun 2021 | 00:14:35 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building we’re learning about and practising the two 'l' sounds in English: clear 'l' and dark 'l'. We discuss where the sounds occur, and how connected speech can affect them. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Wouldya, couldya? /ʃ/, /ʧ/, /ʒ/ and /ʤ/ in connected speech | 21 Jun 2021 | 00:19:33 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building we’re continuing from the last two weeks, thinking about how the /ʃ/, /ʧ/ , /ʒ/ and /ʤ/ sounds appear in faster speech. Sentence-level practice shows you how sounds interact with each other and encourages you to understand the changes made when listening, and, if you like, try them when speaking. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Cheering and jeering: the /tʃ/ and /dʒ/ sounds. | 14 Jun 2021 | 00:15:38 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building we’re continuing from last week, building on the /ʃ/ and /ʒ/ sounds to look at /ʧ/ and /ʤ/. There’s a lot of practice with individual words alone and in sentences, as well as some minimal pairs. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| It's sure azure - the /ʃ/ and /ʒ/ sounds | 07 Jun 2021 | 00:12:41 | |
In this episode we practise the /ʃ/ and /ʒ/ sounds in both individual words and sentences. | |||
| Good food - the /ʊ/ and /u:/ sounds | 31 May 2021 | 00:13:23 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building we’re continuing with the /ʊ/ sound from last week, and adding on the long vowel /u:/ There’s a lot of practice with individual words, as well as a few minimal pairs and short sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Luck or look? The /ʌ/ and /ʊ/ sounds | 24 May 2021 | 00:17:05 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building we’re looking at a really interesting pair of vowels: /Ʌ/ and /ʊ/. There’s a lot of practice with individual words, as well as some minimal pairs and short sentences. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Twelve giveaways - /w/ and /v/ in the middle or at the end of words | 17 May 2021 | 00:13:57 | |
This episode of English Sound Building follows on from last episode, this time looking at the /w/ and /v/ sounds in the middle or towards the end of words. As usual, we look at common words with both sounds separately, sentences with a lot of /w/ and /v/ words, and some words including both sounds. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| A wet vet - /w/ and /v/ at the beginning of words | 10 May 2021 | 00:15:28 | |
Welcome to season 2! Let's continue to flex those pronunciation muscles! The Podcast script is available free on my Patreon (just scroll down on the main page). | |||
| Season 1 shorts - The trapper... | 05 Apr 2021 | 00:05:00 | |
It's the last tongue twister revisit from season one. How will you get on? Have fun! The Podcast script is now available free on my Patreon, as is a video bonus for this episode. There's more advanced English there, too. If you use social media, come follow me on Instagram (feed shared to Facebook and Twitter). | |||
| Season 1 Shorts - Skirts and Shirts | 29 Mar 2021 | 00:06:27 | |
In our third Season 1 short bonus, we revisit the “Skirts and shirts” tongue twister. The Podcast script is now available free on my Patreon, as is a free video bonus for most episodes. There's more free English there, too :-) | |||
| Season 1 Shorts - Fred fed Ted... | 22 Mar 2021 | 00:07:03 | |
In our second Season 1 short bonus, we revisit the “Fred fed Ted” tongue twister, practising the /e/, /t/ and /d/ sounds in particular. Have fun! Practise with all episodes as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss season 2 (which all being well will be coming to you late April or early May). The Podcast script is now available free on my Patreon, as is a free video bonus for most episodes. There's more free English there, too. | |||
| S1 Shorts - "Lesser Leather" | 15 Mar 2021 | 00:06:02 | |
A deeper look at the "lesser leather" tongue twister, talking about all the sounds we've looked at so far in the tongue twister, and showing some different practice techniques. The Podcast script is now available free on my Patreon, as is a free video bonus for this episode. There's more free English there, too. | |||
| Play and repeat - season one recap | 08 Mar 2021 | 00:18:18 | |
It's the final full episode from Season 1 of English Sound Building. We recap the sounds we've discussed in previous episodes by looking at some key words, and talk about different ways to vary the 'listen and repeat' practice. The Podcast script is now available free on my Patreon, as is a free video bonus for most episodes. There's more free English there, too. | |||
| Go go go! The /əʊ/ sound. | 01 Mar 2021 | 00:10:29 | |
This episode of English Sound Building is all about the /əʊ/ sound. We look at some common words with the /əʊ/ sound, as well as some fun and challenging sentences with a lot of /əʊ/ sounds. Try to listen to episode 4 about the schwa sound before this one, if you haven’t already. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Top dog - the /ɒ/ sound | 22 Feb 2021 | 00:10:27 | |
This episode of English Sound Building is all about the /ɒ/ sound. It’s shorter than the last two episodes, which have worked you hard! We look at some common words with the /ɒ/ sound, as well as some fun and challenging sentences with a lot of /ɒ/ sounds. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Past tense -ed endings | 15 Feb 2021 | 00:20:19 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building, we consider the pronunciation of regular verbs in the past tense. This picks up on the /t/ and /d/ sounds we discussed last week, and also thinks about where an extra syllable is and isn’t added to those past tense -ed endings. We look at verbs matching three pronunciation patterns, as well as some fun and challenging sentences with a mixture of sounds. Practise as often as you can to build muscle memory, and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next one. | |||
| Betting or bedding? The /t/ and /d/ sounds. | 08 Feb 2021 | 00:23:49 | |
In this episode of English Sound Building, we practise the /t/ and /d/ sounds. This is another voiceless and voiced consonant pair, similar to /s/ and /z/ in episode one, or /θ/ and /ð/ in episode two. It’s not a pair which is likely to be essential in terms of understanding, but it is a pair which differs quite differently from accent to accent (including from English accent to English accents), so I hope you enjoy finding out more. In the first few minutes, I give some tips on making the sounds. There is more to this than meets the eye, but if you're happy with it, feel free to skip straight to around the 4.20 mark ready for the workout to begin. We look at some minimal pairs, common words containing each sound, as well as some fun and challenging sentences with a lot of each sound individually and combined. | |||
| Work, work, work! The /ɜː/ sound. | 01 Feb 2021 | 00:12:08 | |
Let's smash some language learning goals and flex those pronunciation muscles! In the first few minutes, I give some tips on making the sound, and typical spelling patterns that occur with it. If you're happy with that, feel free to skip straight to around the 2.55 mark ready for the workout to begin. We look at some common words containing both sounds, as well as some fun and challenging sentences with a lot of the /ɜ:/ sound. | |||