How to Pronounce: Headaches, Coughs, Breathing, Throat and Blood
/How to improve English pronunciation: Due to the global crisis of COVID-19, I have set out to help business professionals in pronouncing some of the toughest words often used to describe the pandemic. Many are advanced speakers, but they are often unable to pronounce keywords in the areas of expertise and research. For me, this is critical for global understanding, especially as we communicate more and more by video conference and the need to speak clearly for our listeners is extremely important.
Time Stamps
0:19 headaches
1:10 coughs
1:35 breathing
2:20 throat
2:43 blood
This video is the second of three videos to help you correctly pronounce difficult words related to the global crisis. You will learn how to pronounce headaches, coughs, breathing, throat, and blood. You will also learn what the sounds are in each syllable. Yes! The pronunciation of English vowels, silent consonants and word stress can be a challenge.
To see the first video where I teach you how to pronounce the words economic, crisis, health, and disease, click here. To see the third video where I teach you how to pronounce the words analyses, unanswered, and debt, click here.
Not only is knowing how to pronounce English words correctly empowering, but it also means your listeners understand you first time and they can focus on your messages and not on understanding your words. Accent reduction is not necessary, but clarity of speech is.
Transcription:
Hi, I'm Melanie Hussell. And this is the second of my three videos on how to pronounce some key words used to describe our current global crisis. Let's turn to the text and look at the words highlighted in color. Today, I'm going to look at five words.
First word is headaches. How many syllables? Head - aches. Two syllables. Let's have a look at the sounds in the first syllable, (h) huh, eh, short vowel, as in egg. (D) de, head. Let's have a look at the second syllable. Starts with, ay, long vowel as in say. (Ch) ke, s, aches. Let's put them together. Head - aches. Where is the stress head - aches? It's on the first syllable headaches.
Let's have a look at the second word. Coughs. How many syllables coughs? Yes, just one. Let's have a look at the sounds in that word. (C) ke, o, short vowel. O as in on. (Gh) ff, ss, coughs.
The next word is breathing. How many syllables, breath - ing. Two syllables first syllable b, r, ee as in see. Thhh, notice my tongue breathe. Let's have a look at the second syllable, ing. (I) i-, short vowel, as an it. (Ng) nn, ing now. Let's put them together breath - ing. Where is the stress? Yes, it's at the beginning. Breathing.
Let's have a look at the fourth word throat. How many syllables throat? Just one. Let's have a look at the sounds in that word. Thh, notice my tongue, r, oh, long vowel as in no. Throat.
And now for the final word of the day, blood. How many syllables? Blood. Just one, let's have a look at the sounds. B, l, u as in up short vowel, d, blood.
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If you are looking to discuss your organisation’s (corporate, NGOs, Associations and Universities) Business English communication needs (including Pronunciation support) or Presentation skills, I offer free 30-minute consultations through my site. I’d love to meet you..
Have a nice day.
Melanie Hussell empowers professionals to present with confidence, share their great ideas and make bigger impact on their organisations.
She has over 16 years of European corporate experience in several sectors across Europe. Melanie virtually coaches clients on their Business English all over the world including but not limited to companies in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the United States. Melanie’s passion in linguistics, pronunciation, and presentation skills allows her to help professionals to become more effective when they communicate. As a remote coach, Melanie is always nearby to assist you and your team.
Melanie can help and guide you, step by step, with her expertise and enthusiasm to refine your communication skills. Given that 4 out of 5 English speakers are non-native, she trains her clients on the 4 pillars of communication - Language, Pronunciation, Presentation, and Voice and Body. Through Melanie’s coaching, you will be ready for 'the new future' and help you make the difference you want, both for yourself and your organisation.