If you adopt the English muscle setting as described on the previous page and add voice, you will produce the English Hesitation Sound.
Watch and listen to the hesitation sound: How to Practise
1. Work out what resonance/muscle setting differences you have compared to the Standard English Accent.
2. Experiment by moving the muscles/resonance from your usual position to the more English position. a. Find a text to read, or count to 10 as you’re speaking. b. Or use particularly English expressions like thank you very much, sorry about that.
3. Ensure you exaggerate the differences to start with so you can feel them. You can make them subtler later. a. You may feel silly at first, but it’s important to play with what your speech muscles can do in order to have more control.
The English You
When speaking English, you may feel that you act slightly differently compared to when you speak in your native language. You aren’t a different person; you are simply displaying a different side of your personality and identity. Think of this as the “English part” of your identity. Start to associate this new voice quality with this part of you.
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Practise Hot-Seating Answer questions in the video to practise voice quality.
Play Hot-Seating Video Lesson
You can listen to more native speakers in the Listening Resources section of this course. Click / tap the screen to see the menu. Then click the Links
