07. English Vocabulary Essentials with Perfect Pronunciation

07. English Vocabulary Essentials with Perfect Pronunciation

If you want to speak natural, clear English, the 100 most common words in American English is a good place to start.

如果你想说出一口自然又清楚的英语，美式英语里的100个最常用的单字是个好开始。

This video is part of a series where we're studying the real pronunciation (发音) of these words.

这支影片是我们学习这些单字的真正发音的系列，当中的一部分。

This is likely different from what you learned in English class.

这大概会跟你在英语课里学到的不同。

You see, in American English, we have all sorts of words that are unstressed or even reduced (减少的；简化的；缩减的).

就你所知，在美式英语中，我们有许多种类的，被轻读，甚至弱读的单字。

That means we change the pronunciation (发音).

那意思就是，我们改变发音。

This set of the 100 most common words in American English contains many, many words that reduce (减少；降低；把…分解；使处于).

这组在英式英语里100个最常用的单字包括了很多，很多弱读的单字。

If you haven't already seen video 1, and other videos in this series,

如果你还没看过这系列的第一支影片，跟其他影片的话，

I do suggest you start there.

我强烈建议你从那几部影片开始看。

These videos build one on top of the next, so click here to watch video one.

这些影片都是循序渐进的，所以点这里看第一部影片。

This is video seven, we're studying words 61-70.

这是第七支影片，我们来学习第61至70个单字。

Number 61 is the word 'people'.

第61个是单字「people」

This is the first time we're starting one of these videos with a word that is NOT an example of a word that will be unstressed.

这是第一次我们从一个不是弱化的单字例子，作为这系列影片其中一支的开始。

This word is a noun, a content word, and generally, it will be stressed.

这个单字是一个名词，一个实词，而正常来说，它会重读的。

Now, this is a tricky word.

问题来了，这是个难搞的单字。

And I don't have too many videos where I go over the specific pronunciation (发音) of a single word, but I do happen to have one where I talk about this word, so I'll put in a clip here that will go through the pronunciation (发音), step-by-step.

然後我并没有很多影片，用来讲解一个单字的具体发音。可是我就刚好有一支，有讲过这个单字的。所以我会在这里放一支片段，一步一步地讲解这单字的发音。

It's a two-syllable word with stress on the first syllable.

这是一个双音节的单字，重音放在第一个音节.

Da-da. People. It begins with the P consonant (辅音) sound, lips are together for that, pp-.

开首是一个「P」子音，双唇合上，pp- [p]

Then we open into the EE as in SHE vowel (元音；母音), pe-, pe-.

然後我们张开(双唇)以发出就如「SHE」[ si ] 里的「EE」音 [ i ]。Pe~Pe~

So the tongue tip is down here, but the front part of the tongue is stretching (拉伸) up towards the roof of the mouth , pe-, pe-. Now we have the P, schwa ([语]非中央元音), L sound.

舌尖往下，可是舌头的前部分往上地向嘴巴的顶端伸展过去。现在我们来念P，混母音 [ ? ] 跟L音。

This is unstressed, so it's going to be low in pitch and very fast, -ple, -ple, -ple. People. So the lips will come together again for the P.

这里是轻读的，所以它会念起来音调很低很快。就是说双唇在念P时合上。

People. -ple. Then we go into the schwa ([语]非中央元音)/Dark L sound.

然後我们念混母音[ ? ] ，含糊边L音。

Don't worry about making a separate schwa ([语]非中央元音) sound, just go straight into the Dark sound of the Dark L.

不用额外地多念出个混母音来，直接念含糊边L音的混音就可以了。

So, to make that sound, your tongue will pull back, so the back part of the tongue here is shifting (狡猾；移位) towards the throat a bit, people, ull, ull. And that's how we get that dark sound.

那为了发出那声音，你的舌头会往後面拉扯。然後舌头这里的後部分会往喉咙移动一点点。这就是我们发那糊音的方法了。

Now, it should be very short because it's unstressed, people, people.

现在，整个音节应该是非常地短的，因为它是轻读的。People. People.

The second half of the Dark L involves (包含；牵涉（involve的第三人称单数形式）) bringing the tongue tip to the roof of the mouth.

含糊边L音的第二部分会把舌尖抬到嘴巴的顶端。

People. But you can actually leave that out.

可是你其实可以无视那部分。

A lot of people will just make, people, ull, the Dark sound to signify (表示；意味；预示) the Dark L and not necessarily bring the tongue tip up.

很多人都只会发people, ull, 糊音来去突显含糊边音L。也不一定会把舌尖往上抬的。

People, people. Let's do a couple of example sentences with people.

一起来念几句people的例句。

I'm a people person.

我是个很会社交的人。

People, people. Up-down shape of stress, longer, more clear than the unstressed words:

从上往下型的重音，比轻读的单字更长，更清楚。

I'm a-- I'm a-- I'm a people person. What does 'people person' mean?

「people person」是什麽意思呢？

It means that I'm very social.

意思是我很会社交的。

I like interacting (互动) with a lot of people, I'm very outgoing (乐于助人的；外出的；即将离职的), I'm an extrovert (个性外向的).

我喜欢跟很多人互动。我很开朗外向的。

I have room for three more people in my car.

我的车可以多挤3个人。

People, people. Stressed.

重读。

Number 62.

第62个。

Is it as clear as 'people'?

这个单字有没有跟「people」(念起来)一样的清楚？

No.

没有。

It's the word 'into'.

是单字「into」

'Into' is a preposition (介词).

「into」是介系词。

And prepositions are function words, which means they'll generally be unstressed i n a sentence.

介系词是虚词，就是它们通常说在一句句子里被轻读的。

Let me show you what I mean.

让我给你看看这是什麽意思。

I ran into my teacher at the movies.

我去看电影时碰到我的老师了。

I ran into my teacher at the movies.

我去看电影时碰到我的老师了。

Ran, teach-, mov-. These are the stressed syllables.

这些都是重音的音节。

All the others, including the word 'into', unstressed.

而所以其他的，包括单字「into」，是轻读的。

Less clear, low in pitch, flatter (奉承；谄媚；使高兴), given less time.

没那麽清楚，音调低低的，更平的，没花那麽多时间去念。

Into. If it was clear and fully pronounced (宣判), it would have that up-down shape of stress, into, and a True T.

如果它是清楚的，而且完全念出来的话，它会有那从上往下型的重读。「into」。然後就是一个平常的T。

The final vowel (元音；母音) would be the OO as in BOO vowel (元音；母音).

最後的母音会是Boo [ bu ] 里的 OO 音 [ u ]。

Into. But that's not how I pronounced (宣判) it.

可是我并不是这样子念的。

I ran into my teacher.

我碰到我的老师了。

Into. Into. Into. A couple things are different.

有好几样东西不同了。

First of all, it's not stressed so it's flat in pitch, low in pitch.

第一个就是，它并不是重读的，所以它音调平平的，低低的。

Second, two sounds have changed.

第二个就是，有两个音改变了。

The T sounds more like a D, and the final vowel (元音；母音) is the schwa ([语]非中央元音).

T音听起来更像一个D，最後的母音是个混母音 [?]。

Into. into. Into. into. So instead of 'into', it's: into, into.

所以不是「into」[??ntu]，而是「into，into」[??nd?]。

This T is not following the rules of T pronunciations.

这个T没有按照着T发音的规律来念。

The rules are, after an N, we can drop a T completely, but if not, it's a True T.

规律就是我们可以把在一个N後面的T完全丢掉。不然的话，就是个平常的T。

But many Americans will say 'into' more of a D or Flap T sound connected to the N.

可是很多美国人都会把into [??nd?] 念的更像一个D或是弹舌T，黏住一个N。

If you only learned the stressed pronunciation (发音) of this and every word in American English, your English wouldn't sound too natural, because we use so many reductions so frequently (经常地，频繁地).

如果你只学过美式英语里这单字的重读跟所有的单字，你的英语听上去不会很自然， 因为我们超常用很多弱读的。

Number 63: the word 'year'.

第63个：单字「year」

A noun, a content word.

一个名词，一个实词。

This is a word that will generally be stressed in a sentence.

这是个在句子里常被重读的单字。

No reduction (减少) here.

这里不会弱读。

Year. Year. Up-down shape of stress.

从上往下型的重读。

Longer, clearer (澄清剂；清洁器) than the unstressed words in a sentence will be.

比句子里轻读的单字更长，更清楚。

A lot of people have problems with the pronunciation (发音) of this word because of the Y sound.

因为Y音的关系，很多人都难念得到这个单字。

Year. How is it different from 'ear'?

它跟「ear」[ ?r ] 有什麽分别呢?

I actually have a video on that.

我其实有一支关於这问题的影片。

Let me put in a little clip here.

让我把一小小的片段放进来。

'Year' and 'ear' are exactly the same except for the Y sound.

除了Y音以外，「year」跟「ear」是完全一样的。

The main vowel (元音；母音) is the IH as in SIT vowel (元音；母音), but I do feel like we squeeze it a little bit, so it sounds a little more like EE.

主要的母音就是「SIT」[s?t] 母音里的「IH」音 [?]。可是我的确感觉到我们念起来会更挤一点点，所以听起来更像「EE」的音 [ i ]。

IH, ear. EE, ear. Ear. Let's take a look.

一起来看看吧。

First, the word 'ear'.

第一就是，单字「ear」。

For the IH or EE vowel (元音；母音), the jaw drops just a bit, and the corners of the lips pull out wide, just a little.

念IH [ ? ] 或是EE [ i ] 母音的时候，下巴往下张开一点点，然後嘴角往两边拉开一点。

The tongue tip is down here, touching the back of the bottom front teeth.

舌头在这下面，碰到下前排牙齿的後方。

The front part arches towards the roof of the mouth without touching it.

前部分在没碰到嘴巴顶端的情况下拱过去。

Next is the schwa ([语]非中央元音)-R sound.

下一部分就是混母音加上R的音了。

Look for the tongue pulling back as the lips flare (燃烧；使张开；使闪耀；用发光信号发出；使外倾).

在舌头往後退的同时双唇张开。

The tongue pulls back and up, with the tip pointing down so it's not touching anything.

舌头往後往上退，同时舌尖往下，不会碰到往何东西。

Now, let's take a look at 'year'.

然後，一起来看看「year」怎麽念。

The jaw dropped a little bit more here.

这里的下巴往下张开多一点点。

Why?

为什麽?

To accommodate the movement of the tongue.

是为了应对舌头的活动。

While the tip is down in the same position for the next vowel (元音；母音), the middle part of the tongue actually touches the roof of the mouth and pushes forward a bit. yy, yy. At the same time, the throat closes off down here, yy--, yy--, yy--, to add a different dimension to the sound.

当舌尖往下，在相同位置准备下一个母音的时候，舌头的中部其实碰上了嘴巴的顶端，然後往前推了一点点。与此同时，喉咙在这下面闭上了，yy--, yy--, yy-- 为整个声音增添了不同的特点。

Ee, yy, ee, yy. Let's watch the Y several times to see that motion of the tongue pulling down from the roof of the mouth: yy, yy.

一起来看Y 几次，看看那个从嘴巴顶部放下来的舌头是怎麽动的：yy, yy。

Now, the lips flare (燃烧；使张开；使闪耀；用发光信号发出；使外倾) and the tongue pulls back for the R.

这里看。双唇张开，然後舌头为了R音往後退。

Now let's compare the beginning position of these two words.

然後，一起来比对一下，这两个单字一开始的位置。

'Ear' is on the left and 'year' is on the right.

「ear」在左边，然後「year」在右边。

Notice that the jaw has dropped more for the forward motion of the tongue on the roof of the mouth for 'year'.

留意下巴在念「year」时往下张开得更多，带动着位於嘴巴顶端的舌头往前推的活动。

Also, the corners of the lips are more relaxed than for the initial vowel (元音；母音) in 'ear', where they pull slightly out.

还有的就是，嘴角相比微微往前推出来的「ear」开头的母音更放松一点。

You can see this from the front as well.

你也可以从前方看到这一点。

The jaw has dropped more for the tongue movement.

下巴为了舌头活动往下张开得更多。

So, we have the tongue movement, which is different for the Y, as well as the Y sound in the throat, yy.

那麽，我们知道有舌头的活动，Y音是不同的。然後还有位於喉咙的Y音。YY.

This is how we want to start the word 'year': yy, yy, year.

这就是我们怎样一开始念出「year」了。

Now I'll say the minimal (最小限度的；最低的) pair several times.

现在我会把两个小单字都念几遍。

Can you hear the difference?

你可以听出区别吗?

Year. Ear. Year. Ear. Year. Ear. Year. Let's do a sentence or two.

一起来念一两句吧。

We're going to Italy this year.

我们今年会去意大利。

Year. Year. It's the last word in the thought group, and naturally in American English, our energy and our pitch goes down in a sentence, so the ending word is often less clear, even if it's stressed, even if it's a content word like 'year'.

这是字组里的最後一个单字，通常说，在美式英语，我们讲话的力气跟音调是往下跑的。所以结尾的字通常是没那麽清楚的，即使它是重读的也好，即使像是「year」一般的实词也好。

But it still has the length of a stressed syllable.

可是它还是有重读音节的长度。

We're going to Italy this year.

我们今年会去意大利。

Year, year. A little bit of that up-down shape of stress.

有一丁点儿~那个从上往下型的重音。

What year were you born?

你是哪年出生的?

Year, year. There the word 'year' is closer to the beginning of the sentence, so it's a little clearer (澄清剂；清洁器).

这里就是，「year」这单字离句子的开头有比较近了，所以会有比较清楚一点点。

Year. Number 64: Another great reduction (减少).

第64个：另一个很好的弱读。

The word 'your'.

单字「your」

This is related to the word 'or', which was number 31.

这单字跟第31个的单字「or」是有关连的。

Fully pronounced (宣判), 'your' and 'or' rhyme (韵脚；押韵词；韵文；韵律) with 'more' or 'wore'.

完全念出来，「your」 跟「or」与「more」还有「wore」是押韵的。

But they're almost never fully pronounced (宣判).

可是它们都几乎不会被完全地念出来。

They're almost always reduced (减少的；简化的；缩减的) in a sentence, 'yer', 'er'.

它们几乎都常常在句子里弱读。

So the vowel (元音；母音) changes to the schwa ([语]非中央元音).

所以母音变成混母音 [?]了。

Stressed: Your.

重读：Your.

Fully pronounced (宣判), longer, up-down shape of stress.

完全念出来，更长，从上往下型的重音。

But in a sentence: yer, yer.

可是在句子里：yer, yer.

Unstressed, low in pitch, said quickly.

弱读，音调低低的，快快的念。

Yer. Sample sentence: What's your name?

简单句子：What’s your name?

Yer, yer, yer. Yer name. Can I borrow your car?

我可以借你的车吗？

Yer, yer, yer. Borrow your car?

借你的车？

In this question: Can I borrow your car?

在这问题里：Can I borrow your car?

Can I bor-- car-- Those are the two stressed syllables.

Can I bor-- car-- 那两个是重读的音节。

'Can' and 'your' reduced (减少的；简化的；缩减的): can--, your--, and 'I' is unstressed.

「can」跟「your」弱化：can--, your- [ k?n ] [ j?r ]， 然後「I’」是轻读的.

Can I borrow your car?

我可以借你的车吗？

What would it sound like if they were all stressed?

如果它们都重读了，听起来会怎样的呢？

If they were all said very clearly, fully pronounced (宣判)?

如果它们都很清楚的，完全地念出来呢?

Can I borrow your car?

我可以借你的车吗？

Can I borrow your car?

我可以借你的车吗？

Can I borrow your car?

我可以借你的车吗？

Can I borrow your car?

我可以借你的车吗？

Completely unnatural (不自然).

完全不自然的。

Can I borrow your car?

我可以借你的车吗？

It's so important to learn about reductions, and learn about the unstressed pronunciation (发音) of words, so that you can sound more natural, more relaxed, and be more easily understood.

学习弱化是非常重要的，还有学习单字轻读的发音。由此你(的英语)可以听上去更自然，更放松，还有更容易被理解到。

You're in the right place for this.

为此你就正正来对地方了。

Okay, let's keep going.

好吧，我们继续吧。

Number 65: Good.

第65个：Good.

This is our first word in the 100 most common words in English list that's primarily (首先，主要地) an adjective (形容词).

这是我们100个最常用的英语单字表里，第一个主要作形容词用的单字。

An adjective (形容词) is a content word.

形容词是实词。

Content words are nouns (名词（noun的复数）), verbs (动词（verb的复数）), adjectives, and adverbs (副词（adverb的复数）).

实词是名词，动词，形容词，还有副词。

And content words are what are generally will be stressed in a sentence.

而实词在句子里通常是重读的。

Good. Good. Up-down shape.

从上往下型。

Good. Longer, clearer (澄清剂；清洁器).

更长，更清楚。

The O here represents the UH sound, like in push, or book.

这里的「O」代表「UH」音 [ ? ] ，就像「push」[ p?? ]或是「book」[ b?k ]里的一样。

Good. Uh. The D is a stop consonant (辅音), and stop consonants have two parts, a stop of air, and a release.

D是一个塞音，塞音有两个部分：一个空气的停顿跟一个放开动作。

Good. Good. Stop and release.

Good. Good. 停下来，然後放开。

But with stop consonants, it's common to skip the release.

可是往往念塞音时会略过放开动作。

Then, the D becomes a lot more subtle (微妙的；敏感的；狡猾的；精细的；稀薄的).

然後，D变得更不明显。

I want to show you what I mean.

我想让你看看我这是什麽意思。

Good. ddd-- My tongue is lifted into position for the D, and my vocal (歌唱的；声音的，有声的) cords (用灯芯绒做的衣物) make a sound.

我的舌头往上抬到念「D」的位置，然後我的声带发出声音。

Dddd. Good. Good. Good. Do you hear it at the end?

你听得到结尾部分吗?

It's clearer (澄清剂；清洁器) on its own.

它自身是更清晰的。

Dddd-- But of course, we never use it that way.

但是，当然，我们从来不会这样子用它的。

It's always part of a word or sentence.

它常常都是一个单字或是句子的一部分。

And that can mean it's harder here: good, good, ddd--, good.

那意思也就是它更难念：good, good, ddd--, good.

Pronouncing your D this way will help your English sound natural.

这样子念你的D音会帮助你的英语听上去更自然。

If you're linking (连接；耦合) the D into a word that begins with a vowel (元音；母音) or diphthong (双元音), then it will sound like a flap.

如果你把D音连接到一个以母音或双母音开头的单字，那它会听上去更像一个弹舌音。

Let's look at an example.

一起来看看例子。

I feel good about the project.

我对这报告有好的预感。

Good about, good about. Goo-- ddd-- Good about. There, the next word begins with a vowel (元音；母音) sound, so I flap the tongue and connect the two words.

就这样，接下来的单字以一个母音作开头，所以我弹了一下舌头来把两个单字连在一起。

Good about. It's a good restaurant.

这是家好的餐厅。

Good—dd—restaurant. There, I make a very quick D sound in the vocal (歌唱的；声音的，有声的) cords (用灯芯绒做的衣物), before going into the R.

这里，我在念R之前很快地念了一个D音。

Good restaurant. 66, the word 'some'.

好餐厅。66。单字「some」

This word generally reduces and can be said very quickly in sentences.

这个单字通常是弱化的，而且在句子里可以很快地念出来。

It depends on how the word is being used.

要看怎麽用这个单字。

For example, if it's being used to show that something was great, or unique, like,

比方说，如果用来表示一些东西是好的或是独特的，好像，

"That was some party!", then it's fully pronounced (宣判).

「那派对真棒!」，那就会把它完全念出来。

Also, if it can be switched out for the word 'certain', then it's stressed:

还有的就是，如果可以用「certain」这个单字来换掉的话，那就是重读的。

Some days I work from home, and some days I go to the office.

有些日子我在家里工作，有些日子我去办公室。

Fully pronounced (宣判): some, some.

完全念出来：some, some.

Up-down shape, length, UH as in butter vowel (元音；母音).

从上往下型，长的，就如「butter」[?b?d?r] 母音里的UH [ ? ]

But usually, it's not stressed, it's actually reduced (减少的；简化的；缩减的).

可是通常说，它并不是被重读了，它其实是被弱化了。

Then it's more like: some, some, some.

那就更像：some, some, some.

Flat, low in pitch, said very quickly, and the vowel (元音；母音) reduces to the schwa ([语]非中央元音).

平平的，音调低低的，念得很快，还有就是母音弱化成混母音。

Some. Some. Some. We pronounce (可发音) it this way when we use 'some' to mean an unknown amount, or unit, or thing.

当我们用「some」来表达一个不明数量，或是单位，或是东西的时候，我们这样子念的。

Some water.

一点水。

May I have some water?

我可以要点水吗?

Some, some. We need some more volunteers.

我们需要一些义工。

Some, some. Some more. Some. Said very quickly, low in pitch, flat: some.

念得很快，音调低低的，平平的：some.

Stressed: some.

重读：some.

Unstressed: sum.

轻读：sum.

Number 67, the word "could".

第67个：单字「could」

Actually, we've already gone over this word.

事实上，我们已经讲过这个单字了。

We did that when we talked about 'would', number 37.

我们讲第37个单字「would」时，就讲过了。

Number 68. Another word that reduces, the word 'them'.

第68个。另一个弱化的单字，单字「them」

A pronoun ([语]代词), which is a function word.

一个代名词，是个实词。

Fully pronounced (宣判), the word has the voiced (浊音的；有声的) TH, which I know is a tricky sound, the EH as in BED vowel (元音；母音), and the M consonant (辅音).

完全念出来，这个单字有浊音TH [e?]，我知道是一个难搞的单字。就如「bed」[bed] 母音的EH [e]，还有M子音[m]。

Them. I have good news for you if the TH is one of your hardest sounds:

如果「TH」是你其中一个最难念得到的音，我有好消息要告诉你：

This reduction (减少) involves (包含；牵涉（involve的第三人称单数形式）) dropping the TH.

这里的弱化会把TH丢掉。

So, let me give you an example sentence.

所以，让我给你一句例句。

We gave them the tickets.

我们把票给他们了。

Gave 'em. We gave 'em money.

我们把钱给他们了。

Gave 'em. Gave 'em. You might be thinking, wait, we already studied 'gave 'im', and it was when we were talking about "him!" Yes.

你可能会想，等等，我们已经学过「gave 'im」，就是我们讲过「him」的时候！ 对。

Both 'him' and 'them' sound the same when reduced (减少的；简化的；缩减的).

弱化的时候，「him」跟「them」听起来都一样。

So, "we gave him money" will sound just like "we gave them money."

那麽「we gave him money」会听起来更「we gave them money.」一样。

It doesn't matter that they sound the same.

他们听起来一样并不重要。

We use a pronoun ([语]代词) when we've established who we're talking about.

在我们已经讲过要讲的人的时候，我们才会用代名词。

So these two pronouns (代名词；代词) sounding (音响；试探；测探水深) the same shouldn't add any confusion to your conversation.

所以这两个代名词听起来一模一样也应该不会把你们的对话给搞混的。

You can pronounce (可发音) it quickly with the TH: them, them, them, them.

你跟TH一起很快地把它念出来：them, them, them, them. [e?m]

But you'll also hear it with the TH dropped, and this is something you can do in conversational (对话的) English too.

可是你也会听到TH不见了，这是你可以在日常生活的对话当中做的事情。

Number 69: See.