Common Pronunciation Traits in Accent Reduction for Individuals from China
Over the many years that I have been providing Accent Reduction to individuals who speak English as their second language, I have had the pleasure of working with many people from China. I have worked with both Mandarin and Cantonese language speakers within various fields of professions, such as medicine, law, accounting, teaching, and acting. Accent Reduction for individuals from China is very common.
Similarities Between Mandarin and Cantonese Accents
Naturally, each client comes to me with their own unique accents; however, there are many common traits observed within Mandarin and Cantonese accents. For instance, some final voiced sounds of words are frequently pronounced as unvoiced consonants.
Examples of this are: saying “bet” for “bed”, “lap” for “lab”, and “back” for “bag”. Frequently, I observe the ‘L’ and ‘R’ at the ends of words to be diminished or omitted. Additionally, in both Mandarin and Cantonese speakers, I observe several vowel pronunciation traits, such as saying “beat” for “bit” and “ had” for “head”.
Differences Between Mandarin and Cantonese Accents
In a Mandarin accent, there is a tendency to pronounce ‘L’ at the beginning of words as /r/, whereas Cantonese speakers often substitute an “L” with the /n/ sound. Also, the voiceless /th/ at the beginning and end of words is often pronounced by Mandarin speakers as /s/ (e.g. “sing” for “thing” and “teese” for “teeth”). Cantonese speakers commonly substitute /f/ for /th/ (e.g. “fum” for “thumb” and “wif” for “with”).
Individualized Accent Reduction for Individuals from China
The speech of each of my clients is evaluated in-depth, and an individualized accent reduction program is developed for their own unique needs. Individuals from China have many common pronunciation traits but also notable differences that must be recognized and addressed by a qualified speech therapist specializing in accent reduction.
With the Accent Reduction course that I teach and consistent practice, all of my clients, including those from China, can achieve considerable improvement in their ability to speak American English. Learn more about the program here, and contact me with any questions you have!
Visit my Instagram or YouTube page for fun pronunciation exercises!
About Derra Huxley, Speech and Language Pathologist
I am a California-licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in Los Angeles. I earned my Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Communicative Disorders from California State University, Northridge. I work as a Preferred Trainer with LDS & Associates – Accent Modification Program, and I am a member of CORSPAN (Corporate Speech Pathology Network). I collaborate with people of all ages to improve their communication and pronunciation skills in schools, hospitals, and private practice settings. To learn more or to contact me, complete this form or reach me at 818-421-7444. I look forward to hearing from you!