Welcome to Daily tips on Learning English. Today's tip is on distinguishing “can” and “cannot” in spoken American English.
“Cannot” is usually contracted to “can't”. So many learners of English assume that in order to distinguish between “can” and “can't”, one must listen for the final “t” sound /t/. And when speaking, one must pronounce final ‘t’ sound /t/ clearly. However, this is not in fact how native speakers distinguish “can” and “can't”. People do not say ‘I `can drive a car, but I can’t drive a motorcycle.’ People say ‘I can `drive a car', but I `can't drive a motorcycle.’ The difference between “can” and “can't” is in stress. “Can” is not stressed, the verb after it is. “Can't” is stressed. The verb after it is not.
Also since ‘can’ is not stressed, the vowel is reduced to /a/, so “can” is actually pronounced “can”. Listen to another example. “I `can't go on Saturday, but I can `go on Sunday.” Did you hear the 't' sound? Did you notice the difference words being stressed? Listening again. “I `can't go on Saturday, but I can `go on Sunday.” If you want to understand whether someone is saying he can or can't do something, you have to be listening for a stressed “can't” or a verb stressed after “can”. What does this mean? “I can `speak Japanese, but I `can't speak Taiwanese.” That's right, I can speak Japanese, but I cannot speak Taiwanese. When you are speaking it is very important that you follow this rule too. When learners of English say I `can help you, native speakers often unsure what is meant because of improper stress. So remember, you can stress “can't”, but you `can't stress “can”.
This has been today's tip on learning English. Tune in tomorrow for another tip.
Source: 在線英語
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美語聽力與發音技巧 - 01
所有跟帖:
• Thank you for sharing! Very helpful. -京城的燕子- ♀ (0 bytes) () 06/19/2009 postreply 13:11:07
• My pleasure. Glad to hear that it helps. -YuGong- ♂ (0 bytes) () 06/20/2009 postreply 21:27:35
• Very helpful tips! -麵朝大海春暖花開- ♀ (0 bytes) () 06/19/2009 postreply 14:26:26
• Thanks. Long time no see, hope everything is going well. -YuGong- ♂ (0 bytes) () 06/20/2009 postreply 21:28:23
• 這中國話說的,聽起來滿有催眠作用,不錯~ZZZZ -橫海郡- ♂ (0 bytes) () 06/19/2009 postreply 20:31:26
• Have a good dream. :-) -YuGong- ♂ (0 bytes) () 06/20/2009 postreply 21:29:02