Better English pronunciation to make things better!

今回はできるだけ weak form を多く使い、さらに linking /r/ もできるだけ多く取り入れながら、文章を滑らかな発音で音読する練習をしてみたいと思います。
まずは今回使用する文章を音読してみますので、weak form と linking /r/ の箇所に注意を向けながら聴いてみてください。（Weak form の箇所は太字で、linking /r/ の箇所は下線で示してあります。）↓

My exams are over and I have some breathing space now for a few months, before I have to start thinking about revising again. I was very insecure about my ability to study again when the course began. I felt as though my brain had been atrophied for all those years since I left college. And to make the matter even worse, most of the students in my class were much younger than me. However, I’m happy to report that I did very well, so now I’m more at ease and can relax and really enjoy the lessons. My class is made up of a very diverse group of people, coming from a variety of countries, cultures, religions and economic backgrounds. It is interesting to discover all the various reasons that brought all these students to this particular area of the world and I have learnt a lot more in this place than a new language by listening to their sometimes harrowing stories…
(Adapted from: Lecumberri & Maidment, 2000. English Transcription Course. Arnold.)

では、文中のいくつかのフレーズおよびセンテンスをピックアップして、weak form と linking /r/ を実践しながらゆっくり発音してみます。リピートしてみてください：

● My exams are over and I have…
　/maɪ ɪgˈzæmz ər ˈəʊvər ən aɪ hæv/↓

● for a few months
　/fər ə ˈfjuː ˈmʌnt(θ)s/↓

● I was very insecure about my ability to study again…
　/aɪ wəz ˈveri ɪnsəˈkjʊər əbaʊt maɪ əˈbɪləti tə ˈstʌdi/↓

● I felt as though my brain had been atrophied for all those years…
　/aɪ ˈfelt əz ðəʊ maɪ ˈbreɪn əb bin ˈætrəfid fər ˈɔːl ðəʊz ˈjɪəz/↓

● to make the matter even worse
　/tə ˈmeɪk ðə ˈmætər iːvn ˈwɜːs/↓

● I’m more at ease and can relax and really enjoy the lessons.
　/aɪm ˈmɔːr ət ˈiːz ən kən rɪˈlæks ən ˈrɪəli ɪnˈdʒɔɪ ðə ˈlesnz/↓

● It is interesting to discover all the various reasons…
　/ɪt ɪz ˈɪntrəstɪŋ tə dɪsˈkvər ɔːl ðə ˈveəriəs ˈriːznz/↓

● to this particular area of the world
　/tə ðɪs pəˈtɪkjʊlər ˈeərɪər əv ðə ˈwɜːld/↓

（＊ “area” は語尾に綴りの “r” が無いにもかかわらず、次の単語の語頭の母音と /r/ でリンクさせています。これを intrusive /r/「侵入の r 」と言い、non-rhotic accent の英語圏では非常によく聞かれる現象です。）

ゆっくりと発音してうまく出来るようになったら、ぜひもう一度文章全体を音読してみてください。

Today’s my singing
今回は Elvis の “My Little Friend” という曲を歌ってみました。日本ではあまり馴染みなが無いようですが、ファンの間ではとても人気のあるナンバーです。
この曲は比較的低いピッチで抑え気味に歌うのが特徴ですが、発音はできるだけシャープに、単調にならないように注意しなければならない難しい歌と言えるでしょう。Weak form の箇所は太字で、linking /r/ の箇所は下線で示してあります。

My warped and worried mind resorts

To wandering off to ponder things I never talk about
A pretty girl I used to know but wouldn’t know if we met face to face

And defying every logic known

I’m wishing the time machine could take me back again

To the wonder of my first love, the old folks tease me ’bout

Referring to her only as my little friend



Somewhere far away and maybe not so far away

A child has grown into a woman of the world

I assume this knowing that she knew so much of life at such a tender age
I learned from her the whispered things the big boys at the pool hall talk about

The thrill and disappointment, fear and shame the first love brings

But oh, how I thought I loved my little friend



The fragrance of the green grass mingled with the scent of love and warming earth

The moonlight night I kissed and cried and swore I‘d never touch another girl
But time moved fast and I moved on and I loved others time and time again

But with each time I thought of her and always gave a little more

Assembled love and remembrance for my little friend
Oh-oh-oh assembled love and remembrance for my little friend

Oh-oh-oh assembled love and remembrance for my little friend

Oh-oh-oh assembled love and remembrance for my little friend

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