Hello, everyone.
Welcome to ForB's English lesson video.
I'm Kevin, and today we are going to practice pronunciation.
Today, we are going to work on the word "water."
Now, this looks like a very easy, simple word, but it can be a little tricky.
Let's focus on the first part "wa."
This is very easy.
Very similar to the Japanese "wa."
For example, "watashi."
Let's repeat after me.
"Wa, wa."
Now three times.
"Wa, wa, wa."
OK.
Very good.
No problem.
Our second sound is a hard "t," T sound.
For this hard "T" the tip of your tongue should be pushing right behind your front teeth,
the top of your mouth there.
So you get the "t, t."
There should be like an explosion from your tip of your tongue, out.
"T, t."
Your turn. "T."
One more time. "T."
OK. Very good. Very good.
Finally.
We have the "er" sound.
Notice for "er" my lips are pushing out, my cheeks pushed in.
"Er, er."
Your tongue is kind of in the middle of your mouth, not touching anything.
Repeat after me.
"Er, er."
Are your lips pushing out?
One more time.
"Er."
OK. Good. Good.
Now let's do each sound slowly.
"Wa, t, er."
Once more.
"Wa, t, er."
OK.
Now a little faster and let's start especially these two sounds push them together.
"Water, water, water, water."
Three times.
"Water, water, water."
OK. Did you get it?
Now, one little tricky point.
So, we've been practicing a hard, sharp "t," T sound.
If you look in most dictionaries, that's what you'll see.
But many native speakers, especially Americans like me, when we pronounce this in conversation,
we don't use a hard "T" but a little softer "D" sound.
So, instead of "water," you'll hear "wader."
The difference.
The hard "t."
Again, the tip of the tongue is on the top of your mouth.
The little softer "d" sound, the "D" sound kind of the top part of your tongue.
Repeat after me.
"D, d."
A little more of your tongue on the top of your mouth.
Let's practice this "water" with a "D" sound.
"Wader, wader."
Hard "T." "Water, water."
Soft "D." "Wader, wader."
Very good. Very good.
Again, both ways OK.
Casual conversation, soft "D" more common.
Well, I hope this was useful for you.
Thank you very much for listening.
We'll see you next time.