Вопрос школьника
In pairs, discuss the accent of Russian speakers of English. How do many Russian learners of English pronounce ‘th’, V or ‘h’ at the beginning of words? Why is it important for foreign speakers of a language to master the national standard?
Ответ от учителя
When discussing the accent of Russian speakers of English, it is common to note that many Russian learners of English struggle with pronouncing certain sounds, such as ‘th’, V, or ‘h’ at the beginning of words. This is because these sounds do not exist in the Russian language, and therefore, Russian speakers may not have developed the muscle memory or the ability to produce these sounds accurately.
For example, the ‘th’ sound is often replaced with a ‘z’ or ‘s’ sound, such as in the word ‘think’ being pronounced as ‘sink’ or ‘fink’. The ‘V’ sound may be replaced with a ‘W’ sound, such as in the word ‘very’ being pronounced as ‘wery’. The ‘h’ sound at the beginning of words may be dropped altogether, such as in the word ‘house’ being pronounced as ‘ouse’.
It is important for foreign speakers of a language to master the national standard because it allows for effective communication and reduces misunderstandings. When speaking a language, the goal is to be understood by others, and if the pronunciation is not accurate, it can lead to confusion or misinterpretation. Additionally, mastering the national standard can also help individuals to be perceived as more professional and competent in their language skills.
In conclusion, while Russian speakers of English may struggle with certain sounds due to differences in their native language, it is important for foreign speakers of a language to strive towards mastering the national standard in order to effectively communicate and be perceived as competent in their language skills.
