French and English have much in common, especially on the level of vocabulary. They are more distant when it comes to pronunciation. English is fundamentally a Germanic language, and its sound system reflects it. French comes almost completely from Latin, though, on the level of pronunciation, it was also influenced by the Germanic tribes which invaded Gaul (France) in the early Middle Ages. (Remember that the Franks who gave France its name came from Germany.) The famous French “R”, “EU and “U” are really Germanic sounds.
So how can you maximally improve your pronunciation in French? The following ideas are meant for beginners, but they can really be applied at any level.
- Immerse yourself in the sound and sounds of the language. Listen to French the way you listen to music you enjoy. Relax, feel it, let it wash over you. There is no need to try to understand. Let it create an internal echo as you allow your physical body to acclimate to it and absorb it.
- To do this, listen to the radio, watch French television and movies, find podcasts and Youtube videos. You can even let them play in the background while you drive, clean or hike. The more the merrier.
- Get a decent book which actually explains how to produce French sounds. You will learn a lot that way, and you will be alerted to new sounds such as “U”, “EU”, “AIN” etc. It’s even much better if you have a recording demonstrating the different sounds.
- When you listen, you can also begin to repeat individual sounds, words or phrases – just to practice speaking the language. You don’t need to even care about what it means.
- Learn words, phrases and simple expressions from recordings. Memorize them and really familiarize yourself with them. Listen to the recordings that contain them often. Let them become second nature for you. You will later learn how to pronounce many new words by associating them to the sounds of these first few words and expressions.
- If there is a difficult sound, memorize one or two words that contain it. Learn it from a recording and imitate the native speaker as much as you can.
- When you practice, always relax and breathe. At first, only say words that you have just heard. You want the imprint to be fresh.
- Forget about any logic related to English in the way words are written in French. “OI” is pronounced “WA”. That is simply the way it is. Like English, French has evolved over hundreds of years, and it may not always seem very logical.
- Songs are a fantastic way of getting the new sounds to go deep into your memory.
These are simple suggestions, but they will definitely help you create a French pronunciation”data base” in your brain and mind. Remember that nothing can take the place of exposure. Make sure you enjoy the materials you expose yourself to.
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