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Dear Yong, Thank you for your kind words. I am happy that you enjoy our Special English programs, and flattered that you wish to pronounce English as I do. It also means a great deal to me to know that my work for Special English is valued by my listeners. To address your questions regarding voice production and pronunciation...The terms you are looking for are "chest" (instead of breast)and "head" voice. You will get a "richer" sound by allowing your voice to come from the chest region. As you mature, you will find this to be even more the case! Most voice production tends to be a combination of both, depending on what we're doing, but professional voice performers never forget the former. It is preferable to be relaxed -- get a good night's sleep! -- and to sit erect when you're speaking for best voice production and "tone." Always maintain good posture whether sitting or standing. For your information, when I voice for broadcast or recording, I am sitting. As you asked for advice, let me also suggest the following techniques: Do you have a tape recorder or other recording device like MiniDisc? If not borrow or purchase one! Record yourself speaking (or reading) English. As you like my voice, why don't you find one of my features on our web site and read it into your recorder. Then, you can play it back and compare your pronunciations and voicing to mine. When you're speaking, place your hand on your chest, if you feel some vibration, you are probably using your chest voice. If you know someone who sings, he or she might be able to further coach you in that regard. Chest- vs. Head- voice production is a bit difficult to describe in words, but once you master it, you will certainly know when you are using it. Incidentally, you should understand that pronunciation and voice-production are two separate entities. In other words, someone whose pronunciation of, let's say, English is near perfect but who uses only head-voice, will not sound as pleasant as someone whose pronunciation is equally good, but knows how to use the full range of voice. I hope you find some of that information useful, and thanks so much for taking the time to write. Kind regards, Steve Ember P.S.: If you also listen to VOA's Mandarin language broadcasts, you might hear me voicing in "standard" English for a series called "Learn a Word," which dfines English words and related expressions. Subject: to Steve Ember. a question of pronunciation From: gong yong Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 12:50:48 +0800 (CST) To: special@VOANews.com |
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