手把手教你學(xué)口語can和cannot發(fā)音的區(qū)別
Welcome to Daily tips on Learning English. Today's tip is on distinguishing “can” and “cannot” in spoken American English.今天我們的主題是can和cannot發(fā)音的區(qū)別
“Cannot” is usually contracted to “can't”. 通常我們在發(fā)cannot這個詞的時候我們不是說cannot而是說can't。
So many learners of English assume that in order to distinguish between “can” and “can't”, one must listen for the final “t” sound /t/. And when speaking, one must pronounce final ‘t’ sound /t/ clearly. However, this is not in fact how native speakers distinguish “can” and “can't”. 通常我們以為我們在聽或我們在說英文的時候我們要把那個/t
/發(fā)出來，或者是說我們要聽到那個/t/我們才知道別人在說can't，這個是不可以的，其實美國人并不是以此來區(qū)別的，People do not say ‘I `can drive a car, but I `can’t drive a motorcycle.’ People say ‘I can `drive a car', but I `can't drive a motorcycle.’ The difference between “can” and “can't” is in stress. “Can” is not stressed, the verb after it is. “Can't” is stressed. The verb after it is not. 請注意，我不知道你剛剛有沒有分別出來，當(dāng)我們在說我們可以的時候，我們要把那個can發(fā)得比較輕一點，要把重音放在can后面的動詞上面，當(dāng)我們在說不可以can't的時候，我們不是要把那個/t/發(fā)得很清楚，而是我們要把重音放在can上面
Also since ‘can’ is not stressed, the vowel is reduced to /a/, so “can” is actually pronounced “can”. 你們不曉得有么有聽出來，我們老師剛發(fā)的音，當(dāng)你沒有把重音放在can的時候，可以的時候我們要把那個母音發(fā)成/a/，
Listen to another example. 讓我們再來聽另外一個例子，請注意聽，“I `can't go on Saturday, but I can `go on Sunday.” Did you hear the 't' sound? Did you notice the difference words being stressed? Listening again. “I `can't go on Saturday, but I can `go on Sunday.” If you want to understand whether someone is saying he can or can't do something, you have to be listening for a stressed “can't” or a verb stressed after “can”. 請注意我們老師剛剛給你們的例子，也就是在說明can drive當(dāng)重音放在drive上面的時候那表示可以，當(dāng)我們把重音放在can't這個can上面的時候表示他不可以。What does this mean? “I can `speak Japanese, but I `can't speak Taiwanese.” That's right, I can speak Japanese, but I cannot speak Taiwanese. When you are speaking it is very important that you follow this rule too. When learners of English say I `can help you, native speakers often unsure what is meant because of improper stress. 請注意，你不能說I `can help you，就是你把重音放在can上面的時候人家會以為你不能幫他，其實你要說I can `help you，就是把重音放在help上面，而不是把重音放在can上面。
So remember, you can stress “can't”, but you `can't stress “can”.
This has been today's tip on learning English. Tune in tomorrow for another tip.
