So Many Sounds
Something that fascinates me is that there are so many different sounds that can be used in speech. There are hundreds, possibly thousands. The study of phonetics - how speech sounds are made and how they are used - is one of my great interests.
Some time ago, when I was giving a talk about the unfamiliar sounds we had to master when we were learning to speak an African language, a young man in the audience drew this cartoon of me, and I thought I’d like to share it with you.
Some time ago, when I was giving a talk about the unfamiliar sounds we had to master when we were learning to speak an African language, a young man in the audience drew this cartoon of me, and I thought I’d like to share it with you.
By the way…
…did you know that, even though human beings are capable of producing hundreds of different speech sounds, any given language only uses a limited number - between thirty and fifty?
English, for example, uses about 44 distinct sounds - twenty or so vowels and about 24 consonants, plus a few variants.
So the good news is that there are, after all, not so many sounds which you need to master to speak English with a good, understandable accent.
English, for example, uses about 44 distinct sounds - twenty or so vowels and about 24 consonants, plus a few variants.
So the good news is that there are, after all, not so many sounds which you need to master to speak English with a good, understandable accent.
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Contact
If you’re interested in English lessons or translation and checking services, please feel free to contact me in the language of your choice - English, French, German or even Lingala!
Here are my details:
Here are my details:
Mobile
078 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
Location
Tödistrasse 9, 8634 Hombrechtikon
(New address from 24th March 2018)
(New address from 24th March 2018)
If you are travelling from Rüti / Wolfhausen, drive past the Hombrechtikon place-name sign for about 300 metres and turn right into Tödistrasse, just before the Tobel bus stop.
Approaching from Hombrechtikon
If you are approaching from the centre of Hombrechtikon, follow the signs to Rüti. At the Tobel junction (the Methodist Church is on the left) turn left. Tödistrasse is the next turning on the left, just past the Tobel bus stop.
The entrance to our new flat is about 100 metres from the junction with Rütistrasse, on the left-hand side of the road.
The house number is number 9 and we are on the first floor.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
Arriving by bus
If you arrive by bus from Bubikon, get off the bus at Tobel and follow Tödiweg until you get to Tödistrasse. Our house is on the right.