Pronounce It Perfectly in French [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

Pnonounce Pe

lr

ntrcrly

in FnENcir .h"

PnonouNcE lr Penf

e

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in FnENCk by Christopher Kendris, Ph.D. Dipl6m6, Institut de Phon6tique

Universit6 de Paris (en Sorbonne)

Formerly Assista nt Professor DePartment of French State University of New York at Albany

NA rEfiil.it-lNiK

BARRON'S EDUCATIONAL SERIES, INC.

For my wife Yolanda, my two sons.Alex and Ted, my daughter-in-law Tina, and my four grandsons Bryaln, Daniel, Matthew and Andrew

Conre rurs

with love Inc' O Copyright 1994 by Barron's Educational Series'

Introduction

vi

Abbreviations Used in This Book The French Alphabet

ix ix

I

Plnr Ore: Thr Yowrls Unit

A1l rights reserved.

any form by pho-

I

may be reproduced in or any other means' or incorxerography, tostat, microfilm,

2 3

owner.

4

No

pirt of this book

or porated into any information retrieval system, electronic mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright

5 All inquiries should

be addressed to:

250 Wireless Boulevard

Hauppauge, NY 11788

8

International Standard Book No' 04120-16556 Library of Congress Catalog Card No'

9 10 1l

9*4387

Kendris, ChristoPher Pronounce it perfectly in French / by Christopher Kendris' p. cm. - (Pronounce it perfecdy in -) ^^ ^ ISBN 0€120S03&6 (book & tape ISBN GS1ZOIO5F6 (book)'

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speakers, 2. French

language-Textbooks for foreign speater--Englisb-

II. Series. PC2137.K46 l99t 448.3'421-{c20

STATES@AilfnICA 4567 sffi98765432r

PRINTED IN I.]NNED

I. Title. 93.44387

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l8 76

80 91

93 101.

III

174

rurd hrotrriol La Liaison L'Enchainement, l'6lision, e muet

123

The Consonants:

Plnr Thner: \Vond Prrrenrs

Library of Congress Cataloging-ia-Publication Data

l. Fiench language-Pronunciation

The Three Semi-vowels The Four Nasal Vowels

Plnr Two: Tke Corsoranrs 6 The Consonants: I 7 The Consonants: II

Barron's Educationai Series, Inc'

package)

The Vowels a, e,i, o, u, I The Vowels with Accent Marks The Most Common Single, Double, and Triple Vowels in Combinations and Clusters in a Word

L'Intonation

Apperdix Pronunciation Guide Vocabulary

1n 130 136

r39

t4t t42

lntroduction This book and the tlvo cassettes that come with it are organized and presented simply and clearly for persons who want to improle their pronunciation of French. The program can be used in middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities either independently, in class, or in a language lab-

It can also be used by students under a teacher's. supervision in grade 5 and up in elementary schools so they oratory,

can have an early start

in lood French pronunciation.

Travelers, business people, persons in government sewice, in

the military, and others who want to learn to pronounce French properly and make themselves understood will also find this program valuable for self-instruction. It would be ideal to use the book and cassettes at the same time. However, this program has been designed so that you can use the book and cassettes separately. You do not need to

rely on the book while listening to the tape when driving your car or using your Walkman while jogging, walking, or exercising. You will profit from either the book or cassettes, or both at the same time. If you follow the book and the two cassettes from beginning to end, spending approximately twenty minutes a day, you will improve your French pronunciation so much that you will be amazed and delighted! The key is to practice, practice, practice. musical qualities. It

has melody

The French language has when spoken properly because ofthe abundant use ofpure vowels, semi-vowels, and nasal v-oweis pronounced in words in al'ariety of ways. The language is never spoken in a monotone because it lends itself naturally to rh;'thm, intonation (a rise and fall of the voice), liaisons, enchainements (linkingwhich is not the same thing as a liaison), elision, and other qualities that many languages do not have. They are all

on the tapes, and if you let yourself go, doing your best to imitate the pronunciation on the tapes-even if you must exag_ gerate to perfect your imitation-you will be happy with the results you achieve.

I would suggest that you start at the beginning of the book with the basics and notjump around here and there (unless it's for review or reinforcement) because there is a gradual progression in the program from simple sounds to the more challenging ones. The book begins with the pronunciation of the letters ofthe French alphabet because, after all, they are

used in the words you pronounce and you must be acquainted

with them so you can see how their sounds change when used in words. After that, the vowels are introduced. you will learn how to pronounce them when they have no accent marks in different positions within a word, and how they change in pronunciation when they do have accent marks. You will have plenty of practice in pronouncing simple words and commonly used phrases.

The units in this book are arranged sptematically from the most simple and basic sounds of vowels and consonants to the most common single, double, and triple vowels in combina_ tions and clusters with or without consonants within a word

or at the end of a word. One French word in particular that has alwap intrigued me is oeufs (eggs), which produces only one vowel sound when pronounced. Subsequently, you are guided in the pronunciation of words in groups, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Take a few minutes and turn to the Contents to become familiar with it. Fan the pages of the book and see for yourself that you will have plenty of practice listening and speaking when you use the two cassettes.

explained and illustrated in this book and on the cassette tapes. If you listen carefully to the authentic French spoken

vl

vil

When I give English rvords as examples that contain sounds similar to French, be aware that they are onl,v approximate because the English language does not contain many of the French sounds. For example, when pronouncing a round, closed o in French, it should not contain a ar sound tacked on to it as it does in English. We say, for example, Oh, so go! with a zu sound. In French you must avoid such a zu sound by not bringing your lips together. Another frequently used French sound is the vowel u, as in tu, du, lu, pu, plus, and many others. This sound does not exist in English either' It is close to the zsound in the English words cuteNtd/albutwithout the zl sound. This, too, is explained and illustrated when you come to the pronunciation of the French u. Listen carefully to these French sounds and many others on your tape and try to imitate them. Occasionally, drawings are included in the book to illustrate the proper position of the lips and tongue to help you produce the sounds as accurately as possible.

There are many different kinds of French pronunciation in the regions of France and in other French-speaking countries, just as there are different ways of pronouncing English in different parts of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and other countries of the world. There are also different levels of pronunciation in France within regions; for example, there is tatanguc po@laire (popular language often pronounced carelessly, as we sometimes pronounce English carelesslv and incorrectly) and la langue soignie, which is carefirl, accePtable pronunciation. The pronunciation cfFrcrrdr remmended in this book and on the casseue 4es b correcr' aorylile French' have omitted anvthing abour Freoch Pronunciation in this book that you think is imporranU Plcde write to the publisher so it mry be inchrded in a fuure editi