mountain, fountain

[nasridine]

I found Americans pronounce these kind of words not exact the same way that we learned in English book more than 10 years ago. They sort of swallow the "t" and make it silent. It is like the "t" comes from some part of the nose. Could someone tell me the trick to do it?

 

[Setwale_Charm]

I found Americans pronounce these kind of words not exactly the same way that we learned in English book more than 10 years ago. They sort of swallow the "t" and make it silent. It is like the "t" comes from some part of the nose. Could someone tell me the trick to do it?

Hi, nasridine. There is hardly any way one can describe pronunciation here. If you want to learnt to imitate the American accent, you`ll just have to listen to it more.

 

[jabogitlu]

Try saying "Mount" or "Fount" first, but isntead of saying the last T, just *stop* - I think it has a real name, like an alveolar stop, or something. (Some of these linguists around here could tell you better.)

But I agree with Setwale_Charm... just listen to it and try to replicate it.

 

[Setwale_Charm]

I found Americans pronounce (these) this kind of words not exactly the same way that we learned in English books more than 10 years ago. They sort of swallow the "t" and make it silent. It is as if (like) the "t" comes from some part of the nose. Could someone tell me the trick of how to do it?

There is a general tendency in American pronunciation to swallow the "t" after "n" which is in turn nasalised. Think of the way they pronounce "twenty".

 

[jabogitlu]

Per your corrections: These kinds of words is the more correct solution. "This kind of words" doesn't sound well to me.

 

[Setwale_Charm]

Yep, but "these kind" does not do at any rate.

Nasridine, check this http://web.ku.edu/idea/northamerica/usa/usa.htm to hear Americans speak or take the tapescripts for any American English course.

 

[elroy]

Per your corrections: These kinds of words is the more correct solution. "This kind of words" doesn't sound well good to me.

They are both correct, but "sound well" is not.

Regarding the pronunciation, I agree that it's hard to describe. If you know a speaker of American English, have him/her pronounce it for you and do your best to imitate the pronunciation.

 

[Lucretia]

By the way I heard [`mauntain] - is it some local accent?

 

[Vikorr]

Just think of it this way - pronounce your words rather lazily and you'll come close

And the phrase is 'these kind of words' if you are talking about multiple words of one kind, or 'this kind of word' if you have a single example and are looking for another. 'These kinds of words' would work if you had multiple words of multiple kinds, however the construction of the sentence is messy (ie. a person would have to think about the meaning, instead of understanding the sentence as it is being said).