Summary of WEAK FORMS: Why You Don't Sound Like a Native...?

00:00:00 - 00:05:00

This video discusses the difference between strong and weak forms of English, and how this affects the rhythm of the language. It encourages viewers to use strong forms of English if they want to sound more like natives.

• 00:00:00 In this video, with the help of some famous speakers of English, the Weak Forms of words which natives - Brits, Americans, and others - very often pronounce with the schwa, /ə/, are explained. These weak forms are normal, not casual or slang, and are a major part of why many people don't sound like a Native. Stephen Fry, like myself and many many others, tends to use /tə/ before a consonant but /tʉw/ before a vowel. Now you might have difficulty even hearing the word 'can', but producing it in such a weak form is totally normal, unless we have some pressing reason to strengthen it. Three weak forms in a row are extremely common: there was an error, there was an accident, there was an outbreak. But Dame Judi Dench, in a church, three weak forms in a row, surely there must be someone who can pronounce the Queen's English properly, like it's written? Six of the 20 words there were weak forms.
• 00:05:00 This video provides an overview of the difference between strong and weak forms of English, and how this affects the rhythm of the language. It encourages viewers to use strong forms of English if they want to sound more like natives, and to subscribe to the video's channel to continue learning.