Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.
Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.
Today is mistake day and the mistake I’d like to talk about is ... gonna.
Some students in Japan say gonna on purpose, or even more shockingly, they actually write it.
I’m not exactly sure why they do this, but I think it’s because somebody once told them that it would make them sound more like a native speaker. But I don’t actually think it does. I think it sounds kind of awkward and embarrassing and it makes me cringe when I hear it.
Well, not really, because I’m a teacher so it’s my job to be patient. But, anyway, let me explain.
When native English speakers speak, we naturally run words together – this is called elision. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
So when we say: going to, it often sounds like gonna.
For example: I’m going to do it later.
But, we don’t set out to say gonna, it just naturally happens that way. And there is a difference. If you do set out to say gonna it would and does sound strange.
So when non-native English speakers say gonna it usually sounds strange because the reason why I run words together is because I want to speak faster – because I can because it’s my native language. But if you can’t speak fast, because you’re still learning English, then it sounds really strange to unnaturally run words together.
So, in conclusion, my advice is: if you’re speaking slowly, then say all the words. And as your speed increases then you’ll naturally start running all your words together, so, you don’t need to don’t force it.
STICK NEWS
Kia Ora, this is Stick News. American film director, producer and actor, Sydney Pollack died on Monday. He was 73.
Sydney Pollack was born in 1934 in Indiana in the United States of America. When he was 17 he moved to New York City to study acting. In the 1960s, he directed television shows and he directed his first film in 1965. Pollack directed the film Out of Africa which was released in 1985 and starred Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. The film received seven Academy Awards.According to Wikipedia, Pollack died of cancer at the age of 73 at his home in California, surrounded by family.
And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 28th of May.
Kia Ora.
Word Of The Day
Today’s word is cringe.
Cringe is a verb which means experience an inward shiver of embarrassment or disgust.
conversations with sarah
#456 That’s such nasty thing to say
Step 1: Repeat Kana’s lines.
Step 2: Read Kana’s lines and talk to Sarah.
Kana Did you read that news about Sharon Stone?
Sarah How she said the earthquake in China was karma?
Kana Yeah.
Sarah Yeah, that’s such nasty thing to say.
Kana Yeah, totally. Who cares what she says, though.
Sarah Mmm, yeah, we don’t need to care ... but still, she knows that people will report what she says, so she shouldn’t go around saying stuff like that in interviews.
Kana Do you believe in karma?
Sarah Mmm, I guess so, kind of, like if you’re mean to people then people will be mean back to you. That’s just common sense. But what she said was just crazy.
links
today's STICK NEWS pictures
music
show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site
qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
qa bgm
artist: Nokom electro
album: Nokom
track: Bonnobaize
from: grenoble/lyon, France
artist at Jamendo
artist site
Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.
Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.
Posts
