Pronunciation Principles in French and English

John Scott Lawton's English, you know ...

06-03-2024 • 47 mins

In a return to my more regular format of Interviewer/Guest I would like to introduce Isabelle Cottenet, a French language speaker who works as a translator and French language pronunciation coach.

We talk about the challenges of developing a confident and proficient accent in French and make comparisons with the issues in developing an English Language accent that learners are proud of.

We compare the two languages, French and English, and consider the fact that at least a third of 'English' words are derived from French, going back to the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The following webpage gives just 135 examples of these words which are used on a daily basis in English but are 'clearly' French!

https://www.berlitz.com/blog/french-words-phrases-used-english

Isabelle discusses the techniques and methods she uses to develop a proficient or good French accent and gives useful tips and hints which are applicable to the English language, too.

Our discussion includes topics such as self-motivational strategies, confidence-building and ways in which to expose yourself to the various accents which exist in all languages.

We consider the importance of rhythm or prosody and stress (or emphasis) in language and how a detailed technical awareness of how sounds are formed in each language can help us to be more sensitive and accurate when reproducing certain sounds; some of which we do not have in our own first language.

Isabelle can be contacted on LinkedIn at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellecottenet/

or via her company website at:

secureyourpronunciation.com

For translation work from English or German to French, please contact Isabelle via her translation website at:

secureyourtranslations.com

or by email at: isabelle@secureyourtranslations.com


For more information on this podcast series, 'John Scott Lawton's English, you know', or to make any comments or to ask any questions relating to English Language learning, please contact me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠johnscottlawton@hotmail.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a sound bite comment on Spotify.

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My audiobook, 'Forever in Florence' is available in Series 11 of my podcasts.

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