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I was born in America and I'm hoping to learn to speak Korean fluently, but it's hard when you have a really bad american accent that blends into the korean speaking.
Any feedback would be great. Thanks!

2006-07-25 10:39:32 · 6 answers · asked by 123 1 in Society & Culture Languages

6 answers

The Korean language is easy to butcher. They arent very forgiving towards people who speak more than basics with terrible pronounciation either!
For pronounciation, I think that if you try not to move your mouth too much when speaking, it makes a huge difference.

In English we are constantly using our mouths to change the sounds/ lengths of vowels. However Korean doesnt have long vowels. Im not sure if you have noticed, but it's very unusual for a Korean to be over expressionate with their mouths when speaking. So close your mouth a little more and imagine that you are mumbling, and keep it there and concentrate on getting the sound out at a non mumbling level.

The vowels, are what mess it up for any non native speaker.
One thing I always remember from learning Japanese at 8 years old, is a small vowel saying:
A (as in as) I(as in we) U (as in soon) E (as in get) O (as in old)
As we soon get old. The O has a slight downward tonation to it. Almost like or.
The reason I brought this up is because the basic Korean vowels are similar sounding to the Japanese vowels. Then you add on your Y and W vowels.

A common vowel mistake I VERY often hear (and can immediately recognise the offender as being American) is when saying 감사합니다 kam sa ham ni da... it sounds more like Kam sah ham Knee Dah (which is similar to how the romanised version is read to sound) but instead it should be more like: Kum Suh Hum Nee Duh. I think it's easier to explain in person, but I will try my hardest here...

Ok another example... the mouth for an english A is very wide, and you can see your teeth. A (아) for Korean is just a slight jaw dropping action, not showing teeth, no width necessary. I think the A is the most troublesome vowel sound for American english speakers.

If I can think of anything else, I will get back to you. Im having trouble trying to remember what my biggest mistakes were (aside from saying the wrong words for things!!) Good luck, and let me know if it was of any help to you.

Concentrate on dramas and movies without subtitles, thats very helpful. You will hear more 반말 common language, instead of all the ridiculously formal stuff they teach you that you very rarely need. Also pay attention to their mouths. Its all in the movement of the mouth! Honest!

2006-07-26 01:06:55 · answer #1 · answered by kara_nari 4 · 2 0

It's your effort to learn Korean that counts. The accent will come with the frequent use of the language (much easier if you live in the Korean community). That's how it it with all the languages.

2006-07-25 18:25:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Accents are lovable....that is what I listen nearly each unmarried day. I am a German dwelling within the US and I nonetheless have my German accessory after tons of years dwelling right here...and humans appear to find it irresistible. My husband is American and while he speaks German he sounds lovable to me....and I am definite he's going to under no circumstances ever in his existence sound like a German speakme German.... So don't fear approximately your accessory...it's best to have an accessory!

2016-08-28 18:02:49 · answer #3 · answered by peentu 4 · 0 0

What you are looking to do is eliminate your American accent to speak more fluent Korean.

I typed up a google search for you on "Accent elimination for korean" and here is the link:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=RNWE%2CRNWE%3A2006-17%2CRNWE%3Aen&q=accent+elimination+for+korean

It might not have exactly what you are looking for but you can always modify your searches.

Also check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accent_reduction

2006-07-25 21:15:14 · answer #4 · answered by Contrast 5 · 0 0

i am learning korean as well and i listen to a cd of korean at night to help with my pronounciation. good luck!

2006-07-25 11:24:21 · answer #5 · answered by rémy613 3 · 0 0

Try Pimsleur

2006-07-25 11:48:15 · answer #6 · answered by 自由思想家 3 · 0 0

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