English is an official language in India, alongside other languages like Hindu and Urdu spoken in the country. This makes the language a gateway to broader opportunities both within and outside of India. However, because English is not the first language in the country, its nuances might be a bit strange for Indian speakers. This is because English has features like phonetics and stress patterns that may be completely different from Indian languages.
The distinct features between both languages tend to make eloquent English pronunciation for Indian speakers problematic. Hence, even when you have mastered grammar and spelling, you may pronounce words poorly when compared to the General American accent. The good news is that you can manage your pronunciation to speak fluently, just like native English speakers.
If you’re looking to improve your pronunciation of English words and speak articulately, then this article is what you need. In this article you’ll learn how to overcome challenges limiting your ability to master the English language. You’ll also get pronunciation guides on the most difficult words that Indian speakers like you struggle with.
English Consonant Challenges for Indian Speakers Indian English speakers often encounter challenges with consonant sounds due to differences between their native languages and English. This includes difficulties in adapting to rhotic sounds, final consonants, and vowel-consonant combinations.
Also, Indian English speakers might drop or simplify the initial or final consonants in English clusters. Hence we hear them pronouncing words like "streets” as "seets" or "streesh," resulting in a less accurate pronunciation. Let's review some of the most common consonant challenges below.
"R" Sound In English pronunciation for Indian speakers, the "R" sound can be tricky because the Indian language lacks this sound as it exists in English. In Hindi and Urdu, they pronounce the "R" as a flap sound, which is different from the English "R" sound.
To properly pronounce the English "R," place the tip of your tongue just behind your upper front teeth. Round your lips slightly, but not as much as you would for the Hindi or Urdu "R." Next, exhale air while keeping your tongue in this position. The sound should come from the throat rather than the tongue.
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You can practice with words like "red," "run," or "rabbit." Repeat these words slowly, paying close attention to your tongue and lip positions.
“V” and “W” Sounds Sometimes, Indian speakers may reverse the pronunciation of "V" and "W." This means that they may pronounce words containing the English "V" as the "W" sound and vice versa. This is one of the most common English pronunciation mistakes for Hindi speakers and Indians in general.
Native English speakers produce the "V" sound by lightly touching the upper teeth to the lower lip. This contact creates a slight obstruction of airflow needed to achieve this sound. The "W" sound, on the other hand, is produced without any contact between the tongue or teeth.
The "V" sound is voiced, which means that your vocal cords vibrate and you feel a buzzing sensation in your throat when you say it.
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"W" is typically voiceless, meaning your vocal cords do not vibrate when you say it. We produce this sound with the movement of air, without vocal cord vibration.
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To distinguish between the two sounds, it's helpful to practice minimal pairs, which are pairs of words that differ by only one sound. Examples include "vain" and "wane" or "vet" and "wet."
“Th” Sounds Another English pronunciation for Indian speakers that we will be addressing is the voiceless “th” and voiced"TH" sounds. Many Indian English speakers replace the “Th” sounds with the "T" or "D" sounds because they don't exist in most Indian languages.
For the voiceless “th” sound, place the tip of your tongue against your upper front teeth. Let air flow between your tongue and your upper front teeth. Ensure you keep your vocal cords silent and there should be no vibration. Also, remember to keep your tongue relatively relaxed the whole time. You may practice with words like "think," "thin," and "bath."
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The voiced "TH" sound is very similar to the voiceless "th" sound, but it involves vibration of the vocal cords. Place the tip of your tongue against your upper front teeth as you do with the voiceless "th." Allow your vocal cords to vibrate while maintaining the airflow between your tongue and teeth. Examples of the voiced” TH” include "this," "these," "there," "mother," and "bother."
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"T" and "D" Sounds The "T" and “D” sounds are commonly found in various Indian languages, like Hindi. However, they often have a distinct pronunciation from the English sound. Their "T" and "D" are more pronounced "tuh" or "duh," with the tongue connecting further back with the mouth.
To pronounce "T" in English, place the tip of your tongue against the alveolar ridge, stop the airflow, and release it suddenly. The English "T" is a voiceless sound, and this means your vocal cords do not vibrate when you produce it.
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Pronouncing "D" in English is nearly the same as "T," but with voicing. This means that your vocal cords will vibrate when you release the airflow.
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"P," "T," and "K" Sounds Standard English pronunciation will naturally have aspirated consonants "P," "T," and "K." However, Indian speakers can tend to unaspirate these consonant in their Engilsh pronunciation.
Aspirated sounds are produced with a strong burst of air when you release the closure of the lips or tongue. This means unaspirated sounds lack this burst of air, and this alters the original sounds.
To pronounce the aspirated "P" (as in "pat"), place your lips together to create a complete closure. Next, build up a burst of air behind the closure by exhaling. Finally, release the closure with a strong puff of air.
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To pronounce the aspirated "T" (as in "top"), position your tongue against the area just behind the upper front teeth to create a complete closure. Also, build up a burst of air behind the closure by inhaling slightly or holding your breath. Now, release the closure with a strong puff of air.
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Like "T" and "P," raise the back of your tongue against the soft palate to create a complete closure in the back of the mouth to pronounce the aspirated "K" (as in "kick"). Again, build up a burst of air behind the closure by inhaling slightly or holding your breath. Finally, release the closure with a strong puff of air.
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Common English Vowel Pronunciation Mistakes English has more vowel sounds, including diphthongs and long vowels, which are the result of vowel shifts over time. These vowel sound variants are less common in Indian languages that have relatively stable vowel systems. Urdu, for example, has between 8 and 12 vowel sounds, compared to the 20 in English.
Schwa Words with schwa sounds are some of the most common English words that Indian pronounce wrong.
Ideally, the schwa sound requires minimal tension in your articulatory organs, as it is a very relaxed and almost unnoticeable sound. However, Indian languages have clear vowel sounds, even in unstressed syllables, making it hard to reduce vowels this way.
The key to pronouncing the schwa sound in English pronunciation for Indian speakers is to relax your tongue, jaw, and lips. Always keep your tongue in a neutral, central position in your mouth, and do not round or spread your lips. Position your tongue in the middle of your mouth without touching the roof of your mouth, the back of your front teeth, or any other part of your mouth.
"AA" Sound The "AA" sound, as in the word "cat," does not exist in Indian languages like Hindi and Urdu.
To produce this sound, place your tongue comfortably in the middle of your mouth, not touching anything. Next, open your mouth moderately, but not too wide. Also, keep your lips relaxed and unrounded. Your lips should not be too loosely parted or tightly rounded, and ensure that your jaw is relaxed and not too tense.
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Speech Rhythm Challenges in English for Indian Speakers Indian speakers may encounter challenges related to speech rhythm, potentially influenced by the differences in syllable timing and pitch between their native language and English.
Stress Patterns Indian English speakers sometimes place equal stress on all syllables in a word, which can make it difficult to distinguish which words are most important. This is because many Indian speakers use intonation patterns from their native languages. Sometimes these intonations make their speech overly melodic.
Review the below video to practice stress patterns in English.
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Pitch Range and Speech Speed Some Indian English speakers may not use pauses or rhythm patterns that are common in English speech. This makes them unintentionally blend words when they speak, lumping syllables together in a manner that sounds rushed or disjointed.
For more guidance on pitch, review the video below.
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How to Improve English Pronunciation for Indian Speakers English pronunciation mistakes for Indian speakers or other non-native speakers are understandable, as mastering a secondary language is a difficult task. However, you can train your speech to become articulate in pronunciation to speak English like a native speaker.
To achieve this level of fluency, you may begin by actively listening to native speakers when they talk. This includes paying close attention to the news or becoming closely acquainted with a native speaker. Also, you should participate in self-training speech exercises like practicing tongue twisters and shadow listening.
You can also go the extra mile with consulting professional accent coaches who will help you learn faster and track your learning progress. Whichever methods you choose, the key to articulating fluent English pronunciation is practicing and being consistent in speaking the language. Whether on your own or with help from professionals and native speakers, make sure to learn something new every day.
Need help getting started? The BoldVoice App can help you figure out your pronunciation weak spots and customize a learning pattern tailored to your needs. By adopting methods such as real-time constructive feedback using AI, you can notice immediate progress as you continue through the app's many features.
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