Pronunciation, Elocution, English Accent and Public Speaking tutor, face-to-face in Derbyshire and online

Find out more about Carrie

• What first attracted you to teach this element of the English language?

  I’m a native British English speaker, but also speak a number of other languages, so I understand the challenge of trying to produce the authentic sounds and intonation of a language that is not your own.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the English language?

  Sherlock Holmes, although fictional, perfectly embodies the culture of British English: well-crafted sentences, a highly developed sense of irony and a colourful use of idiom and wit.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  Clients always ask me why English pronunciation is so ‘tricky’. The answer lies in the unique history of our language and also explains why we usually have at least two words to say exactly the same thing. It is this richness of choice and precision of meaning that is so appealing. The difference between synonyms often lies in the degree of formality or ‘register’ required in any given situation. The nuances of British English particularly, are both a curse and a blessing!

• Why is correct pronunciation and accent important?

  Communication depends on mutual understanding, and pronunciation errors can be equally frustrating to both speaker and interlocutor. My interest lies in helping those who already speak the language to ensure that they are understood 100% of the time, guaranteeing that their message is always understood. This is important both in the workplace and socially.

• What is the main difficulty when trying to improve pronunciation and what can help the process of learning?

  Effective pronunciation depends on producing the right sounds in the right way. It is a physical rather than an intellectual skill – the result of engaging the speech organs – jaw, tongue and teeth – appropriately. Not all languages have the same set of phonemes, so some sounds are totally alien to the non-native speaker of English. A good example is /v/ in Spanish and the voiced and unvoiced –th (/θ/ and /ð/) appear in very few languages, so are a problem for almost everyone.

• What's the best piece of general advice you can give to those wanting to improve English pronunciation right now?

  It’s useful to think of a mispronunciation as a speed bump. If you speak slowly and clearly, your interlocutor or audience will ‘recover’ the momentum of their listening if you pronounce something in a slightly disorientating manner or use a variation that they are not accustomed to. If you speak very fast, they will not have sufficient time to tune into the flow of the conversation before another ‘hiccup’ occurs. Thus, you can lose someone very quickly. This phenomenon is often exacerbated by the misapprehension that speaking faster will ‘mask’ an accent. It actually has the opposite effect!

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language technique?

  The fact that I speak several other languages and travel abroad frequently – mainly to Europe – helps remind me regularly what it’s like to be a second language speaker. It helps me remember how challenging it is to have to express yourself in a language that is not your own every day (and often all day). As a pronunciation coach, one must always be empathetic and sympathetic towards one’s clients, most of whom are not natural linguists, but specialists in their own fields, be they engineers, doctors, film directors or lawyers!

• What makes you a Superprof in English language pronunciation?

  With a background in corporate communications and teaching, as well as being a fluent speaker of well-crafted European languages, I have a unique blend of skills and knowledge. It’s is this dynamic mix of abilities which make me a ‘Superprof’ when it comes to pronunciation. I have spent a number of years perfecting a technique which focuses on the ‘articulatory approach’ to coaching the mechanics and delivery of the English sound system.