Pronunciation
I have been impressed listening to my daughter’s English pronunciation when she reads her English reading homework aloud at home in the evening. Unlike my wife and many Japanese students, Emma has a sharp, well-defined“ar,” “or,” “er,” and “ir” pronunciation, and a strong, clear formulation of “l,” “r,” and “w.” Her accent is not perfect. To a native English ear she definitely has a foreign accent. But she is head and shoulders above the pronunciation facility of her mother and most Japanese students I have ever known. I guess it is a product of living with me and listening to my English every day, plus (rarely) speaking to me in English. In addition, in her 14-years Emma has been to Canada nine times, I think, which might have something to do with it as well.
It’s funny to hear Emma and Junko together saying the same thing. Emma has the sound perfect and Junko muffles it like a Japanese. Their roles are reversed. The daughter is the teacher, and the mother is the pupil:
Junko: “Gaaaaaarl.”
Emma: “Girl.”
Junko: “Gaaaarl!”
Emma: “Girl!”
Junko: “Uman.”
Emma: “Woman.”
Junko: “Uman!”
Emma: “Woman!”
Junko: “Uindoh.”
Emma: “Window.”
Junko: “Uindoh!”
Emma: “Window!”
Junko: “Double.”
Emma: “W.” (Double-you)