VOA播音员Steve Ember给中国听众回信谈发音技巧

Dear Yong,

Thank you for your kind words.  I am happy that you enjoy our Special English programs, and flattered that you wish to pronounce English as I do. It also means a great deal to me to know that my work for Special English is valued by my listeners.

To address your questions regarding voice production and pronunciation...The terms you are looking for are "chest" (instead of breast)and "head" voice.  You will get a "richer" sound by  allowing your voice to come from the chest region. As you mature, you will find this to be even more the case! Most voice production tends to be a combination of both, depending on what we're doing, but professional voice performers never forget the former.   It is preferable to be relaxed -- get a good night's sleep! -- and to sit erect when you're speaking for best voice production and "tone."  Always maintain good posture whether sitting or standing.  For your information, when I voice for broadcast or recording, I am sitting.

As you asked for advice, let me also suggest the following techniques:
Do you have a tape recorder or other recording device like MiniDisc?  If not borrow or purchase one!  Record yourself speaking (or reading) English.  As you like my voice, why don't you find one of my features on our web site and read it into your recorder.  Then, you can play it back and compare your pronunciations and voicing to mine.  When you're speaking, place your hand on your chest, if you feel some vibration, you are probably using your chest voice.  If you know someone who sings, he or she might be able to further coach you in that regard.  Chest- vs. Head- voice production is a bit difficult to describe in words, but once you master it, you will certainly know when you are using it.

Incidentally, you should understand that pronunciation and voice-production are two separate entities. In other words, someone whose pronunciation of, let's say, English is near perfect but who uses only head-voice, will not sound as pleasant as someone whose pronunciation is equally good, but knows how to use the full range of voice.

I hope you find some of that information useful, and thanks so much for taking the time to write.

Kind regards,

Steve Ember

 
Subject:to Steve Ember. a question of pronunciation
From:gong yong
Date:Fri, 25 May 2007 12:50:48 +0800 (CST)
To:special@VOANews.com
 

Dear Steve Ember,
        I am a youth living  in the Mainland of China.. Every morning , I would like to listen to your programs very much  .I think it is a good way to improve my oral English and listening English. Here  I tell you the truth ,since your voice sounds pretty well ,so  I  wish to pronounce  American English more like you. (NB,  I am not a homosexual ,do not worry ! haha)
         A friend of mine  has ever  told  me a fact,that we should pronounce  by  means of   our  breathes, namely,   our voices  should  come  from our breasts .If so ,our voices sound  strongly and deeply .this is to say, we should not pronounce by our throats simply..
       My friend advises ,  if we pronounce American English  according  to  the  Bel Canto, our voices come  from breasts,then our pronunciations will be  pretty well !   Do you think so ? and  what about your advices?
       You are one of my respectful teacher ,though I can not see you  till now. Wish you tell me about your opinion about  pronunciation.
       Thanks a lot !  Hope to hear from you soon !
       Best wishes to you and VOA !
                                    
                                                         Yours truly,
                                                              Gong Yong

Gong Yong的新浪博客：http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4b06b89a01000bxg.html