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The American accent for Bangla speakers

Your English is already good. If Bangla is your first language, these are the American patterns worth your time first, and why.

Start with these patterns

You may say T with no air, every vowel in full, and a rolled R.

1. T, P and K start with air

   start + T · P · K → with air

   Without the air, time can sound like dime.

2. Any vowel can become “uh”

   vowel in a quick part → uh

   An -le at the end sounds like “uhl”: table.

3. R is never rolled

   R touches nothingD touches once

   If your tongue tip touches, even once, hiring sounds like hiding.

   If you speak Bengali, your র touches once or rolls. The English R does neither: very, sorry.

Then, for clear pronunciation

Bangla makes F and V with both lips, S and SH can sound alike, and Z can sound like J.

1. Very or berry?

   V teeth on lipB both lipsW round lips

   If both lips close, very sounds like berry. If they round, vine sounds like wine.

   If you speak Bengali, V may become B or ভ: very can sound like berry. Put your top teeth on your lower lip for V.

2. Fan or pan?

   F teeth on lip, blowP both lips, stop

   For F, rest your top teeth on your lower lip. If both lips close, fan sounds like pan.

   If you speak Bengali, ফ is made with both lips. For English F, put your top teeth on your lower lip.

3. See or she?

   S tongue frontSH tongue back, round lips

   For S, the tip of your tongue is close behind your top teeth.

   If you speak Bengali, স and শ are often both said SH. For S, keep your tongue forward and smile: see, so.

4. Sue or zoo?

   S air onlyZ with voice

   For Z, your throat shakes; for S, it doesn’t.

   If you speak Bengali, Z can become জ, so zero sounds like “jero”. For Z, say S and add your voice.

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