Improve Your Pronounciation (2nd Ed, 1971)

This film focuses on the importance of correct pronunciation for effective communication. Hosted by Ned Blandford and featuring his friends Peggy, Dick, Lucy, and Bob, it addresses common pronunciation issues through various examples and demonstrations. The film highlights problems like sound smudging (where sounds are run together or dropped) and word grunting (where individual sounds are not articulated clearly). It emphasizes the role of nervousness, shyness, and carelessness in these issues and suggests speaking with an open mouth as a remedy. The film also discusses the transposition of sounds in words like “nuclear” and “hundred,” and the incorrect changing of sounds within words, such as saying “fella” instead of “fellow.” It points out that poor pronunciation can lead to misunderstandings and interfere with communication. The film concludes by advocating the use of dictionaries for correct pronunciation, listening to oneself and others, and making lists of troublesome words for practice. The overall message is that attention to pronunciation and regular practice can significantly improve one’s communication skills.

We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive. Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project.