Once you know the rules, most languages that use phonetic alphabets are easy to read and pronounce.What you see is what you say.English and French use a lot of silent letters.These are letters that are not pronounced.The letters are usually left over from a time when the word was not pronounced the way it is today.You can learn the rules of the language and remember common words with silent letters.If you still don't know if a letter in a word is silent, you can look up the pronunciation or ask a fluent speaker.
Step 1: Look at a guide.
If you want to learn the rules of pronunciation in the language you are interested in, look for a language-learning guide online.The section on silent letters should be in a good pronunciation guide.How to Pronounce French Correctly by Stanley Connell is a language pronunciation guide that uses both text and audio.You can find a silent letter pronunciation guide online, like this English example from Kent State University.
Step 2: You can find out which letters are most silent.
Depending on the language you are working with, certain letters may be frequently or always un pronounced.H is silent in French.A final E is almost always silent in English if a word follows the CVCV pattern.
Step 3: When letters are silent versus spoken, there are rules to be learned.
Under special circumstances, letters that are normally silent in a language can be pronounced.Many of the vowels at the end of words in French are silent.When followed by a word that starts with a vowels, they may be pronounced differently.E.g.Do not say the S in "gros" in some dialects of English.If the next word starts with a vowels, the final R sound in British English may be pronounced differently.E.g.The R in "baker" is silent.The R is pronounced in "the baker and I".
Step 4: Look at the differences in pronunciation.
Rules may vary depending on accent or dialect.It is possible to say an R at the end of a word in American English, but not in British English.The word "baker" is pronounced be.kr (bay-kah) in the UK Standard English, and "Bay-ker" in standard American English.Consonants that are usually pronounced in Metropolitan French may be dropped in casual speech in Canadian French.It is possible that "la" may become just "a".
Step 5: Pick out the most common silent letter patterns.
Silent letters appear in certain parts of a word or in combinations with other letters.One way to know if a letter is silent is to memorize the rules in a specific language.In English, GH is usually silent, as in "right," "eight," or "neighbor."The K is in the same place as the knee.Take some time to memorize the most common silent letter combinations, and look over your pronunciation guide.
Step 6: You can learn individual words by writing them in silent letters.
You may need to memorize individual words with silent letters.In hybrid languages like English, where some words don't follow the common pronunciation rules, it's important to write out a list.You can find a list of these words online or in a language textbook.
Step 7: Make some flashcards.
flashcards are a great way to memorize.Put together flashcards from your list of words.Practice using flashcards with a friend or study partner.For word flashcards, you could write the word on one side and then spell it out phonetically on the other side.
Step 8: If there are exceptions, keep an eye out.
There will always be exceptions even if you know the rules.If you're looking for words that don't follow the expected pattern for silent letter use, check a language book or pronunciation guide.The words "cough" and "tough" are different in English.GH is pronounced with an "F" sound as opposed to being silent, as in "right" or "weigh."
Step 9: Check the entry for a spelling.
If you want to find out if a letter is pronounced or silent in a word, you can use a dictionary.Many dictionaries use theIPA to show how a word is pronounced.Check your dictionary for a pronunciation key if you don't know how to read it.
Step 10: You can look up the word's pronunciation online.
Audio clips are provided so you can hear how a word is pronounced.The online Cambridge Dictionary of English gives audible pronunciations of words.You can find audible pronunciation guides on websites.
Step 11: Ask a speaker of the language how to say something.
If you know someone who is familiar with the language, you can ask them how to pronounce it.Ask someone who knows the language the word is in.It's possible to ask someone who speaks it or who teaches it.The average speaker of the language may not be familiar with obscure words.Many English speakers don't know that the CH is silent.