Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.

org/elt/shiporsheep PHOTOCOPIABLE
Chinese speakers
( N.B. There are many Chinese dialects. Extra notes are provided below for Mandarin
and Cantonese.)
Vowels
i (ship) confused with i: (sheep)
(man) confused with n (cup) or : (heart)
c (pen) confused with (man)
(book) confused with u: (boot)
(clock) confused with : (ball)
ci (tail) common error c
(phone) common error (clock)
Consonants
Great difculty with groups of consonants, especially nally, where one or more may be dropped.
l confused with r
z may be pronounced s especially nally
(shoe) confused with s especially before i: (sheep), or may sound like h
v confused with v
n (not present in some dialects) common error l
(thin)
(feather)
b pronounced p nally
d pronounced nally
q pronounced I nally
h common error x (loch)
d (jam) has a different quality
(cherry) has a different quality
(shoe) has a different quality
Final consonant may be dropped especially after ci (tail) or (phone) or other diphthongs.
Intonation
An area of difculty. All intonation exercises will be useful, especially those that practice a falling tune or
express emotion.
Stress and rhythm
Sounds staccato. Joining word exercises will be useful.
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Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org/elt/shiporsheep PHOTOCOPIABLE
Mandarin speakers
Vowels
i (ship) common error i: (sheep)
c (pen) confused with (a camera)
(man) confused with : (heart)
n (cup) common error : (heart)
(clock) common error : (heart)
: (ball) may also be pronounced : (heart)
u: (boot) confused with (book)
s: (girl) different quality
(phone) may be pronounced (house)
ai
i different quality
a
Consonants
Final consonants may be dropped especially after diphthongs.
Great difculty with groups of consonants, where one or more may be dropped, especially nally.
l confused with r
n confused with l
l (ball) may be dropped or pronounced n
z common error dz or s
(television) confused with (shoe) or (cherry)
(shoe) confused with s especially before i: or may sound close to h
v confused with v or f
h sounds close to x (loch)
(ring) may be confused with n
b pronounced p nally
d pronounced nally
q pronounced I nally
Intonation
All intonation exercises will be useful.
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Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org/elt/shiporsheep PHOTOCOPIABLE
Cantonese speakers
Vowels
i (ship) confused with i: (sheep)
(book) confused with u: (boot)
(man) confused with c (pen) or : (heart)
n (cup) confused with : (heart)
: (ball) confused with (clock)
u: (boot) confused with (book)
s: (girl) has a different quality
(a camera) pronounced as spelling
(phone) confused with a (house) or (clock)
ci (tail) common error c (pen)
ai
: different quality
a
Consonants
Great difculty with groups of consonants, especially nally where one or more may be dropped.
Final consonants dropped, especially after diphthongs. Sometimes t is substituted for other nal sounds.
l confused with r
n (nose) confused with l
l (ball) may be dropped or pronounced n
v (van) confused with v (window)
z (zoo) common error s
(shoe) may be confused with
(television) may be confused with
f has a different quality
v confused with v or f
(thin) common error s or f
(feather) common error d or dz
r pronounced where normally silent
may be confused with n
Intonation
All intonation exercises will be useful, especially those practising polite and friendly intonation.
Cantonese is spoken with great energy. Cantonese speakers may sound angry in English.
Stress and rhythm
Sounds staccato. Joining word exercises useful.
Cantonese students may stress the nal syllable. Word stress exercises may be useful.
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