Error 4

Incorrect pronunciation of sound /m/ at the end of words

    Explanation why this error occurs: In Spanish, we have the 'M' consonant sound but it never appears at the end of words; so, when it does in English, for example in the word 'Game', Spanish students often turn it into 'N'.

Examples:

The word ‘game’ is pronounced as ‘gain’

The word ‘seem’ is pronounced as ‘seen’

The word ‘foam’ is pronounced as ‘phone’

 


M turns to N at the end of words.
Therefore, while it’s not at all difficult for Spanish speakers to pronounce the M alone, it can be quite challenging for them to pronounce it at the end of words.

This is why when a word ends with M in English (some, ham, cream) Spanish speakers may substitute it with the closest sound available that does show up at the end of words in Spanish – N (or NG).

This substitution usually happens subconsciously, and awareness is the number one factor in improving this pronunciation challenge.

Exercises to help improve the pronunciation of ‘m’ correctly:

1. It is not N, it is M




Instructions:

  • Read every word aloud.
  • Look for the words which end in /m/ sound, and circle them.
  • In pairs, read every word by turns.
  • Help each other to pronounce the words correctly.


2. Say it aloud





Instructions:

  • In pairs, read the sentences aloud.
  • Underline all the words which finish with /m/ sound.
  • By turns, pronounce the words underlined.




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References

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References ABA ENGLISH . (2015). Do you also make these mistakes in English? abaenglish.com. https://www.abaenglish.com/en/aba-english-masterclass/pronunciation-errors-in-english/ Anonymous. (September, 2015). All about long and short vowels sounds for preschoolers. Kutuki. https://kutuki.in/short-and-long-vowel-sounds-for-preschoolers/ Brenda. (11th November, 2020). 6 Pronunciation Mistakes Spanish Speakers Make in English (And How To Fix Them). oxfordhousebcn.com. https://oxfordhousebcn.com/en/6- pronunciation-mistakes-spanish-speakers-make-in-english-and-how-to-fix-them/ CARLA Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. (18th August, 2021). Overview of Error Analysis. carla.umn.ed. https://carla.umn.edu/learnerlanguage/error_analysis.html English, W. (6th August, 2021). Pronunciation of S in English. Grammar.cl. https://www.grammar.cl/english/pronunciation-final-s.htm Gumbaridze, J. (2012). Error correction in EFL speaking classrooms....
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