Only if you can pronounce this poem correctly then you can say that well and truly speak English!
Try to read it yourself then check by watching the video below.
Ration never rhymes with nation,
Say prefer, but preferable,
Comfortable and vegetable.
B must not be heard in doubt,
Debt and dumb both leave it out.
Say prefer, but preferable,
Comfortable and vegetable.
B must not be heard in doubt,
Debt and dumb both leave it out.
In the words psychology,
Psychic, and psychiatry,
You must never sound the p.
Psychiatrist you call the man
Who cures the complex, if he can.
Psychic, and psychiatry,
You must never sound the p.
Psychiatrist you call the man
Who cures the complex, if he can.
In architect ch is k
In arch it is the other way.
Please remember to say iron
So that it'll rhyme with lion.
Advertisers advertise,
Advertisements will put you wise.
In arch it is the other way.
Please remember to say iron
So that it'll rhyme with lion.
Advertisers advertise,
Advertisements will put you wise.
Time when work is done is leisure,
Fill it up with useful pleasure.
Accidental, accident,
Sound the g in ignorant.
Fill it up with useful pleasure.
Accidental, accident,
Sound the g in ignorant.
Relative, but relation,
Then say creature, but creation.
Say the a in gas quite short,
Bought remember rhymes with thwart,
Then say creature, but creation.
Say the a in gas quite short,
Bought remember rhymes with thwart,
Drought must always rhyme with bout,
In daughter leave the g h out.
Wear a boot upon your foot.
Root can never rhyme with soot.
In daughter leave the g h out.
Wear a boot upon your foot.
Root can never rhyme with soot.
In muscle, s and c is s,
In muscular, it's s k, yes!
Choir must always rhyme with wire,
That again will rhyme with liar.
In muscular, it's s k, yes!
Choir must always rhyme with wire,
That again will rhyme with liar.
Then remember it's address.
With an accent like posses.
G in sign must silent be,
In signature, pronounce the g.
With an accent like posses.
G in sign must silent be,
In signature, pronounce the g.
Please remember, say towards
Just as if it rhymed with boards.
Weight's like wait, but not like height.
Which should always rhyme with might.
Just as if it rhymed with boards.
Weight's like wait, but not like height.
Which should always rhyme with might.
Sew is just the same as so,
Tie a ribbon in a bow.
When you meet the Queen you bow,
Which again must rhyme with how.
Tie a ribbon in a bow.
When you meet the Queen you bow,
Which again must rhyme with how.
In perfect English make a start.
Learn this little rhyme by heart.
Learn this little rhyme by heart.
If even that is too easy for you, fear not . ‘’The Chaos’’, a poem written in 1920 to highlight the irregularity of English spelling and pronunciation should be a challenge for anyone. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right first time, the poem’s author was writer, traveller and teacher Gerard Nolst Trenité who was in fact Dutch!!
Dearest creature in creationStudying English pronunciation,
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse and worse.
I will keep you, Susy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy;
Tear in eye, your dress you'll tear;
Queer, fair seer, hear my prayer.
Pray, console your loving poet,
Make my coat look new, dear, sew it!
Just compare heart, hear and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word.
Sword and sward, retain and Britain
(Mind the latter how it's written).
Made has not the sound of bade,
Say-said, pay-paid, laid but plaid.
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as vague and ague,
But be careful how you speak,
Say: gush, bush, steak, streak, break, bleak ,
Because of it’s length I have included only the first 5 verses. The brave can find the full version here -
Leave me a comment or write to me at myskypeenglishteacher@yahoo.co.uk to let me know how you got on!
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