5 Tips to Improve Your Russian Pronunciation

Compared to English, Russian pronunciation is very easy because it follows simple rules. Most of the time, Russian words are pronounced the way they are spelled. Any exceptions are easy to memorize, as they are governed by strict but straightforward rules. Russian consonants can be pronounced either as soft or hard, creating extra sounds. There are 21 consonants altogether, with one of them, the letter Й, sometimes considered  a semi-vowel. There are also 10 vowels and two remaining letters which do not have sounds but are instead used to make a consonant hard or soft: Ð ¬ (pronounced MYAKHky ZNAK—the soft sign) and Ð ª (pronounced TVYORdy ZNAK—the hard sign). Follow these tips to improve your Russian pronunciation. Russian Alphabet Pronunciation There are more sounds than letters in Russian: 42 main sounds and only 33 letters. This means that  some Russian letters can sound differently depending on their position and surrounding letters. Vowels The six main vowel sounds in Russian are written using 10 vowel letters. Sound Letter Sound in English Example Pronunciation Meaning ee LEEpah linden yy LYYzhy skis aah MAH-y May yah MYATCH a ball oh MOY my yoh YOLkah a fir / Christmas tree eh EHtah this yeh LYEtah summer ooh MOOhah a fly yuh YUHny young Consonants Russian consonants can be soft or hard. This quality is determined by the letter that follows a consonant. Soft-indicating vowels are Ð ¯, Ð , Ð ®, Е, И. The soft sign Ð ¬ also softens the consonant that immediately precedes it. Main Rules of Pronunciation Once you have learned how the letters are pronounced in the Russian alphabet, it is time to learn the main rules of Russian pronunciation. Russian letters are pronounced in the same way as they are written unless they fall under one of the following exceptions: Vowel Reduction Russian vowels sound shorter and a little different when they are in an unstressed syllable. Some vowels merge into another sound, such as Ð  and О into an eh or uh, while others become weaker. The ways that unstressed vowels behave differ according to regional accent variations. Unstressed O and A are pronounced as AH  when they are positioned in a syllable immediately preceding the accented syllable, and as UH in all other syllables, for example: Ð ½Ã °Ã' Ã'‚Ð ¾Ã »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ (desktop, adj.) is pronounced  nah-STOL-nyjÃ'…Ð ¾Ã'€Ð ¾Ã'ˆÐ ¾ (good, well) is pronounced huh-rah-SHOH, with both unstressed syllables significantly shorter than the stressed one. Unstressed E, Ð  and Ð ¯ can be pronounced in the same way as И, for example: Ð ´Ã µÃ'€Ð µÃ ²Ã ¾ (tree) can be pronounced as both DYE-rye-vah and DYE-ri-vah Devoicing Some Russian consonants are voiced, while others are voiceless. Voiced consonants are those that use the vibration of the vocal chords, e.g. Б, Ð’, Г, Д, Ðâ€", Ðâ€", whereas voiceless consonants are those that don’t: П, Ð ¤, К, Ð ¢, Ð ¨, Ð ¡. Voiced consonants can sound voiceless if they are at the end of a word, for example: Ð  Ã ¾Ã ´ (Rot): type, clan They can also become voiceless when they are followed by a voiceless consonant, for example: ЛÐ ¾Ã ´Ã ºÃ ° (LOTka): boat Voiceless consonants can change and become voiced when they appear before a voiced consonant, for example: Ð ¤Ã'Æ'Ã'‚Ð ±Ã ¾Ã » (fudBOL): soccer Palatization Palatalization happens when the middle part of our tongue touches the palate (roof of the mouth). This occurs when we pronounce soft consonants, that is, consonants that are followed by the soft-indicating vowels Ð ¯, Ð , Ð ®, Е, И or the soft sign Ð ¬, for example: КÐ °Ã'‚Ã'  (Katya) - Ð ¢ is palatized due to its position before a soft-indicating vowel Ð ¯ Accent Marks in Russian Learning the correct accent, or stress, in Russian words can be challenging because of the large number of rules and exceptions. The best way to learn where to place the accent is to memorize it from the start. The letter Ð  is always stressed but is rarely written as itself and is usually replaced with Е. Other letters can be stressed or unstressed. It is important to know where to place the accent in a word as many Russian words change meaning when the accent is placed on a different syllable, for example: ÐÅ"Ð £Ã ºÃ ° [MOOka] - sufferingÐ ¼Ã'Æ'КÐ  [mooKAH] - flour Most Difficult Russian Sounds There are some sounds in Russian that do not exist in English. Learning to pronounce them correctly will significantly improve your general pronunciation and ensure that you dont say something you dont mean. Many Russian words differ from each other by just one letter. Saying a word incorrectly may render the whole sentence difficult to understand, for example: Ð ±Ã'‹Ã'‚Ã'Å' (to be) becomes Ð ±Ã ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å' (to beat) when the speaker doesnt say Ð « correctly. Lets look at the most difficult Russian sounds and learn how to pronounce them. Ð « - try to say oooooh and smile at the same time. This sound does not exist in English but is close to the i in linenÐâ€" - like sure in pleasureÐ ¨ - like the first sh in ShropshireÐ © - like the second, softer sh in Shropshire - this sound is palatized by placing the middle of the tongue to the roof of the mouthÐ ¦ - like ts in tsetseÐ   - like r in Ratatata - this sound is rolledЙ - like y in May Simple Exercises to Practice Russian Pronunciation Watch and repeat Russian TV shows, films and cartoons.Listen to Russian songs and try singing along—this is particularly good for understanding the way that Russian spoken language differs from the written Russian.Watch YouTube channels dedicated to Russian pronunciation.Imitate the way Russian native speakers move their lips and position their tongues. You will notice that it is very different from the habits of English speakers. Learning the correct mouth position is the biggest factor in improving your pronunciation.Press the middle and the tip of your tongue into the roof of your mouth when pronouncing palatalized consonants.Press the middle of your tongue into the roof of your mouth (creating the sound y) when pronouncing soft vowels.Press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth when pronouncing the vibrating Russian Ð  . You can begin by saying D-d-d-d-d-d, eventually using the tip of your finger to vibrate the tongue side to side, creating the sound Ð  . Here is a great video demonstrating how to do that.Remember that syllables that consist of a consonant and a soft indicating vowel, such as Ð ½Ã'  or Ð »Ã'Ž, are pronounced as one syllable by placing the middle and tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth. Avoid making these into two syllables by incorrectly pronouncing them as, for example, ny-ya. This is one of the most common mistakes when speaking Russian. You will see a great improvement in your Russian pronunciation once you learn to pronounce these difficult sounds.

What Does It Take An Unjust Law - 2068 Words

What does it take to change an unjust law? There are plenty of times where a law that has been imposed on society is less than just, or set up by those with a specific agenda to hinder a certain group of people. When confronted with an unjust law, there is only one real means of protest that is effective: To do whatever it takes in other words â€Å"any mean necessary.† Therefore, I believe that Malcolm’s X’s theory is the most appropriate and effective mean because it requires a greater and more focused response than other means. It allows a group of individuals to become noticed, and their demands will no longer be ignored. This makes the people deal with the issue immediately then ignore it. Martin Luther King Jr as well as Socrates, both†¦show more content†¦In addition, through this essay, I will explain why this way is the only way. Socrates is a master of persuasion and he firmly believes that it’s the most effective means of protest. In Pl ato’s Crito, Socrates is awaiting his sentence, which is death for corruption of the youth and believing in false gods. At this time Crito is trying to convince Socrates to escape jail, Socrates refuses and explains why. To Socrates, persuasion is the most effective means because it doesn’t harm the states system of law and order. In addition, Persuasion allows people to deal with issues with out using any violent force. In Court, persuasion allows the people to defend themselves. Lastly, persuasion allows us the people to find truth through reason instead of physical force. Socrates believes that direct action would cause more harm then any good and that it’s completely ineffective. If the people of the state were to use a direct action approach it would affect the state. If the state is harmed it would lead to collapse in society. Secondly, the state is responsible for the people in; therefore there would be no reason to for the people to act out against the state. Socrates is mainly concerned with the well being of the state. If the state falls law and order will no longer exist this is why he is advocating a more peaceful way of dealing with unjust laws and corruption. From

Islam The Straight Path Essay Example For Students

Islam The Straight Path Essay Islam The Straight PathAn evaluation of the book by John L. Esposito: Islam The Straight Path. In this book , Esposito provides a succinct, up-to-date survey of the Islamic experience, an introduction to the faith, belief, and practice of Islam from its origins to its contemporary resurgence. He traces the emergence and development of this dynamic faith and its impact on world history and politics. He discusses the formation of Islamic belief and practice (law, theology, philosophy, and mysticism), chronicling the struggle of Muslims to define and adhere to their Islamic way of life. Equally important is the essential information Esposito provides on the contemporary world of Islam, from Muslim responses to the challenges of colonialism and modernization to the reassertion of Islam in politics and society. This introductory book in the teaching of Islam and Islamic way of life by Esposito can be categorized in three different sections with various sub-tittles. First section concentrates on structural elements of Islam that includes Messengerand the Message; that are Muhammad and the Holy Koran. Second section is about The emergence of Islamic identity, as the Muslim Community, which includes the belief and the practice of the religion. And finally the modern Interpretations of Islam. Esposito introduces three concepts; in the first three chapters he explains what Islam is. I believe that he did an excellent job in presenting pre-Islamic time for Arabia and its surrounding region. But I also believe that concentrating on Muhammads (PBUH) biography has little relevant to Islam. Because Islam is based mainly on the completion message of God to the World. I believe if a non-Muslim reader try were to understand Islam through this book he or she would compare it to the concept of Jesus, or David the Texan cult leader, and many others. I found that Esposito guides its readers to a clear understanding of Muslims and non-Muslim prospective. Nevertheless, he is a director of center for Muslim-Christian understanding. Esposito has emphasized on the holy Quran, Gods message and the messenger. I also believe that he has introduced a clear guideline for Muslims and their practice. Laying out their laws, beliefs, attitudes, value s, and other religious responsibilities. I also found that Esposito writes with good academic intentions and writing on Islam from a western perspective. Esposito describes the realities of the Muslim world in their struggle to define their social, political, and economical identity. Although, he points that many of these ambitions are kept short due to lack of strong and faithful authorities in the Muslim world. As Esposito, introduces the faith, belief, and the practice of Islam from pre-historic times one can clearly see the religious events and the struggle of a religion through time. As on page 31, Esposito says, Muslims throughout the centuries, the message of the Koran and the examples of the Prophet are the essential building blocs of Muslim life. He also emphasizes on the importance of Islam history and civilization, because he believes that they are the record of that struggle to interpret and to follow the Straight Path. (Esposito 31:1998)Esposito also, introduces the idea of Modernism, that Islamic times have not just only brought religion alone but also economic and military hardships to the west, as he puts it, challenge to western technology. The impact of western imperialism has also impacted the Islamic world. As the book evolves, he talks about Modern nations; secular, Muslim and Islamic. Giving examples, such as Turkey being in the secular sector, Iran as the Islamic, and f inally the Muslim sector of modern nations including Jordan and Egypt. Coming to an end at the Muslims of Western Europe, the presence of Muslims in Europe is not a new force, but a generation of siege and conquer. Over the years Ottomans and other missionaries have put forward their idea of Islam in many parts of Europe, including Bosnia and Romania. The Importance of Understanding Muslims and Islam:Muslims and Islam are two related terms, at the same time different in its application. Let us first talk about the importance of understanding the term Muslims. Muslims are people who belong to the religion Islam. Muslims could act in various ways, presenting their actions differently, a Muslim from India or South Africa. Another good example of a Muslim view would be, the performance of their political and sect actions. For example, Saidi Qutb of Egypt believed the west is corrupt in their actions and he has different view of the West. The other example would be Saudi Arabias acceptan ce of United States Forces to land in the holy place of Islam and welcoming the west. Our second question deals with the understanding of Islam. The message that this faith brings to the world is important to understand that Islam claims the holy message of God, a force that has brought a completion to the writings of the three holy books of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Islam is a religion that has brought peace, enlightenment, and unity to the faithful. I feel that this book could guide Muslims and non-Muslims in forming clear views on specific Islamic religious issues. In conclusion, throughout the book Islam the Straight Path, many understandings come about by looking at the many struggles of any particular community. For the purpose of this book review, I went through the book to grasp an understanding of the title The Straight Path. For many centuries Muslims around the world have experienced the transformation of their society. The important forces that build Islam and Mu slims together are the religious life, faith, beliefs and practices. Today Muslims around the world face many challenges of leaders that build the community whether it is a secular or an Islamic nation. As examples given earlier about modernization which includes nations such as Turkey and on the other side of the spectrum the practice of Islamic Shariah. As a final note, my main objective from this book review is to see Islam from the eye of Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. Religion Essays

Marco Polo Essays (1762 words) - Marco Polo, Niccol And Maffeo Polo

Marco Polo Marco Polo Marco Polo is one of the most well-known heroic travelers and traders around the world. In my paper I will discuss with you Marco Polo's life, his travels, and his visit to China to see the great Khan. Marco Polo was born in c.1254 in Venice. He was a Venetian explorer and merchant whose account of his travels in Asia was the primary source for the European image of the Far East until the late 19th century. Marco's father, Niccol, and his uncle Maffeo had traveled to China (1260-69) as merchants. When they left (1271) Venice to return to China, they were accompanied by 17-year-old Marco and two priests. Early Life Despite his enduring fame, very little was known about the personal life of Marco Polo. It is known that he was born into a leading Venetian family of merchants. He also lived during a propitious time in world history, when the height of Venice's influence as a city-state coincided with the greatest extent of Mongol conquest of Asia(Li Man Kin 9). Ruled by Kublai Khan, the Mongol Empire stretched all the way from China to Russia and the Levant. The Mongol hordes also threatened other parts of Europe, particularly Poland and Hungary, inspiring fear everywhere by their bloodthirsty advances. Yet the ruthless methods brought a measure of stability to the lands they controlled, opening up trade routes such as the famous Silk Road. Eventually ,the Mongols discovered that it was more profitable to collect tribute from people than to kill them outright, and this policy too stimulated trade(Hull 23). Into this favorable atmosphere a number of European traders ventured, including the family of Marco Polo. The Polos had long-established ties in the Levant and around the Black Sea: for example, they owned property in Constantinople, and Marco's uncle, for whom he was named, had a home in Sudak in the Crimea(Rugoff 8). From Sudak, around 1260, another uncle, Maffeo, and Marco's father, Niccol, made a trading visit into Mongol territory, the land of the Golden Horde(Russia), ruled by Berke Khan. While they were there, a war broke out between Berke and the Cowan of Levant , blocking their return home. Thus Niccol and Maffeo traveled deeper into mongol territory, moving southeast to Bukhara, which was ruled by a third Cowan. While waiting there, they met an emissary traveling farther eastward who invited them to accompany him to the court of the great Cowan, Kublai, in Cathay(modern China). In Cathay, Kublai Khan gave the Polos a friendly reception, appointed them his emissaries to the pope, and ensured their safe travel back to Europe(Steffof 10). They were to return to Cathay with one hundred learned men who could instruct the Mongols in the Christian religion and the liberal arts. In 1269, Niccol and Maffeo Polo arrived back in Venice, where Niccol found out his wife had died while he was gone(Rugoff 5). Their son, Marco, who was only about fifteen years old, had been only six or younger when his father left home:thus; Marco was reared primarily by his mother and the extended Polo family-and the streets of Venice. After his mother's death, Marco had probably begun to think of himself as something of a orphan(Rugoff 6). Then his father and uncle suddenly reappeared, as if from the dead, after nine years of traveling in far-off, romantic lands. These experiences were the formative influences on young Marco, and one can see their effects mirrored in his character: a combination of sensitivity and toughness, independence and loyalty, motivated by an eagerness for adventure, a love of stories, and a desire to please or impress(Li Man Kin 10). Life's Work In 1268, Pope Clement IV died, and a two- or three-year delay while another pope was being elected gave young Marco time to mature and to absorb the tales of his father and uncle. Marco was seventeen years old when he, his father and uncle finally set out for the court of Kublai Khan(Stefoff 13). They were accompanied not by one hundred wise men but by two Dominican friars, and the two good friars turned back at the first sign of adversity, another local war in the Levant. Aside from the pope's messages, the only spiritual gift Europe was able to furnish the great Kublai Khan was oil from the lamp burning at Jesus Christ's supposed tomb in Jerusalem. Yet, in a sense, young Marco, the only new person in the Polos' party, was himself a fitting representative of the spirit of European civilization on the eve of the Renaissance, and the lack of one hundred learned Europeans guaranteed that