do not know why---I already had trouble to pronounce several words. such as; the city's name " baltimore". Most of the time I am not quite sure which part to stress....sign...embarrassing sometimes, really. do you guys have any advice or studying materials that I can use for improvement? Look forward to any suggestions....

This is a good question, usually i do it based on instincts...
but if u are not sure about where the emphasis could be, u can either check on the www.dictionary.com to see where the emphasis (') should be, or u can ask ur friends. An observation is that if the word is of french or latin origin, the emphasis usually is on the last e or a... for example: habitué, cosset

以下是引用valentina在2004-4-24 2:48:22的发言：
This is a good question, usually i do it based on instincts...
but if u are not sure about where the emphasis could be, u can either check on the www.dictionary.com to see where the emphasis (') should be, or u can ask ur friends. An observation is that if the word is of french or latin origin, the emphasis usually is on the last e or a... for example: habitué, cosset

thanks....but the problem is I do not quite sure how to pronouce a word based on the what the dictionary tells me . I need to listen somebody speaking it for several times.... I can not pronounce "equilibrium" well....upset

对啊.最好的方法是听别人正确的说一遍.然后再重复N次. 如果找不到人就用一些软件, 我记得以前考GRE的时候新东方有个什么字典之类的软件,是可以发声的. 我觉得那个对我帮助很大.

the best way, watch TV!!!!
you can learn all kinds of pronounciations.

是阿。。。电视天天开。。不过是屡听屡忘。。看来功夫还不够深。。。呵呵~~~

don't worry, it takes time and practice. there is no shortcut~~

I found some books with cassets....they might provide more targeted cure? hehe...long way to go....

Why not try www.webster.com?
You can hear the pronouncation there.

周末问了一老外，好像baltimore是bodimo，重音在开头。

以下是引用iamdodo在2004-6-3 18:51:38的发言：
Why not try www.webster.com?
You can hear the pronouncation there.

Thanks. added the link to my favorite.....