Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
A note on my paid partnership with BetterHelp
My most recent video was supported by the online therapy service BetterHelp. As I expected, this has received some negative comments. Since I’m not going to reply to the individual comments, I thought I’d post a note here.
BetterHelp first approached me a year ago. At the time I’d never heard of them, but as someone with a history of depression I was potentially interested. I researched the brand, as I always do, and watched a number of critical YouTube videos, mainly in connection with a complaint that had been made by the US Federal Trade Commission regarding BetterHelp’s sharing of certain customer information prior to 2021. This was settled in July 2023, with BetterHelp paying several million dollars to consumers and agreeing to ongoing 3rd-party audits and compliance certification for ethical standards. Despite this, rather than be associated with the negativity, I turned the offer down.
Subsequently (as I told several friends), I felt uncomfortable that for ‘image’ reasons I’d turned down a service which provides valuable help to many: I mention in my video how much I wish that such a service had been available to me at my most difficult times in the past. Also, various criticisms of BetterHelp have been addressed at length in research by the Cinema Therapy channel (link below). And, as I mention in the video, I myself am now a (paying) user of the service. When they recently approached me again regarding paid partnership, I felt able to accept.
My experience as a user has been excellent, and I know other BetterHelp users who have a high opinion of it. Some concerns have been expressed about the rates of compensation for therapists, but I know personally of one therapist who considers BetterHelp a ‘godsend’ because of the steady work it provides. Nothing is perfect, and BetterHelp will not be for all clients, nor for all therapists. But, if someone told me that they were struggling emotionally, would I mention to them the option of BetterHelp? Yes.
www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/a…
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SUMMER COURSE IN ENGLISH PHONETICS ONLINE & LIVE **EARLY BIRD FEES END JUNE 8TH!**
The online module may be taken as a self-contained course wherever you are in the world!
I'm proud to be the Director of the Summer Course in English Phonetics at University College London, founded by Daniel Jones, which has been attracting students and teachers from all over the world for more than a century. This year the Summer Course this year will be in TWO PARTS: a 5-day ONLINE Module 12-16 August, followed by an optional further 5-day IN-PERSON Module, live at UCL, 19-23 August.
Online Module 12-16 August
The Online Module may be taken as a self-contained introductory course to English Phonetics, with two lectures and one practical class per day. No previous knowledge of English Phonetics is required, though more advanced applicants are welcome.
In-Person Module 19-23 August
The In-Person Module is for those who have taken the Online Module, and builds on the work in the Online Module, with one lecture and two practical classes per day. So the second week will focus on developing your practical skills, with the opportunity to socialize and enjoy London! We strongly advise that applicants for the In-Person Module should either have taken the Online Module in the previous week, or have already taken SCEP or VSCEP in a previous year. It is not recommended to apply for the In-Person Module alone if you are new to SCEP.
For more information and online booking, see www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/study/continuing-professional-d…
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For anyone who wants to talk more about speechy stuff, I've launched a Discord server! discord.com/invite/UBWMy5wqZY
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FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON HOW NATIVE SPEAKERS PRONOUNCE ‘tr’ and ‘dr’
Thank you to the nearly 10,000 native speakers who have so far responded to the main survey. The quantity of responses is part of the reason I'm taking so long to report on them!
I've just posted on my website some follow-up questions which are directed specifically at those who:
• pronounce the ‘t’ in ‘true’, ‘retreat’ and ‘nitrate’ with the sound ‘ch’ /tʃ/ as in ‘chin’
AND
• pronounce the ‘d’ in ‘draw’, ‘dramatic’ and ‘carbohydrate’ with the sound ‘j’ /dʒ/ as in ‘jog’
There are a lot fewer questions this time (28), and I promise that all the results will be discussed (eventually) in a video. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING! The link to the questions is: www.englishspeechservices.com/how-do-you-pronounce…
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CUBE dictionary update. You should find that the usual links are now working again:
cubedictionary.org/ cube.elte.hu/
In case it goes offline again at some point (hopefully not), seas.elte.hu/cube should work instead. Sorry for the inconvenience. We're working to make various improvements to CUBE.
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Poll for BRITS only (sorry): what vowel do you have in the first syllable of VICARIOUS? Many thanks!
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VSCEP, UCL Virtual Summer Course in English Phonetics, 14-18 August 2023!
***EARLY BIRD FEES EXTENDED TO JUNE 8***
I'm proud to be Director of University College London's annual Summer Course in English Phonetics, founded in 1919 by Daniel Jones, the 'father of English phonetics' and the 'real Professor Higgins'. We plan to resume the live course in London next year, but this August it will run again on Zoom.
Over 5 days, the course gives an introduction to traditional descriptive phonetics, focusing mainly on SSB English. Each day there are lectures by myself and other phoneticians, ear-training sessions, and small-group practical classes (maximum 6 participants) so you can practise making sounds with an experienced tutor.
Each year SCEP attracts participants from all over the world, from total phonetics newbies to full professors (our small groups are allocated accordingly). The course is useful for English teachers (native and non-native speakers), those who want to work on their English pronunciation, speech enthusiasts and anyone who wants a grounding or refresher in traditional descriptive phonetics.
There are discounts for groups, and fees are reduced until June 8th. More information and online application form: www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/scep
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My video on the King's speech!
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Today's the 10th Anniversary of CUBE (for CUrrent British English), the free online pronunciation dictionary which I co-edit with Péter Szigetvári, and which lets you search not only for spellings but also for *sounds*. If you haven't tried it, I recommend you watch the short video I made about it first. CUBE has countless options and is invaluable for teachers and researchers. E.g. you can find minimal pairs, customize phonetic transcription, and order the words you're looking for by frequency of use. There are some options for accent features, but we're still working to extend it beyond British English. I use it constantly myself!
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Here's the promised blog article, as ever with audio clips!
www.englishspeechservices.com/blog/have-you-gotten…
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Business Inquiries: Dr-Geoff@InTheBlackMedia.com
Hi! I want to share the fascination and fun of speech, language and accents, and I'm so grateful to anyone who feels able to support this work via my Patreon.
I studied at University College London and got my PhD at the University of California Los Angeles. I've taught at universities including UCL, Edinburgh and Cambridge, published research in many areas, and worked as a forensic analyst. I've given invited lectures and workshops around the world.
I wrote the influential 'English After RP' (Palgrave Macmillan), and my blog contains over a hundred audio-illustrated articles. I'm co-editor of the free searchable online pronouncing dictionary CUBE.
I've also worked in film and TV as a screenwriter and director. I wrote the screenplay and arranged the music (performed by Lang Lang) for the animated fantasy Magic Piano, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination.