| Now that spring has sprung, it's got me thinking | | | | as if you were going to say g, but instead of |
| about that -ing sound that keeps showing up in | | | | saying g, say n. It should sound like -ng. |
| conversation and is so important in American | | | | Listen to the recording below to hear the correct |
| English pronunciation. Not only has spring sprung, | | | | pronunciation. |
| but you may be asked to sing at a spring fling, or | | | | Here are a few practice sentences for you: |
| wonder who is going to the prom, or worry | | | | |
| about how the students are doing who are taking | | | | 1. Will you sing at the spring fling? |
| final exams. June is the most popular month for a | | | | 2. The cat is sitting on a ball of string. |
| wedding, and of course the happy couple will need | | | | 3. I put a ding in my car. |
| wedding rings. | | | | 4. The king wore a large signet ring on his finger. |
| So, to keep up with the conversations that are | | | | 5. Jane had a sling on her arm after she fell. |
| sure to include this sound, you must be sure that | | | | 6. You are wearing too much bling for the |
| you can pronounce the -ing sound properly at the | | | | wedding. |
| end of words. Let's use the word ring as an | | | | 7. Do you like to use the search engine Bing? |
| example. Some common mispronunciations include | | | | 8. The bee will sting you, but not on its wing. |
| rinG, where the hard g is emphasized, rink, where | | | | 9. I like to play ping pong. |
| the ng sound is followed by a k sound, and reen, | | | | 10. There is one thing I'd like to know. |
| where the vowel and the consonant are changed. | | | | How did you do? |
| The short I is replaced with a long e sound, and | | | | If you need something to help you remember to |
| the ng sound is shortened to an n. This is not the | | | | practice this new sound, try tying a piece of |
| sound we are looking for. | | | | string around your ring finger. When people start |
| We want a short I sound, I, followed by the ng | | | | asking why you are wearing such lovely bling, tell |
| sound. This sound is a blend of the n and g | | | | them you are trying to fling away the old |
| sounds, made by pushing the back of the tongue | | | | pronunciation, and sing a new song of correct |
| against the soft palate at the top of the mouth, | | | | American English pronunciation. |