Diagnostic Tables

The following tables give a general overview of the problem areas encountered by speakers of various languages. If a box is checked for your language, it means that many speakers of that language have difficulty with this particular feature of English articulation. Of course, your own language strengths and weaknesses will depend on the length of time you have been speaking English, the kind of instruction you have received, and a variety of other individual factors. The reference dialect is standard, educated American speech.

Table of Troublesome Vowel Contrasts

Table of Troublesome Consonant Contrasts

Table of Troublesome Prosodic Features