Pronunciation guide: the states of the United states of america

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE: THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

When transliterated or transcribed into Russian, American proper nouns sometimes have their phonetic forms changed significantly. Study the correct pronunciation carefully. Read aloud the following names, paying particular attention to word stress. Mark any of your difficulties all the way through. Then read the difficult words aloud trying to say particular sounds perfectly.

Alabama [, ælə’bæmə]

Alaska [ə’læskə]

Arizona [,ærɪ’zəυnə]

Arkansas [’ɑ:kənsɔ:]

California [,kælə’fɔ:niə]

Colorado [,kɒlə’rɑ:dəυ]

Connecticut [kə’netɪkət]

Delaware [’deləweə]

Florida [’flɒrɪdə]

Georgia [’dʒɒ:dʒə]

Hawaii [hə’waɪi]

Idaho [’aɪdəhəυ]

Illinois [,ɪlə’nɔɪ]

Indiana [,ɪndi’ænə]

Iowa [’aɪəwə]

Kansas [’kænzəs]

Kentucky [kən’tΛki]

Louisiana [lυ,i:zi'ænə]

Maine [meɪn]

Maryland [’meərilənd]

Massachusetts [,mæsə’tʃu:sɪts]

Michigan [‘mɪʃɪgən]

Minnesota [,mɪnɪ’səυtə]

Mississippi [,mɪsɪ’sɪpi]

Missouri [mɪ’zυəri]

Montana [mɒn’tænə]

Nebraska [nə’bræskə]

Nevada [nə’vɑ:də]

New Hampshire [,nju: ’hæmpʃə]

New Jersey [,nju: ’dʒɜ:zi]

New Mexico [,nju: ’meksɪkəυ]

New York [,nju:’ jɔ:k]

North Carolina [,nɔ:θ,kærə’laɪnə]

North Dakota [,nɔ:θ də’kəυtə]

Ohio [əυ’haɪəυ]

Oklahoma [,əυklə’həυmə]

Oregon [’ɒrɪgən]

Pennsylvania [,penslv’eɪniə]

Rhode Island [,rəυd ’aɪlənd]

South Carolina [,saυθ kærə’laɪnə]

South Dakota [,saυθ də’kəυtə]

Tennessee [,tenə’si:]

Texas [’teksəs]

Utah [’ju:tɑ:]

Vermont [və’mɒnt]

Virginia [və’dʒɪniə]

Washington [’w ɒʃɪŋtən]

West Virginia [,west və’dʒɪniə]

Wisconsin [wɪs’kɒnsɪn]

Wyoming [waɪ’əυmɪŋ]

Tasks

I. Look at the map of the USA and answer the questions.

1. Which state is above Iowa?
2. Name one state near the bottom of the United States.
3. Name one state near the top of the United States.
4. What state is between Mississippi (Miss) and Georgia?
5. What states are below New York?
6. What state is between South Dakota and Kansas?
7. Name two states that are close to Ohio.
8. Name two states that are far away from Florida.
9. What state is right beside California?
10. What state is to the left of Virginia?
11. Name all the states that are around Utah.
12. Name two states that are below Michigan.
13. Name two states that are between Kansas and Indiana.
14. Which state is above South Dakota?

II. The origins for the names of the 50 states are as diverse as the United States itself. Some are from Native American languages, some are Spanish or French. Many refer to historic people, others to rivers, some even to the colour of the soil. It should be emphasized, that the etymologies of some states are disputed or unclear.

Use the Internet to search for information about the origin of the following state names and complete the table:

Origin of state names	Examples of state names	Word of origin	Meaning and notes
British	Maryland New Hampshire New Jersey New York North and South Carolina Georgia Virginia Pennsylvania
Native American	Connecticut The Dacotas Iowa Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Oklahoma Texas Wisconsin Indiana
Spanish	Colorado Florida Nevada Montana
French	Louisiana Maine Vermont
Other	Rhode Island Washington Hawaii

Then work in pairs. Ask each other these questions. Use your notes and the useful phrases to help you.

· Where does the name......... come from?

· What does ……… mean?

Useful phrases:

The name refers to..........

It is in honour of……….

It is named after the Native American word meaning……….

The name comes from the Spanish word ………, meaning ……….

This is a Native American word which means……….

It derives from the Spanish/ French word……….

It means……….

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04