Date sent: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 10:41:09 EST
Subject: Re: Diction (was Misheard Song Lyrics)
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 02/08/2000 9:31:15 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Mezzoid-at-aol.com writes:

<< Actually, I was at a disadvantage because except for one student, NO ONE
in
my class had ever had IPA - and several of them were seniors!! So I had to
really CRAM IPA down their throats. I think they need to add an IPA class
for freshman and then focus on the individual languages!! >>

I get one semester to teach the basics of IPA and apply it to German,
French and Italian, which I don't think is nearly enough time. What I've
found works pretty well is to teach IPA as applied to English so that the
sounds of the words are familiar. Then I build on that base by applying the
same sounds to the other languages. It seems to make the absorption rate
greater.

Lee Morgan
Mezzo-soprano