In this American English pronunciation video, we're going to go over the reduction of the words WAS and AS.
这届 美式英语发音课堂，我们将要学习如何略读单词“was”和 “as”。
This video is sponsored by italki, where you can find a customized learning experience. More information at the end of the video.
本视频由italki赞助播出。上italki，定制你自己的学习经历。详情请见片尾。
Many words in English reduce in sentences. WAS and AS are two examples of this.
英语里的句子中经常会有略读现象。“was”和“as”就是其中两个例子。
When a word reduces, that means a sound is changed or dropped.
略读一个单词就是说改变或者省略一个发音。
As. By itself, the word is pronounced with the AA as in BAT vowel and the Z sound. As.
单词“as”单独发音时是“bat”中的元音AA加上Z的发音。as。
Most of the time, in a sentence, we reduce the vowel to the schwa: uhz. As, uhz.
通常在一个句子中，我们会将元音略读成弱读音。uhz. As，uhz.
Why do we do that? It doesn't sound clear. That's ok.
为什么要这么做？这样听起来并不清楚。没关系。

In American English we have established this as a reduction. Even if it's really fast, a native speaker will pick up on it.
在美式英语中，我们将此称为略读。即使说的很快，当地人也可以听出来。
In fact, we want it to be really fast so that the stressed syllables, the longer syllables, pop out of the sentence even more, are even more clear.
事实上，我们希望说的很快，这样句子中的重读音节、长音节就会更突出更清楚。
It's the contrast of long vs. short that's important in American English, so make your short really short.
美式英语中重要的是长短比较，所以确保你的发音足够快。
Reducing the vowel to the schwa makes it easier to say it quickly. As, uhz.
将元音略读成弱读音有利于更快地发音。As，uhz.
To make the schwa sound, the jaw doesn't really need to drop, uhz, uhz. It's just a quick, quick vowel before the Z sound.
发弱读音时，下巴不需要真的下垂，uhz，uhz.。就只是Z音节前面一个很快很快的元音。
To make the Z, the tongue tip is forward and down, zz, teeth are together, and buzz the vocal cords. Uhz. (loop three times)
发Z的音时，舌尖往前垂下，牙齿闭合，振动声带。Uhz（循环三次）
Let's practice with some sentences.
我们来进行一些句子练习。
“As long as she says it's ok, it's ok with me.” As long as (loop two times). Uhz (loop three times).
“As long as she says it’s ok，it’s ok with me.” As long as（循环两次） Uhz（循环三次）
“It's not as if I didn't already know that.” As if (loop two times). Uhz (loop three times). As if.
“It’s not as if I didn’t already know that.” As if （循环两次） Uhz （循环三次） As if.
“I'm not as tall as her.” As tall as (loop two times). Uhz (loop two times).
“I’m not as tall as her.” As tall as（循环两次） Uhz（循环两次）
WAS makes the same reduction. On its own it's pronounced 'was', with the UH as in BUTTER vowel.
“was”也是一样的略读。单独发音时，UH就像“butter”里的元音发音一样。
But in a sentence, we often reduce it to the schwa, making it very fast. Wuz (loop two times).
但是在句子中，我们经常略读为弱读音，发音很快。Wuz（循环两次）
Just start with the lips in a rounded position to make the W consonant, wuz. The rest is just like 'as'.Let's practice with some sentences.
开始时嘴唇张开成发辅音“w”时的嘴型，wuz。后面和“as”一样。我们来进行一些句子练习。
“I was on the phone.” Wuz (loop two times). Was on the phone.“She was already gone.” Wuz (loop two times). Was already.
“我在打电话。” Wuz（循环两次） Was on the phone.“她已经走了。” Wuz（循环两次） Was already.
“It was really good.” Wuz (loop two times).“He was there.” Wuz (loop two times).
“真的很好。” Wuz（循环两次）“他在那儿。” Wuz（循环两次）
These words are not reduced all the time. I'm thinking of the movie Clueless where one of the characters says “AS IF!”
这些单词并不是每次都略读。我记得电影《独领风骚》里面有个角色说过 “AS IF！”
There will always be cases where native speakers will choose to stress and not reduce these words.But most of the time, reduce, reduce, reduce.
还有其他母语发音者选择重读而不是略读这些单词的例子。但是大多数情况都是略读略读略读。
If you work on integrating these reductions into your speech, they will help to smooth out your speech, help your words connect better,
如果你努力把这些略读运用到你的讲话中，他们会使你的讲话更加流利，单词连接更顺畅，
and give your speech greater contrast between important and less important words.
让你讲话中的重点与非重点词语形成更鲜明的对比。
You'll sound more natural, relaxed, and American.If there's a word or phrase you'd like help pronouncing, please put it in the comments below.
你的发音将会更自然，更放松，更美式。如果还有其他单词或词组需要帮助发音，请在下面的评论区写出。
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That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.
这次的学习就到这里，非常感谢使用Rachel's English。