LingoSprout · Practice notes
Pinyin, kana and English IPA: reading pronunciation cues
Chinese: use pinyin with the whole phrase
Pinyin shows syllables and tones. Notice the initials, finals and tone marks, then listen to the whole word or sentence. Connected speech also has tone changes and rhythm; pronouncing isolated syllables is not the entire task.
Japanese: kana helps you read kanji
Kanji can have more than one reading, so use the reading appropriate to the word in context. Kana is a useful starting point, but it is not a complete pitch-accent guide. Listen for long vowels, small pauses and doubled consonants.
English: read IPA alongside spelling
English spelling does not always reveal pronunciation. IPA can clarify individual sounds and stress, but accents vary and word-level transcriptions do not describe every feature of connected speech. Hear a difficult word, then return to the sentence.
Treat cues as support
LingoSprout displays pronunciation cues where they are available in the content. Report a missing or doubtful cue with the phrase and language to our support address. Combine written cues with target-language audio and your own recording; one notation is not the only standard for every accent.
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