BOOK: "MEET ME UNDER THE MOLOKHIA"
"THE SMELL OF MOLOKHIA FILLED THE KITCHEN"
/ðə smɛl əv məˈloʊkiə fɪld ðə ˈkɪtʃən/
/ðə smel əv məˈləʊkiə fɪld ðə ˈkɪtʃən/
"THE SMELL OF MOLOKHIA FILLED THE KITCHEN"
molokhia → loʊ (GenAm) vs ləʊ (RP)
smell → /ɛ/ (GenAm) vs /e/ (RP)
"SHE STIRRED THE POT SLOWLY, LETTING THE AROMA RISE"
/ʃi stɝd ðə pɑt ˈsloʊli ˈlɛtɪŋ ði əˈroʊmə raɪz/
/ʃi stɜːd ðə pɒt ˈsləʊli ˈletɪŋ ði əˈrəʊmə raɪz/
"SHE STIRRED THE POT SLOWLY, LETTING THE AROMA RISE"
stirred → /stɝd/ (GenAm) vs /stɜːd/ (RP, no /r/)
pot → /pɑt/ (GenAm) vs /pɒt/ (RP)
slowly → /sloʊli/ (GenAm) vs /sləʊli/ (RP)
aroma → /əˈroʊmə/ (GenAm) vs /əˈrəʊmə/ (RP)
Working with phonetic transcription tools helps me clearly see the pronunciation differences between General American and Received Pronunciation. These variations appear mainly in vowels and in the presence or absence of the /r/ sound. Although phonetics is used more in audiovisual translation, it still supports written translation because it teaches me to pay attention to clarity, sound, and rhythm.
Using these tools helps me “fight the fog,” as recommended by the European Commission guide: writing should always be precise, clean, and easy to understand.