英语听力精选进阶版 7934

This week's question is about pronunciation of an English word. Do we say either with a long 'i' sound or either with a long 'e' sound?

Nuala, our BBC¹ Learning² English language expert, told us that we can use any of those pronunciations. One is not better than the other. When you're listening to native English speakers you will find that some will use one pronunciation and others will use another.

There may be a slight difference between American English and British English. American English speakers tend to use the long 'e' when saying either and British English speakers tend to use the long 'i'.

There is no rule though and it doesn't affect the meaning of what you are saying. Nuala said the different pronunciations were interchangeable. The same rule applies to the pronunciation of the word neither.

Glossary 词汇

pronunciation

语音

native English speakers

英语为母语的人

tend to

更倾向于

interchangeable

可互换的

applies to

适用于

1 BBC   

abbr.（=British Broadcasting Corporation）英国广播公司

参考例句：

• She works for the BBC.她为英国广播公司工作。
• The BBC was founded in 1922.英国广播公司建于1922年。

2 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。