Practice intonation and American T sound changes with this casual conversation about hiking and snowboarding.
The Mountain Trip Plan
Hunter: Hey Katie! Are you ready for the winter trip? I was looking at the mountain forecast, and it looks like there’s plenty of fresh powder coming in.
Katie: I’m so excited. I just bought a better pair of goggles. My old ones kept fogging up, which was the worst. It was such a pity because I couldn’t see the center of the trail last time.
Hunter: That’s important. You don’t want to hit a water pipe or a tree. I’m actually thinking of doing some hiking before the snowboarding starts. I want to get closer to nature and maybe see some winter wildlife.
Katie: Hiking? In this battery-chilling cold? You’re notable for being brave, but I’d rather stay on my board. I love the beauty of the peaks, but my identity is strictly “snowboarder” once the snow hits.
Hunter: Fair enough! I just like the creative challenge of finding new trails. I’ll monitor the internet for the latest trail maps tonight.
Katie: Great. Let’s identify a meeting spot at the twenty-mile marker. It’s right by that little cafe that sells the bitter dark chocolate.
Hunter: Sounds like a strategy. I’ll bring the potato chips for the drive!
Pronunciation Guide
To help you “hear” the American accent in this text, look at how these words are typically pronounced in casual speech:
| Category | Words from Conversation | American Pronunciation Tip |
| Flap T (T sounds like D) | Excited, Better, Pity, Water, Want to, Battery, Notable, Rather, Beauty, Monitor, Latest, Little, Bitter, Potato | The tongue taps the roof of the mouth quickly, making a soft /d/ sound. |
| Silent T (After N) | Winter, Plenty, Center, Identity, Internet, Identify, Twenty | The “t” is often omitted or “swallowed,” making winter sound like “winner” and twenty sound like “twen-ny.” |
| Glottal Stop and Strong N | Mountain | The “t” is replaced by a quick stop of air followed by a strong N sound |
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