Prosodic Elements of English Language Lesson 3: I- English vowel and diphthong sounds. Stress and unstressed syllables.II- Exercises for practicing English sounds. By: Israel

Reyes

Vowel is a sound we make when the breath flows out through the mouth freely, without being blocked. The English letters a, e, i, o, u are called vowels, because they represent such sounds. It comes from the Latin word vox which means “voice”. All vowel sounds are voiced.

What is a vowel sound?

Vowel symbols (IPA) /i/

Tea Three

Cheese

Bean

Meat

Peach Greek

Meal Pizza Coffee

SpellingThe sound /i/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

ee fourteen, see, feel, geeseea eat, repeat, please, reasone me, we, be, equale…e (the second e is silent) these, complete, evening

y (at the end of a word) very, only, ready, copyie believe, piece, movie ei receive, eitherey key, moneyi visa, machine, police, ski, taxi

Other spellings:

Unusual spelling: people

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /i/• Really?• I agree• Could you repeat that, please?• I can’t believe it.• Pleased to meet you.• Can I please speak to Lee?

/ɪ/ Vowel symbols (IPA)

Ship

HillSit

Fill

Slip

Bill

Pin

Wrist

Chicks Spill

SpellingThe sound /ɪ/ is usually spelled with this grapheme:

i did, will, interesting, minute, this, winnerOther spellings:

y syllable, rhythm, gymui building, guilty

Unusual spelling: English, pretty been, busy, business, women

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /ɪ/• Listen to this• Who is it?• Come in• Do you speak English?• I think it’s interesting• Where do you live? I live in the city.

Vowel symbols (IPA) /Ɛ/ or /e/

BellPen

Spell

Checks

Rest

SpellingThe sound /Ɛ/ or /e/ is usually spelled with this grapheme:

e yes, went, expensive, getOther spellings:

ea ready, weather, head, breakfasta any, manyai said, again

Unusual spelling: says, friend

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /Ɛ/ or /e/ • Yes• Help!• You’re welcome• It’s very expensive• How do you spell weather?• Let’s get ready

Vowel symbols (IPA) /ӕ/

Pan

Sadman

Axe

Glasses

SpellingThe sound /ӕ/ is usually spelled with this grapheme:

a hat, jacket, bag, backpack

Unusual spelling: laugh, plaid

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /ӕ/• Thanks• Welcome back• What happened?• What’s the matter?• I understand• Do you have any plans?

Vowel symbols (IPA)

/ʌ/ /ə/

(stressed syllable) (unstressed syllable)

CupLoveButUncleWas

ChickenOnionA womanAndAbout

When a word has more than one syllable, not all syllables are pronounced with the same degree of force. The syllable which is pronounced with greater force is called the stressed syllable, and the rest of them unstressed syllable.

SpellingThe sound /ʌ/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

u sun, much, just, funny, run o money, mother, once, done

Other spellings:ou country, young, cousin, enougha was, what

Unusual spelling: blood, flood, does, doesn’t

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /ʌ/• What country are you from?• What’s up? Nothing much.• That was fun!• Do you have enough money?• Would you like another one?• I love it!

SpellingThe sound /ə/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

a about, again, banana e problem, open, excellent, women i possible, animal, notice o today, computer, question, welcome u suggest, success, careful, lettuce

Other spellings:ou famous, delicious, dangerous

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /ə/• What’s the problem?• Go away!• Can you say that again?• That’s an excellent question• I’m from Canada• the United States of America

Vowel symbols (IPA) /ɝ/ /ɚ/

FurMurderAlertBerth

(stressed syllable) (unstressed syllable)

MotherMurderWaiterTenderDoctor

Spelling

er answer, teacher, father, after or doctor, visitor, calculator, memory

Other spellings:

ar dollar, popular, sugarur (e) picture, measure, future, Saturday

The sound /ɚ/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /ɚ/• See you later• Don’t forget• What’s for dinner?• Do you know the answer?• Are you married or single?• Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Vowel symbols (IPA) /a/

Doll

Scruff

Cop

SockHot

Spelling

o stop, job, clock, popular, chocolate a father, want, watch, wallet, car, star, hard, large

The sound /a/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /a/• Stop!• No problem!• I got a job• What do you want?• Are you coming? Probably not.• Park the car

Vowel symbols (IPA) /ɔ/

Dog

Caller

Caught

Dawn

Boss

SpellingThe sound /ɔ/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

o long, across, lost, dog au fault, because, August, caught aw saw, awful, draw, dawn a (before the letter l) ball, also, walk, talk (before the letter r)warm, war, quarter

ough thought, bought, foughtou (before the letter r) four, your, course

Other spellings:

Unusual spelling: toward, broad, door, floor

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /ɔ/• What’s wrong?• Who’s calling?• You have the wrong number• Good morning• Of course• Have some more coffee.

/u/Vowel symbols (IPA)

Too DoSoon NewsFood MusicBlue ComputerMovie TuesdayRoommate Excuse me

SpellingThe sound /u/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

oo too, school, choose u student, truth, usually u…e introduce, true, confused

Other spellings:

o do, who, twoo…e move, whose, lose, shoe

ou you, group, soupew new, knew, grew, few

Unusual spelling: through, juice, fruit, suit, beautiful

Listen and repeat these common expressions with the sound /u/• Excuse me• What’s new?• What do you do?• Who is it?• See you soon• Let me introduce you.

Vowel symbols (IPA) /Ʊ/

Look

StoodFull

Soot

Pull

SpellingThe sound /Ʊ/ is usually spelled with these graphemes:

oo good, book, foot u push, put, sugar

Unusual spelling: should, could, would, woman

Diphthong is a vowel sound made by pronouncing two vowels quickly one after the other. For example, the vowel sound i in “fine" is a diphthong.It comes from the Latin word diphthongus which means "two sounds".

What is a diphthong?

English diphthongs /ɔƱ/ /eɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aɪ/ /aƱ/

DayBakePageDateNameLazy

BoyNoisePointOil

SizeFineSkyTryTieEyes

CowBrowHowWowMouse

GoToeThoughNoLowFloat