OPEN TUTORING SESSIONPRONUNCIATION: USING

IPA EFFECTIVELY

May, 2010

Objectives

• Identify phonetic symbols and their corresponding sounds.

• Identify the most important differences between the phonetic systems of Spanish and English and the most common difficult sounds for Spanish speakers.

• Get familiar with some resources that are available to practice pronunciation.

What is the IPA?

Have you ever had problems while pronouncing some sounds in English? Which ones?

Do you recognize or know which sound is represented by any of the following symbols?

/ʃ/ /ɔ/ /θ/ /æ/ /ʌ/ /Ʒ/

In your experience…

IPAThe International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) contains

letters of the alphabeth that you already know.

Consonants

/b/, /d/, /f/, /ɡ/, /k/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /p/, /s/, /t/, /v/, /z/.

Vowels

/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/

Consonants

Consonants

StrategyTry to learn the correct way to pronounce and draw the symbols that

are different to the normal written letters.

/ʃ / shirt passion

/Ʒ/ usual vision

/θ/ thanks think

/ŋ/ ring sink

/ð/ that brother

/ʧ/ future teacher

/ʤ/ jet biology

ExercisePractice the pronunciation of these words with the sounds

/ʃ/ /ʒ/ /ʤ/ /ʧ/ /ð/ /θ/ /j/

• Vision• Shoe• Chose• Jacket• Young• Thanks• There

/'vɪʒən/

/ʃu://tʃu:z/

/'dʒækət /

/jʌŋ/

/θæŋks/

/ðer /

ExerciseFind the phonetic transcription of the following words and then practice

their pronunciation

• Measure• Charity• January• Yet• Through• Then• Sing

ExerciseFind the phonetic transcription of the following words and then practice

their pronunciation

• Measure• Charity• January• Yet• Through• Then• Sing

• /'meʒər /• /'tʃærəti/• /'dʒænjueri /• /jet/• /θru:/• /ðen/• /sɪŋ/

/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/

Vowel Sounds

StrategyTry to learn the correct way to pronounce and draw the

symbols that are different to the common alphabet letters.

/ʊ / book good

/ɪ / in his

/ə/ the about

/ɜ/ birthday first

/ɔ/ board door

/æ/ thanks bag

/ʌ/ but ugly

ExercisePractice the pronunciation of the words below

• Should• Banana• Cut• Cat• Turn• Call• Ship

/ʃʊd/

/bə'nænə /

/kʌt/

/kæt/

/tɜ:rn/

/kɔ:l/

/ʃɪp/

Exercise Find the phonetic transcription of the following words and then

practice their pronunciation

• Foot

• Class

• Bird

• Mall

• Shin

• about

Exercise Find the phonetic transcription of the following words and then

practice their pronunciation

• Foot

• Class

• Bird

• Mall

• Shin

• about

• /fʊt/• /klæs /• /bɜ:rd /• /mɔ:l / • /ʃɪn/• /ə'baʊt/

• Picky people pick Peter Pan Peanut-Butter, 'tis the peanut-butter picky people pick.

• I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won't wish the wish you wish to wish.

• How many boards Could the Mongols hoard

If the Mongol hordes got bored?

Tongue Twisters

Why is the use of the IPA necessary?

• IPA makes the learning of pronunciation easier

• IPA allows learners to work autonomously on pronunciation

• IPA makes the association of words with the same pronunciation easier: to, two, too /tu/

• IPA allows the differenciation of words with similar endings: thought /θɔt/ though/ðoʊ/, tough/tʌf/ y through/θru/

Suggestions

• Identify the sound and the phonetic symbol that represents it.

• Practice the pronunciation of the sounds whose symbols are different from the alphabet letters.

• Use the IPA every day to prepare the new vocabulary you may encounter in the following lesson. Choose at least 5 words daily.

By learning to use the IPA I will understand that:

• As I learn new vocabulary it is important that I get familiar with its pronunciation.  

• Minor changes in pronunciation can alter meanings significantly.  

• There are sounds especially difficult for Hispanics since they are not present in their native language.   

• I can find patterns that can help me understand how to pronounce certain words.  

• This strategy is there to help you. Using the on-line tools will facilitate understanding of it.  

Thanks