Title: English Phonetics and Phonology
Objective:
The basic ideas of English phonetics and phonology, such as phonemes, allophones, syllables, weak forms, minimal pairs, contractions, intonation, stress, and pronunciation, will be covered in this session.
Phonetics and phonology: the English pronunciation system.
Phonetics is a method for accurately characterizing and cataloging linguistic sounds. By using phonetics, we can better understand aspects of language that we typically only hear in written form rather than in spoken form. Phonology is concerned with the ways that languages employ sounds to discriminate between different words.
Phonological Features:
The characteristic sounds and patterns that are used in a particular language are referred to as phonological features. These characteristics of speech sounds include phonemes, allophones, syllables, intonation, stress, and other elements. For practice, the following is a list of phonological elements with examples:
Phonemes:
Example: In English, the phonemes /p/ and /b/ are distinct because they differentiate words like "pat" and "bat."
Allophones:
Example: In English, the /p/ sound in "pat" and "spin" is slightly different, but both are allophones of the phoneme /p/.
Syllables:
Example: The word "banana" has three syllables: ba-na-na.
Intonation:
Example: A rising intonation at the end of a sentence can indicate a question.
Stress:
Example: The word "photograph" is stressed on the second syllable: phoTOGraph.
Weak Forms:
Example: "to" is a weak form in the sentence "I want to go."
Minimal Pairs:
Example: "pat" and "bat" are minimal pairs because they differ only in the initial sound (/p/ vs. /b/).
Consonant Digraphs:
Vowel Digraphs:
Silent Letters:
Example: The "k" in "knee" is silent.
Schwa Sound:
Example: The "a" in "sofa" is pronounced as schwa: /ˈsəʊfə/.
Voiced and Voiceless Consonants:
Allophones and Phonemes:
Phoneme:
The smallest characteristic sound unit in a language that, when replaced by another phoneme, can alter the meaning of a word.
Example:
When the phoneme /i/ is used in place of the letter //, the word "bit" (/bt/) becomes "beat" (/bit/).
Allophone:
variations of a phoneme that are impacted by the sounds around them or the phonetic environment but do not alter the meaning of a word.
Example:
At the beginning of a stressed syllable in the word "top," the /t/ sound can be aspirated [th], but it can also be unreleased [t] at the end of a word.
unreleased [t] at the end of a word:
An unreleased [t] at the end of a word occurs when the /t/ sound is not fully released or audibly pronounced. Instead, the tongue makes the /t/ closure, but the sound is cut off without any audible release of air. This phenomenon is common in certain accents and speaking styles. Here are some examples of words where the [t] at the end is often unreleased:
"cat" → [kæt̚]
"hat" → [hæt̚]
"that" → [ðæt̚]
"not" → [nɑt̚]
"get" → [ɡɛt̚]
"what" → [wʌt̚]
In these examples, the [t] sound is represented as [t̚] to indicate that it is unreleased. The lack of an audible release can be subtle and may not be as noticeable as the fully released [t] sound in other words. The unreleased [t] can also be influenced by connected speech and the surrounding sounds in a sentence.
44 phonemes: 24 consonants and 20 vowels used in teaching English phonetics and phonology effectively.
Consonants (24):
/c/ as in "cat"
/d/ as in "dog"
/f/ as in "fish"
/g/ as in "go"
/h/ as in "hat"
/j/ as in "jump"
/k/ as in "kite"
/l/ as in "lamp"
/m/ as in "man"
/n/ as in "net"
/p/ as in "pen"
/q/ as in "queen"
/r/ as in "run"
/s/ as in "sun"
/t/ as in "top"
/v/ as in "van"
/w/ as in "win"
/x/ as in "box"
/y/ as in "yes"
/z/ as in "zebra"
/ch/ as in "chat"
/sh/ as in "ship"
/th/ as in "this"
Vowels (20):
/i/ as in "sit"
/o/ as in "box"
/u/ as in "bus"
/ai/ as in "rain"
/ee/ as in "see"
/igh/ as in "night"
/oa/ as in "boat"
/oo/ as in "moon"
/ar/ as in "car"
/or/ as in "fork"
/ur/ as in "burn"
/ow/ as in "cow"
/oi/ as in "coin"
/ear/ as in "ear"
/air/ as in "hair"
/ure/ as in "pure"
/er/ as in "her"
/a-e/ as in "cake"
Syllables:
A unit of speech known as a syllable contains a vowel sound or element that sounds like a vowel and may be surrounded by consonant sounds.
Example:
Two syllables make up the word "water": wa-ter.
examples:
One-Syllable:
Dog
Sun
Run
Book
FAST
Two Syllables:
Butter
Window
Bottle
object
subject
produce
perfect
present
desert
contract
record
Three Syllables:
Computer
Elephant
Chocolate
Banana
Telephone
September - Sep-tem-ber (3 syllables)
Umbrella - Um-brel-la (3 syllables)
Four Syllables:
Television - Tel-e-vi-sion (4 syllables)
Chocolatey - Choc-o-late-y
Celebration - Cel-e-bra-tion
Dictionary - Dic-tio-nar-y
Extravagant - Ex-tra-va-gant (4 syllables)
Five Syllables:
Opportunity - Op-por-tu-ni-ty (5 syllables)
University - U-ni-ver-si-ty (5 syllables)
Unbelievable - Un-be-liev-a-ble (5 syllables)
Imagination - I-ma-gi-na-tion (5 syllables)
Environmental - En-vi-ron-men-tal (5 syllables)
English Pronunciation Rules for Stress
Remember that English has a variety of stress patterns, therefore these guidelines may not always apply. However, using these rules will enable you to identify the most typical stress distributions in a variety of English terms. You will further develop your comprehension and pronunciation of stress by practicing with a variety of terms.
How do you determine which syllables to stress? While there are certain exceptions, you can generally use the following English pronunciation rules for shorter words:
One syllable –
Two syllables –
Three syllables –
Stress the second syllable on words ending with -tion (reception), -sion (expansion), -ic (strategic), or -al (potential).
Stress the third syllable on words ending with -ee (referee), -eer (pioneer), -ese (legalese), or -ette (vinaigrette).
Four syllables –
Stress the third syllable on words ending with -tion (constitution), -sion (apprehension), or -ic (supersonic).
Weak Forms:
Weak Form:
The shorter, unstressed version of a word is frequently used in connected speech to keep the rhythm and flow smooth.
Example:
When "to" and "for" are not stressed in phrases, weak variants of these words exist.
To preserve a smooth flow and rhythm in connected speech, it's important to keep in mind that weak forms happen when certain words are less emphasized and reduced. These weak forms can be practiced to aid in speaking English naturally and understanding what is being heard.
To - /tə/ (e.g., "I want to go." - "I wantə go.")
For - /fər/ (e.g., "This is for you." - "This is fər you.")
And - /ənd/ (e.g., "Bread and butter." - "Bread ənd butter.")
Of - /əv/ (e.g., "A cup of tea." - "A cup əv tea.")
Have - /əv/ (e.g., "I have seen it." - "I əv seen it.")
Will - /əl/ (e.g., "They will come." - "They əl come.")
That - /ðət/ (e.g., "I know that." - "I know ðət.")
You - /jə/ (e.g., "I like you." - "I like jə.")
He - /iː/ (e.g., "He is here." - "He is iːr.")
She - /ʃiː/ (e.g., "She is busy." - "She is ʃiː busy.")
Minimal pairs:
Minimal pair:
a pair of words with only a single phoneme separating their meanings.
Example:
The only distinction between the words "bat" and "pat" is the beginning consonant sound, making them minimal pairs.
These minimal pairs are crucial for teaching students to differentiate between similar sounds and improve their listening and pronunciation abilities. To enhance their awareness of English sound distinctions and to practice the phonemes, you can employ them in a variety of exercises.
Pen - Pan (/pɛn/ - /pæn/)
Bit - Beat (/bɪt/ - /biːt/)
Ship - Sheep (/ʃɪp/ - /ʃiːp/)
Hat - Hot (/hæt/ - /hɒt/)
Pat - Pot (/pæt/ - /pɒt/)
Sit - Seat (/sɪt/ - /siːt/)
Thin - Sin (/θɪn/ - /sɪn/)
Lose - Loose (/luːz/ - /luːs/)
Cat - Cut (/kæt/ - /kʌt/)
Right - Write (/raɪt/ - /raɪt/)
Meat - Meet (/miːt/ - /miːt/)
Bear - Bare (/bɛr/ - /bɛr/)
Sale - Sail (/seɪl/ - /seɪl/)
Den - Ten (/dɛn/ - /tɛn/)
Knee - Key (/niː/ - /kiː/)
Can - Ken (/kæn/ - /kɛn/)
Wine - Whine (/waɪn/ - /waɪn/)
Sock - Sulk (/sɒk/ - /sʌlk/)
Piece - Peace (/piːs/ - /piːs/)
Contractions:
words that have had one or more sounds removed and have had those sounds replaced with an apostrophe.
Example:
As an illustration, "can not" becomes "can," while "don't" becomes "don't."
You are - You're (e.g., You're doing a great job.)
We are - We're (e.g., We're excited about the trip.)
They are - They're (e.g., They're coming over for dinner.)
He is - He's (e.g., He's a talented musician.)
She is - She's (e.g., She's an excellent dancer.)
It is - It's (e.g., It's a sunny day.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "am not" or "are not"):
You are not - You aren't (e.g., You aren't coming with us.)
We are not - We aren't (e.g., We aren't available tomorrow.)
They are not - They aren't (e.g., They aren't interested in the offer.)
He is not - He isn't (e.g., He isn't ready for the test.)
She is not - She isn't (e.g., She isn't coming to the party.)
It is not - It isn't (e.g., It isn't working properly.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "were not"):
We were not - We weren't (e.g., We weren't informed about the change.)
They were not - They weren't (e.g., They weren't happy with the decision.)
He was not - He wasn't (e.g., He wasn't aware of the situation.)
She was not - She wasn't (e.g., She wasn't able to attend.)
It was not - It wasn't (e.g., It wasn't what I expected.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "has not" or "have not"):
You have not - You haven't (e.g., You haven't seen the movie.)
We have not - We haven't (e.g., We haven't received the package.)
They have not - They haven't (e.g., They haven't arrived yet.)
He has not - He hasn't (e.g., He hasn't returned my call.)
She has not - She hasn't (e.g., She hasn't decided yet.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "had not"):
We had not - We hadn't (e.g., We hadn't heard the news.)
They had not - They hadn't (e.g., They hadn't finished their work.)
He had not - He hadn't (e.g., He hadn't been there before.)
She had not - She hadn't (e.g., She hadn't realized the mistake.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "will not" or "shall not"):
You will not - You won't (e.g., You won't regret it.)
We will not - We won't (e.g., We won't forget your help.)
They will not - They won't (e.g., They won't come to the party.)
He will not - He won't (e.g., He won't change his mind.)
She will not - She won't (e.g., She won't be able to make it.)
It will not - It won't (e.g., It won't fit in the box.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "would not"):
You would not - You wouldn't (e.g., You wouldn't believe what happened.)
We would not - We wouldn't (e.g., We wouldn't have succeeded without your help.)
They would not - They wouldn't (e.g., They wouldn't have guessed the answer.)
He would not - He wouldn't (e.g., He wouldn't mind waiting.)
She would not - She wouldn't (e.g., She wouldn't have agreed to it.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "should not"):
You should not - You shouldn't (e.g., You shouldn't worry about it.)
We should not - We shouldn't (e.g., We shouldn't have ignored the warning.)
They should not - They shouldn't (e.g., They shouldn't have taken that risk.)
He should not - He shouldn't (e.g., He shouldn't have done that.)
She should not - She shouldn't (e.g., She shouldn't have missed the opportunity.)
Negative Contractions with Pronouns (Subject + "could not"):
You could not - You couldn't (e.g., You couldn't have known.)
We could not - We couldn't (e.g., We couldn't attend the event.)
They could not - They couldn't (e.g., They couldn't believe their eyes.)
He could not - He couldn't (e.g., He couldn't resist the temptation.)
She could not - She couldn't (e.g., She couldn't make it on time.)
Stress and intonation:
Intonation:
The speech pitch modulation is used to indicate attitudes, emotions, and phrase structures.
Example:
A sentence that ends with a rising intonation is transformed into a question.
Keep in mind that tone is a key component of how meaning and emotion are expressed in spoken English. By working on these various intonation patterns, you can improve the expressiveness and naturalness of your speech.
examples for practicing intonation:
Did you finish your homework?
Do you like ice cream?
She loves to read books.
They are going on vacation.
She finished the project on time, didn't she?
They don't like spicy food, do they?
She's going to Spain? (Surprise)
We won the game? (Surprise)
It's not blue, it's green. (Contrast)
The train arrives at 3 pm.
The movie starts in 10 minutes.
She's the one who organized the event.
We need to finish this before the deadline.
Wanna go (Do you want to go)?
Lemme try (Let me try).
Stress:
the process of emphasizing a word's syllables or a sentence's words.
Example:
The second syllable of "photograph" is stressed: phoTOGraph.
Keep in mind that in spoken English, emphasis helps to express meaning and importance. By working on your stress patterns, you can improve the clarity and interest of your voice.
To effectively communicate your message, it's important to pay attention to the syllable stress pattern in both noun and verb forms. Remember, stress can affect the meaning of a word. Your pronunciation and spoken English abilities will improve with practice using these examples.
Here are the examples with stress on the noun and verb forms for each word:
Verb Stress: He plans to obJECT to the proposal. (emphasis on the second syllable)
examples for practicing stress:
Noun Stress:
REcord (noun) vs. reCORD (verb)
REject (noun) vs. reJECT (verb)
Verb Stress:
perMIT (verb) vs. PERmit (noun)
proDUCE (verb) vs. PROduce (noun)
Adjective Stress:
aMAzing
DElightful
Sentence Stress:
She's COMing to the party.
He can PLAY the guitar.
Compound Noun Stress:
FOOTball
SUNglasses
Multi-Syllable Word Stress:
HOspital
aMBItious
Phrasal Verb Stress:
Look FOR
Take OFF
Prefix Stress:
DISlike
REbuild
Suffix Stress:
DanGERous
ComPUter
Stress in Numbered Lists:
Second, mix the batter until smooth.
Third, pour the mixture into the baking pan.
Pronunciation:
NOTE: THERE ARE 26 LETTERS IN ENGLISH ALPHABET BUT 44 SOUNDS(PHONEMES)Vowels – a, e, i, o, u, *y, *w
Consonants – b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, *w, x, *y, z
Pronunciation:
the sounds, stresses, and intonations that are employed when speaking a word
Example:
The pronunciation of "schedule" can range from /d.jul/ in British English to /skd.jul/ in American English.
Consonants
A consonant is created when the airflow through the vocal tract is totally or partially blocked. For instance, you can make the sound /p/ by blocking and then releasing air with your lips together. You can generate the sound /k/ by lifting your tongue to obstruct the rear of your mouth.
Vowels
A vowel, like the 'a' in cat (/kaet/), is made if you make a sound without restricting the airflow. The position of your tongue both horizontally and vertically within your mouth, as well as whether or not your lips are rounded, all have an impact on the sound quality.
When making speech sounds, the airflow is restricted or altered according to the articulation style. There are many articulation styles, and each is distinguished by a unique arrangement of the speech organs. Following is a list of typical ways of articulating, along with examples:
Plosive (Stop):
Examples: /p/ in "pat," /b/ in "bat," /t/ in "top," /d/ in "dog," /k/ in "cat," /g/ in "go."
Fricative:
Examples: /f/ in "fine," /v/ in "vine," /s/ in "sea," /z/ in "zebra," /ʃ/ in "she," /ʒ/ in "measure."
Affricate:
Examples: /ʧ/ in "church," /ʤ/ in "judge."
Nasal:
Examples: /m/ in "mat," /n/ in "net," /ŋ/ in "sing."
Lateral:
Examples: /l/ in "lip," /ɫ/ in "ball."
Approximant:
Examples: /j/ in "yes," /w/ in "well."
Tap or Flap:
Examples: /ɾ/ in "butter" (in some accents), /ɾ/ in "better" (in some accents).
Trill:
Examples: /r/ in "rolled" (in some accents).
The distinctive consonant sounds in diverse languages are a result of these various ways of articulating consonants. Understanding and using these articulation techniques will help you pronounce words clearly and communicate more effectively.
Rule #1: Short words have short vowels.
Dog (/dɒɡ/)
Pen (/pɛn/)
Rule #2: Two vowels side-by-side make a long vowel.
Coat (/koʊt/)
Mail (/meɪl/)
Rule #3: Keep vowels short before double consonants.
Toss (/tɒs/)
Hiss (/hɪs/)
Rule #4: Pronounce double consonants as a single letter.
Summer (/ˈsʌmər/)
Letter (/ˈlɛtər/)
Rule #5: Pronounce double consonant TT as D.
Rotten (/ˈrɒtn/)
Little (/ˈlɪdəl/)
Rule #6: If E is at the end of a word, it’s silent.
Late (/leɪt/)
Hope (/hoʊp/)
Rule #7: Pronounce C like S when it’s followed by I, E, or Y.
Cell (/sɛl/)
Cycle (/ˈsaɪkəl/)
Rule #8: Unstressed vowels make a “schwa” sound.
About (/əˈbaʊt/)
Balance (/ˈbæləns/)
Rule #9: Pronounce the word ending TION with a SH sound.
Vacation (/veɪˈkeɪʃən/)
Direction (/dɪˈrɛkʃən/)
Rule #10: G and K are always silent before N at the beginning of a word.
Knot (/nɒt/)
Know (/noʊ/)
Rule #11: Pronounce S like Z at the end of a word.
Dogs (/dɒɡz/)
Hats (/hæts/)
Rule #12: Pronounce S like Z between two vowels.
Uses (/ˈjuːzɪz/)
Houses (/ˈhaʊzɪz/)
Rule #13: Pronounce X like GZ before a stressed syllable.
Exhaust (/ɪɡˈzɔst/)
Examine (/ɪɡˈzæmɪn/)
Rule #14: Pronounce X like Z at the beginning of a word.
X-ray (/ˈzreɪ/)
Xylophone (/ˈzaɪləfoʊn/)
Rule #15: Y is both a consonant and a vowel.
You (/ju/)
Yet (/jɛt/)
Rule #16: NG sometimes sounds like two letters stuck together.
Finger (/ˈfɪŋɡər/)
Long (/lɒŋ/)
Rule #17: Past tense endings aren’t always pronounced as D.
Watched (/wɒtʃt/)
Looked (/lʊkt/)
Rule #18: Sometimes H is silent.
Honest (/ˈɒnɪst/)
Honor (/ˈɑːnər/)
Rule #19: Pronounce OO as a short U when it’s followed by K.
Book (/bʊk/)
Cook (/kʊk/)
Rule #20: Pronounce EI as a long E if it comes after C in a stressed syllable.
Deceive (/dɪˈsiːv/)
Conceit (/kənˈsiːt/)
Rule #21: Pronounce S, Z, and G like a French speaker in specific words.
Leisure (/ˈlɛʒər/)
Mirage (/mɪˈrɑːʒ/)
Rule #22: OU has many pronunciations.
House (/haʊs/)
Soup (/suːp/)
Rule #23: Stress on the first syllable makes the word a noun.
reCORD (verb) (/rɪˈkɔrd/)
Rule #24: L becomes dark near the end of a syllable.
Salt (/sɒlt/)
Help (/hɛlp/)
Example: "calm" (/kɑːm/), palm, stalk, chalk, walk, talk
Rule #27: Silent "T" at the end of a word:
Rule #29: Silent "W" before "R" at the beginning of a word:
Rule #30: Silent "B" at the end of some words:
Think (/θɪŋk/)
Bath (/bæθ/)
The difference between "voiced" and "unvoiced" TH lies in how the TH sound is produced with the involvement of vocal cord vibration.
Voiced TH (/ð/):
The voiced TH sound is present in words like "this," "that," "other," "brother," and "mother."
Unvoiced TH (/θ/):
The unvoiced TH sound is found in words like "think," "thank," "bath," "with," and "both."
Examples:
Voiced TH (/ð/):
"that" (/ðæt/)
"brother" (/ˈbrʌðər/)
"mother" (/ˈmʌðər/)
"feather" (/ˈfɛðər/)
Unvoiced TH (/θ/):
"thank" (/θæŋk/)
"bath" (/bæθ/)
"with" (/wɪθ/)
"both" (/boʊθ/)
Note: The voiced TH sound (/ð/) is not as common in English as the unvoiced TH sound (/θ/), and its presence can vary depending on accents and regional variations. Some speakers may use the voiced TH sound more frequently, while others may replace it with the unvoiced TH sound in certain words.
some pronunciation rules with examples for practice:
Please use this list as practice for pronouncing words with silent letters to increase your vocabulary and pronunciation skills.
Silent "b":
Comb (/koʊm/): /koʊm/
Thumb (/θʌm/): /θʌm/
Lamb (/læm/): /læm/
Silent "c":
Muscle (/ˈmʌsl/): /ˈmʌsl/
Scene (/siːn/): /siːn/
Indict (/ɪnˈdaɪt/): /ɪnˈdaɪt/
Science (/ˈsaɪəns/): /ˈsaɪəns/
Scissors (/ˈsɪzərz/): /ˈsɪzərz/
Silent "d":
Wednesday (/ˈwɛnzdeɪ/): /ˈwɛnzdeɪ/
Handkerchief (/ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/): /ˈhæŋkərtʃɪf/
Sandwich (/ˈsænwɪʤ/): /ˈsænwɪʤ/
Silent "d" after "t":
Fasten (/ˈfæsn/): /ˈfæsn/
Castle (/ˈkæsl/): /ˈkæsl/
Silent "g":
Sign (/saɪn/): /saɪn/
Reign (/reɪn/): /reɪn/
Gnome (/noʊm/): /noʊm/
Silent "h":
Hour (/aʊər/): /aʊər/
Honor (/ɑːnər/): /ɑːnər/
Heir (/eər/): /eər/
Honest (/ɒnɪst/): /ɒnɪst/Honest (/ɒnɪst/): /ɒnɪst/
Where (/wɛr/): /wɛr/
Why (/waɪ/): /waɪ/
Silent "k":
Knee (/niː/): /niː/
Knife (/naɪf/): /naɪf/
Knot (/nɒt/): /nɒt/
Silent "l":
Salmon (/ˈsæmən/): /ˈsæmən/
Talk (/tɔːk/): /tɔːk/
Half (/hæf/): /hæf/
Silent "p":
Pneumonia (/njuːˈmoʊniə/): /njuːˈmoʊniə/
Psychology (/saɪˈkɒlədʒi/): /saɪˈkɒlədʒi/
Receipt (/rɪˈsiːt/): /rɪˈsiːt/
Silent "t":
Castle (/ˈkæsl/): /ˈkæsl/
Mortgage (/ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ/): /ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ/
Listen (/ˈlɪsən/): /ˈlɪsən/
Silent "w":
Wrist (/rɪst/): /rɪst/
Wreath (/riːθ/): /riːθ/
Write (/raɪt/): /raɪt/
Silent "y":
Martyr (/ˈmɑːrtər/): /ˈmɑːrtər/
Lyrics (/ˈlɪrɪks/): /ˈlɪrɪks/
Pygmy (/ˈpɪɡmi/): /ˈpɪɡmi/
Silent "z":
Rendezvous (/ˈrɒndeɪvuː/): /ˈrɒndeɪvuː/
Haphazard (/ˌhæzˈɑːrd/): /ˌhæzˈɑːrd/
Silent "d" after "j":
Adjective (/ˈædʒɪktɪv/): /ˈæʤɪktɪv/
Adjourn (/əˈdʒɜrn/): /əˈʤɜrn/
Adjective (/ˈædʒɪktɪv/): /ˈæʤɪktɪv/
Adjust (/əˈdʒʌst/): /əˈʤʌst/
Silent "b" after "m":
Lamb (/læm/): /læm/
Thumb (/θʌm/): /θʌm/
Comb (/koʊm/): /koʊm/
Climb (/klaɪm/): /klaɪm/
"C" followed by "a," "o," "u" has the hard sound /k/:
Cat (/kæt/): /kæt/
Code (/koʊd/): /koʊd/
Cup (/kʌp/): /kʌp/
"P" + Vowel has a plosive sound:
Pat (/pæt/): /pæt/
Pet (/pɛt/): /pɛt/
Pick (/pɪk/): /pɪk/
Pot (/pɒt/): /pɒt/
Put (/pʊt/): /pʊt/
"R" sound:
Rat (/ræt/): /ræt/
Read (/riːd/): /riːd/
Right (/raɪt/): /raɪt/
Rain (/reɪn/): /reɪn/
Run (/rʌn/): /rʌn/
"T" sound:
Time (/taɪm/): /taɪm/
Tea (/tiː/): /tiː/
Top (/tɒp/): /tɒp/
Take (/teɪk/): /teɪk/
Ten (/tɛn/): /tɛn/
"Ch" + Vowel sound:
Chair (/tʃɛr/): /tʃɛr/
Cheese (/ʧiːz/): /ʧiːz/
Child (/ʧaɪld/): /ʧaɪld/
Check (/ʧɛk/): /ʧɛk/
Church (/ʧɜːrtʃ/): /ʧɜːrtʃ/
"V" and "W" sounds are different:
v
vet
vest
vein
veet
veal
vie
Van (/væn/): /væn/
Vase (/veɪs/): /veɪs/
we
Wet (/wɛt/): /wɛt/
west
wane
wheat
wheel
whyWin (/wɪn/): /wɪn/
Wine (/waɪn/): /waɪn/
Wet (/wɛt/): /wɛt/
Silent "e" after "v" (in some words):
Give (/ɡɪv/): /ɡɪv/
Live (/laɪv/): /laɪv/
Love (/lʌv/): /lʌv/
Silent "g" in g+"n":
Design (/dɪˈzaɪn/): /dɪˈzaɪn/
Foreign (/ˈfɔːrən/): /ˈfɔːrən/
Reign (/reɪn/): /reɪn/
"G" sound:
Genre (/ˈʒɑːnrə/): /ˈʒɑːnrə/
garage
massage
fuselage
regime
gh: sound
Ghost (/ɡoʊst/): /ɡoʊst/
aghast
ghastly
ghoul
Aghast (/əˈɡæst/): /əˈɡæst/
"Oy" or "Oi" sound as in "boy":
Boy (/bɔɪ/): /bɔɪ/
Toy (/tɔɪ/): /tɔɪ/
Coin (/kɔɪn/): /kɔɪn/
Noise (/nɔɪz/):
American Vs British English Pronunciation:
Pronunciation differences between British English (BrE) and American English (AmE) :
"R" Pronunciation:
BrE: Pronounce "r" only when it appears before a vowel or at the beginning of a word.
AmE: Pronounce "r" in most instances, especially when it appears at the end of a word or before a consonant.
Examples:
BrE: "Car" (/kɑː/)
AmE: "Car" (/kɑːr/)
"T" Pronunciation:
BrE: Tend to pronounce "t" more like a soft "t" or "d" when it appears between vowels.
AmE: Tend to pronounce "t" more distinctly as a "t" sound.
Examples:
BrE: "Water" (/ˈwɔːtər/)
AmE: "Water" (/ˈwɔːdə/)
"A" Pronunciation:
BrE: In certain words like "path" and "dance," the vowel sound is closer to /ɑː/ or /ɑːr/.
AmE: In the same words, the vowel sound is closer to /æ/.
Examples:
BrE: "Path" (/pɑːθ/)
AmE: "Path" (/pæθ/)
"O" Pronunciation:
BrE: In some words, like "not" and "lot," the vowel sound is closer to /ɒ/.
AmE: In the same words, the vowel sound is closer to /ɑː/ or /ɑ/.
Examples:
BrE: "Not" (/nɒt/)
AmE: "Not" (/nɑːt/)
"U" Pronunciation:
BrE: In certain words, like "tube" and "new," the vowel sound is closer to /juː/.
AmE: In the same words, the vowel sound is closer to /uː/.
Examples:
BrE: "Tube" (/tjuːb/)
AmE: "Tube" (/tuːb/)
"Z" Pronunciation:
BrE: Words like "advertise" and "realize" are pronounced with /aɪz/ or /aɪzə/.
AmE: In the same words, the "z" sound is pronounced as /aɪz/ or /aɪzəs/.
Examples:
BrE: "Realize" (/ˈrɪəlaɪz/)
AmE: "Realize" (/ˈriːəlaɪz/)
"J" Pronunciation:
BrE: The letter "j" is pronounced as /dʒ/ in words like "project" and "adjust."
AmE: The letter "j" is pronounced as /ʤ/ in the same words.
Examples:
BrE: "Project" (/ˈprɒdʒekt/)
AmE: "Project" (/ˈprɑːʤekt/)
"T" and "D" Pronunciation:
BrE: In words like "butter" and "better," the "t" and "d" sounds are pronounced more softly or even omitted.
AmE: In the same words, the "t" and "d" sounds are pronounced more clearly.
Examples:
BrE: "Butter" (/ˈbʌrə/)
AmE: "Butter" (/ˈbʌtər/)
"H" Pronunciation:
BrE: "H" is usually pronounced as /heɪtʃ/.
AmE: "H" is sometimes pronounced as /heɪtʃ/, but in informal speech, it can be pronounced as /eɪtʃ/.
Examples:
BrE: "House" (/haʊs/)
AmE: "House" (/haʊs/ or /aʊs/)
"L" Pronunciation:
BrE: In certain words like "milk" and "help," the "l" sound is lighter and less emphasized.
AmE: In the same words, the "l" sound is more distinct.
Examples:
BrE: "Milk" (/mɪlk/)
AmE: "Milk" (/mɪlk/ or /mɪlk/)
AmE: In American English, words ending in "-ile" are often pronounced with two syllables, as /aɪ.əl/ or /iːl/.
BrE: "Mobile" (/ˈməʊbaɪl/)
AmE: "Mobile" (/ˈmoʊbəl/ or /moʊˈbiːl/)
"-ARY"-ory, -mony sound:
AmE: In American English, words ending in "-ary" are often pronounced with four syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
BrE: "Ceremony" (/ˈserəməni/)
AmE: "Ceremony" (/ˈsɛrəˌmoʊni/)
"O" sound:
AmE: In the same words, the "o" sound is pronounced as /ɑː/ or /ɔː/.
BrE: "God" (/ɡɒd/)
AmE: "God" (/ɡɑːd/ or /ɡɔːd/)
call
"NT" together:BrE: The "t" sound is pronounced before "n" in words like "internet," "sentence," "interesting."
AmE: In American English, the "t" sound is often silent before "n."
BrE: "Internet" (/ˈɪntərnet/)
AmE: "Internet" (/ˈɪnərnet/)
sentence
"A" sound in certain words:
AmE: In the same words, the "a" sound is pronounced as /æ/. Examples:
BrE: "Dance" (/dɑːns/)
AmE: "Dance" (/dæns/)
fast
"Z" and "S" pronunciation:
AmE: In the same words, the "s" sound is pronounced as /z/.
BrE: "Realize" (/ˈrɪəlaɪz/)
AmE: "Realize" (/ˈriːəlaɪz/)
"E" sound in some words:
AmE: In the same words, the "e" sound is pronounced as /ɝː/.
BrE: "Herb" (/hɜːrb/)
AmE: "Herb" (/hɝːb/)
"T" Pronunciation:BrE: In some words, like "butter" and "better," the "t" sound is pronounced as /t/.
AmE: In the same words, the "t" sound is pronounced as /ɾ/ (a flap or tap sound). Examples:
BrE: "Butter" (/ˈbʌtər/)
AmE: "Butter" (/ˈbʌɾər/)
"T" in certain words:
AmE: In the same words, the "t" sound is often pronounced as a soft /d/.
BrE: "Ballet" (/ˈbæleɪ/)
AmE: "Ballet" (/ˈbæleɪt/)
There is another pronunciation difference related to the "t" sound in certain words in American English."T" Pronunciation in certain words:
AmE: In the same words, the "t" sound is often pronounced as a "flap t" or "held t" (/ɾ/), which is a softer, more rapid sound made by tapping the tongue briefly against the alveolar ridge behind the upper front teeth.
BrE: "Benefit" (/ˈbenɪfɪt/)
AmE: "Benefit" (/ˈbɛnɪfɪɾ/)
In American English, the "flap t" often occurs in the middle and at the end of words, especially when the "t" is between two vowels (e.g., "butter," "water," "better").
In certain words like "postman" and "Christmas," the "t" sound is often not clearly audible in casual spoken American English. This is a common phenomenon known as a "flap t" or "held t."
In American English, when a "t" sound occurs between two vowel sounds (especially after a stressed syllable), it is often pronounced as a "flap t" or a softer, more rapid sound. The tongue taps the alveolar ridge briefly instead of making a distinct /t/ sound. This makes the "t" sound more like a quick /d/ sound or a soft /ɾ/ sound, similar to the "d" sound in the word "water" (pronounced as "wah-der").
Examples:
BrE: "Postman" (/ˈpəʊs(t)mən/)
AmE: "Postman" (/ˈpoʊs(t)mən/ or /ˈpoʊzmən/)
BrE: "Christmas" (/ˈkrɪs(t)məs/)
AmE: "Christmas" (/ˈkrɪs(t)məs/ or /ˈkrɪsməs/)
This phenomenon occurs in various words in American English, especially in casual speech, and is influenced by the surrounding sounds and stress patterns in the word. However, in more formal or careful speech, the "t" sound may be pronounced more clearly.
Pronunciation differences between British English (BrE) and Australian English (AusE):
"R" Pronunciation:
AusE: In Australian English, the "r" sound is often pronounced even when it appears before a consonant.
"A" sound in certain words:
AusE: In the same words, the "a" sound is pronounced as /æ/.
"T" Pronunciation in certain words:
AusE: In the same words, the "t" sound is often pronounced as a soft /d/. Example: "Ballet" (/ˈbæleɪ/ in BrE, /ˈbæleɪt/ in AusE)
"I" sound in certain words:BrE: In some words like "vitamin" and "privacy," the "i" sound is pronounced as /ɪ/.
AusE: In the same words, the "i" sound is pronounced as /aɪ/.
"O" sound in certain words:
AusE: In the same words, the "o" sound is pronounced as /ɔː/.
"U" sound in certain words:
AusE: In the same words, the "u" sound is pronounced as /ʊ/.
"A" sound in "dance" and "castle":
AusE: In the same words, the "a" sound is pronounced as /æ/.
"R" sound in certain words:
AusE: In the same words, the "r" sound may be pronounced with a softer "r" or omitted in casual speech.
"O" sound in certain words:BrE: In some words like "hot" and "lot," the "o" sound is pronounced as /ɒ/.
AusE: In the same words, the "o" sound is pronounced as /ɔː/.
"T" Pronunciation in certain words:
AusE: In the same words, the "t" sound is often pronounced as a "flap t" or "held t" (/ɾ/).
Glottal Stop:
Example: The glottal stop occurs in words like "butter" or "bottle" when some speakers say [ˈbʌʔər] or [ˈbɒʔl].
Diphthongs:
Example: In the word "coin," the "oi" represents a diphthong /ɔɪ/.
Triphthongs:
Example: The word "fire" contains the triphthong /aɪə/ as in /faɪər/.
Flapping:
Example: In American English, "butter" is sometimes pronounced as "budder."
Elision:
Example: "I'm going to" can be pronounced as "I'm gonna" with elision of the /t/ sound.
I'm going to → I'm gonna
He is → He's
She will → She'll
Let me → Let me (in casual speech, the "t" in "let" is often elided)
I have → I've
They are → They're
We have → We've
It is → It's
What are → Whatcha (common in informal speech)
Did you → Didja (common in informal speech)
Linking and Liaison:
Example: "A big apple" can sound like "A big-gapple" in connected speech.
Linking:
Good boy → [ɡʊd ˈbɔɪ]
Big apple → [bɪɡ ˈæpəl]
High energy → [haɪ ˈɛnərdʒi]
Ten eggs → [tɛn ˈɛɡz]
That table → [ðæt ˈteɪbl̩]
Do it → [du ɪt]
Liaison:
She has → [ʃi hæz]
Two apples → [tu ˈæpəlz]
We eat → [wi ˈiːt]
Good idea → [ɡʊd aɪˈdiə]
Old friends → [oʊld frɛndz]
Red apple → [rɛd ˈæpəl]
In linking, we can see how the final consonant sound of one word (e.g., "come," "big") links with the initial vowel sound of the next word (e.g., "over," "apple"). In liaison, we observe how the final consonant sound of a word (e.g., "has," "is") becomes part of the following word when it starts with a vowel (e.g., "two," "idea").
Example: In non-rhotic accents, "car" is pronounced /kɑː/ instead of /kɑːr/.
Intrusion:
Examples:
"Red wine" → [rɛd əw aɪn]
"Salt and pepper" → [sɔːlt ən d ˈpɛpər]
In these examples, the schwa sound /ə/ is intruded between the words "law and," "red and," and "salt and" to create a more connected and fluent speech.
Examples:"Green apple" → [ɡriːn n ˈæpəl]
"Big girl" → [bɪɡ ɡ ɜːrl]
"Good day" → [ɡʊd d eɪ]
Vowel Sounds:
The "i" sound in words like "sit" may be pronounced as /ɛ/ or /ɪ/.
The "o" sound in words like "pot" may be pronounced as /ɔ/ or /ɒ/.
Consonant Sounds:
The "v" sound may be pronounced as /w/ in some instances.
The "th" sound may be pronounced as /t/ or /d/ in certain words, such as "thing" pronounced as "ting" or "this" pronounced as "dis."
Rhoticity:
For example, "car" may be pronounced as /kɑː/ instead of /kɑːr/.
Stress and Intonation:
Stress may fall on different syllables in certain words or phrases, and intonation may vary based on cultural norms and influences.
Find the phoneme in the following minimal pair that modifies the meaning:
"pen" vs. "pan" (Answer: /ɛ/ vs. /ae/)
Give the weak form of the following words in connected speech:
"to" (Answer: /tə/)
"for" (Answer: /fər/)
Convert the following to contractions:
"I am" (Reply: I am) "They will" (Reply: they will)
Examine how the following statement is stressed and spoken.
"Are you coming to the party?" (Answer: Rising intonation in a yes/no question, stress on "com" and "par")
Count the syllables in the following words:
("elephant"; pronounced "el-e-phant")
Answer to "happiness" is "hap-pi-ness."
Conclusion:
For the improvement of English language abilities and efficient communication, it is crucial to comprehend phonemes, allophones, syllables, weak forms, minimal pairings, contractions, intonation, stress, and pronunciation. Putting these ideas into practice will improve your spoken and written English.
