Difference between revisions of "Sounds of English"
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− | =Vowels= | + | ==Vowels== |
<p>Vowels are always voiced (which means the vocal cords vibrate when the sound is made).</p> | <p>Vowels are always voiced (which means the vocal cords vibrate when the sound is made).</p> | ||
− | <p><span style="color:darkgreen;"> | + | <p><span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>vaʊ</b> <u>ə</u>lz <u>ə</u>r <b>ɔːl</b> w<u>ə</u>z <b>vɔɪst</b></span></p> |
− | ==Long "pure" vowels== | + | ===Long "pure" vowels=== |
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑ:</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑ:</b>/</span>==== |
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− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li> R, star, car, far</li> | ||
+ | <li> f<u>a</u>ther, b<u>o</u>ther <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;>US</sup>, b<u>o</u>ttle <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;>US</sup>, kn<u>ow</u>ledge <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;>US</sup></li> | ||
+ | <li>cl<u>er</u>k <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">UK</sup>, b<u>a</u>th <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">UK</sup>, l<u>au</u>ghter <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">UK</sup>, dr<u>au</u>ght <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">UK</sup></li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">i:</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">i:</b>/</span>==== |
− | |||
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+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>B, C, D, E, G, P, T, V, Z <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">US</sup></li> | ||
+ | <li>h<u>e</u>, sh<u>e</u>, m<u>e</u>, w<u>e</u></li> | ||
+ | <li>s<u>ea</u>, t<u>ea</u>, s<u>ee</u>m, f<u>ee</u>t, (-)t<u>ee</u>n, k<u>ey</u></li> | ||
+ | <li>apostroph<u>e</u>, Socrat<u>e</u>s, catastroph<u>e</u> /<span style="color:darkgreen;">kə <b>tæ</b> strə fi</span>/ ; suffix-final "y" (as in storm<u>y</u>, safet<u>y</u>, slowl<u>y</u>) is also pronounced with a shorter /<span style="color:darkgreen;">i</span>/ </li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">u:</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">u:</b>/</span>==== |
− | <ul> | + | <ul> |
− | <li>2, Q, U, W, y<u>ou</u></li> | + | <li>2, Q, U, W, y<u>ou</u></li> |
− | <li>ch<u>oo</u>se, <u>u</u>se </li> | + | <li>ch<u>oo</u>se, <u>u</u>se </li> |
− | <li>n<u>ew</u>, fl<u>ew</u>, gr<u>ew</u>, kn<u>ew</u>, tr<u>ue</u>, bl<u>ue</u> | + | <li>n<u>ew</u>, fl<u>ew</u>, gr<u>ew</u>, kn<u>ew</u>, tr<u>ue</u>, bl<u>ue</u> |
− | <li>t<u>o</u> <sup style="font-size:9px;">strong form | + | <li>t<u>o</u> <sup style="font-size:9px;">strong form</sup>, thr<u>ough</u></li> |
− | </ul> | + | </ul> |
+ | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɔː</b>/</span>==== | ||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>4, 40</li> | ||
+ | <li>d<u>oor</u>, fl<u>oor</u>, sh<u>ore</u>, st<u>ore</u> (US /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɔːr</span>/ )</li> | ||
+ | <li>d<u>augh</u>ter, c<u>augh</u>t, th<u>ough</u>t, f<u>ough</u>t</li> | ||
+ | <li>l<u>aw</u>, s<u>aw</u>, l<u>aw</u>yer /<span style="color:darkgreen;>ˈlɔː jə</span><span style="color:grey;">r</span>/ </li> | ||
+ | <li>fl<u>uo</u>rine, chl<u>o</u>rine</li> | ||
+ | <li>s<u>or</u>t, s<u>wor</u>d (US /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɔːr</span>/ )</li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;"> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɜː</b>/</span>==== |
− | <ul> | + | <ul> |
− | <li> | + | <li>first, third, 30, 30<sup>th</sup></li> |
− | + | <li>sh<u>ir</u>t, cl<u>er</u>k, c<u>er</u>tification, l<u>ear</u>n</li> | |
− | <li> | + | <li>Some people sometimes pronounce words like <b>sure</b> & <b>pure</b> with this sound rather than <span style="color:darkgreen;">ʃʊr</span>, <span style="color:darkgreen;">pjʊr</span>, (myself included).</li> |
− | <li> | + | </ul> |
− | |||
− | </ul> | ||
− | + | ===Short vowels=== | |
− | |||
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− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;">/<b>ɒ</b>/</span>==== |
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− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;> | + | <ul> |
+ | <li>primarily UK. various US accents substitute a low back vowel, usually /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɑ:</span>/, but sometimes <span style="color:darkgreen;">ɔ:</span>. Short <span style="color:darkgreen;">ʌ</span> in high frequency functional words like <i>what</i> and <i>of</i>.</li> | ||
+ | <li>wh<u>a</u>t <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;>UK 1</sup></li> | ||
+ | <li>bottle <span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>ˈbɒ</b> tl</span>, throttle <span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>ˈθrɒ</b> tl</span></li> | ||
+ | <li>sh<u>o</u>t, sp<u>o</u>t, l<u>o</u>ts, <u>o</u>f <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;>UK 1</sup>, p<u>o</u>ts, acr<u>o</u>ss</li> | ||
+ | <li>kn<u>ow</u>ledge <span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>ˈnɒl</b> ɪdʒ</span></li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | == | + | <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;>US 1</sup> = <span style="color:darkgreen;">ʌ</span> in <i>wh<u>a</u>t</i> and <i><u>o</u>f</i>, <span style="color:darkgreen;">ɑ:</span> in the other examples. |
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʌ</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʌ</b>/</span>==== |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>1, 100</li> | ||
+ | <li>s<u>u</u>n, b<u>u</u>t, m<u>u</u>d, <u>u</u>ncle</li> | ||
+ | <li>s<u>o</u>n, w<u>o</u>n, br<u>o</u>ther, <u>o</u>ther, an<u>o</u>ther, ab<u>o</u>ve</li> | ||
+ | <li>fl<u>oo</u>d, bl<u>oo</u>d</li> | ||
+ | <li>t<u>ou</u>gh, r<u>ou</u>gh, en<u>ou</u>gh /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɪ <b>nʌf</b></span>/ | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʊ</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʊ</b>/</span>==== |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>L<u>oo</u>k!, a g<u>oo</u>d c<u>oo</u>kb<u>oo</u>k</li> | ||
+ | <li>p<u>u</u>t, p<u>u</u>sh, p<u>u</u>ll</li> | ||
+ | <li>w<u>o</u>man /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>wʊ</b> mən</span>/ | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɪ</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɪ</b>/</span>==== |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | <span style="font-size: | + | <ul> |
+ | <li>6, 15, 16, 50, 60, h<u>i</u>m, th<u>i</u>s, f<u>i</u>n<u>i</u>sh, m<u>i</u>n<u>u</u>te (n.) </li> | ||
+ | <li>b<u>ee</u>n, ag<u>ai</u>n</li> | ||
+ | <li>b<u>e</u>low, b<u>e</u>hind, b<u>e</u>tween, b<u>e</u>neath, b<u>e</u>moan, b<u>e</u>labor, b<u>e</u>smirch, etc. </li> | ||
+ | <li>w<u>o</u>m<u>e</u>n /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>wɪ</b> mɪn</span>/, <u>e</u>lectric /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɪ <b>lek</b> trɪk</span>/, el<u>e</u>gance /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>el</b> ɪ ɡəns</span>/, <u>e</u>nough /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɪ <b>nʌf</b></span>/</li> | ||
+ | <li>-<u>a</u>ge <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup>, -<u>e</u>(d)ge /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɪdʒ</span>/ (v<u>i</u>ll<u>a</u>ge, marr<u>ia</u>ge, stor<u>a</u>ge, bagg<u>a</u>ge, lugg<u>a</u>ge, mortg<u>a</u>ge /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>mɔː</b> ɡɪdʒ</span>/, coll<u>e</u>ge, knowl<u>e</u>dge)</li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | <p> | + | <p><sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup> Exceptions include more recent borrowings from French, e.g. garage /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɡə <b>rɑːʒ</b></span>/ <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">US</sup> /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>ɡær</b> ɪdʒ</span>/ <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">UK</sup>, fuselage /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>fjuː</b> sə lɑːʒ</span>/, triage, montage, etc.</p> |
− | < | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">e</b>/</span>==== |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | </ | + | The precise realisation of this form varies. In South Africa the sound is closer to /e/, while in the US it is closer to /<span style="color:#060;font-weight:bold;">ɛ</span>/ (''le son souligné en e.g. f<u>ê</u>te, b<u>ê</u>te, l<u>ait</u>, <u>ai</u>me, pouv<u>aient</u>''). Since the distinction is not considered phonemic, the standard transcription is /<span style="color:#060;font-weight:bold;">e</span>/ though the sound is closer to /<span style="color:#060;">ɛ</span>/ than it is to /<span style="color:#060;">e</span>/ (''qui est,'' strictu sensu, ''le son de f<u>ée</u>, pourr<u>ai</u>, pouv<u>ez</u>, aim<u>er</u>''). |
+ | *7, 10, 12, F, L, M, N, S, X, zed | ||
+ | *h<u>ea</u>lth, w<u>e</u>dding, n<u>e</u>phew, <u>e</u>lem<u>e</u>ntary /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ˌel ɪ <b>men</b> tri</span>/ | ||
+ | *s<u>ay</u>s, s<u>ai</u>d | ||
− | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ə</b>/</span>==== | |
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ə</b>/</span> | ||
*<b style="color:maroon;">The most common vowel sound in English</b> (also the most central vowel) (quite lax) uh... (French "euh" is very similar, but with rounded lips) | *<b style="color:maroon;">The most common vowel sound in English</b> (also the most central vowel) (quite lax) uh... (French "euh" is very similar, but with rounded lips) | ||
− | <ul> | + | <ul> |
− | <li><u>a</u>round, <u>a</u>bout, <u>a</u>bove, <u>a</u>go, <u>a</u>sleep, etc.</li> | + | <li><u>a</u>round, <u>a</u>bout, <u>a</u>bove, <u>a</u>cross, <u>a</u>go, <u>a</u>sleep, etc.</li> |
− | <li>perpetu<u>a</u>l, residu<u>a</u>l, sci<u>e</u>nce, <u>e</u>lectric, eleg<u>a</u>nt, wom<u>a</u>n, serm<u>o</u>n</li> | + | <li>perpetu<u>a</u>l, residu<u>a</u>l, sci<u>e</u>nce, <u>e</u>lectric, eleg<u>a</u>nt, wom<u>a</u>n, serm<u>o</u>n</li> |
− | <li>-<u>ou</u>s (fam<u>ou</u>s, gelatin<u>ou</u>s, disastr<u>ou</u>s)</li> | + | <li>t<u>o</u> <sup style="font-size:9px;">weak form</sup>, th<u>e</u>m <sup style="font-size:9px;">weak form</sup>, th<u>a</u>t <sup style="font-size:9px;">weak form</sup>, <u>a</u>, th<u>e</u> <sup style="font-size:9px;">weak form</sup> </li> |
− | <li>-<u>er</u> (saf<u>er</u>, cheap<u>er</u>, etc.)</li> | + | <li>-<u>ou</u>s (fam<u>ou</u>s, gelatin<u>ou</u>s, disastr<u>ou</u>s)</li> |
− | <li>-<u>a</u>ble (understand<u>a</u>ble, comf<u>or</u>t<u>a</u>ble <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup>, leg<u>i</u>ble)</li> | + | <li>-<u>er</u> (saf<u>er</u>, cheap<u>er</u>, etc.)</li> |
− | <li>Some transcribe the sound of the suffix -ion as /ən/, though most dictionaries simply use "syllabic" /n/. More terminology wars... :) e.g. nation, ration, consideration, fashion /<span style="color:darkgreen;"> | + | <li>-<u>a</u>ble, -<u>i</u>ble (understand<u>a</u>ble, comf<u>or</u>t<u>a</u>ble <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup>, leg<u>i</u>ble, incred<u>i</u>ble)</li> |
+ | <li>-<u>a</u>te (in ADJ and N): <b>choc</b>ol<u>a</u>te (n.) /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>tʃɑː</b> klət</span>/, <b>corp</b>or<u>a</u>te (adj.), con<b>glom</b>er<u>a</u>te (adj.), as<b>soc</b>i<u>a</u>te (n.), etc.</li> | ||
+ | <li>Some transcribe the sound of the suffix -ion as /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ən</span>/, though most dictionaries simply use "syllabic" /<span style="color:darkgreen;">n</span>/. More terminology wars... :) e.g. nation, ration, consideration, fashion /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>fæʃ</b> n</span>/, etc. </li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | </ | + | <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup> Most commonly the first schwa is dropped entirely. <span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>kʌmf</b> təbl</span> / <span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>kʌmf</b> ə təbl</span>, cf. "comfy" :) |
− | <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">æ</b>/</span>==== |
+ | |||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>b<u>a</u>d, f<u>a</u>ster, f<u>a</u>stest, th<u>a</u>t <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup></li> | ||
+ | <li>l<u>au</u>ghter <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">US + parts of UK</sup>, dr<u>au</u>ght <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">US + parts of UK</sup> (fr. <i>courant d'air</i>)</li> | ||
+ | <li>forb<u>a</u>de: (hapax?)</li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | < | + | <p><sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup> As a demonstrative pronoun / determiner <i>that</i> is pronounced /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ðæt</span>/, as a relative pronoun, <i>that</i> is usually pronounced /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ðət</span>/, though it may be dropped entirely.</p> |
− | |||
− | |||
− | < | ||
− | </ | ||
− | + | ===Diphthongs=== | |
− | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">eɪ</b>/</span>==== | |
− | == | + | |
− | + | <ul> | |
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">eɪ</b>/</span> | + | <li>A, H, J, K, 8</li> |
− | <ul> | + | <li>th<u>ey</u>, gr<u>ey</u></li> |
− | + | <li>t<u>a</u>ke, pl<u>a</u>ne, f<u>a</u>te</li> | |
− | + | <li>m<u>ai</u>n, r<u>ai</u>n, p<u>ai</u>d, <strike>said</strike> /<span style="color:darkgreen;">səd</span>/</li> | |
− | + | <li>d<u>ay</u>, w<u>ay</u>, s<u>ay</u>, <strike>says</strike> /<span style="color:darkgreen;">səz</span>/</li> | |
− | + | <li>w<u>eigh</u>, n<u>eigh</u>bour, fr<u>eigh</u>t</li> | |
− | + | <li>v<u>ei</u>n</li> | |
− | + | <li><u>a</u>viation, (un)<u>a</u>ble, <u>A</u>sia (/<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>eɪ</b> ʒə</span>/) </li> | |
− | + | </ul> | |
− | |||
− | </ul> | ||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑɪ</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑɪ</b>/</span>==== |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li>I, Y, 5, 9</li> | <li>I, Y, 5, 9</li> | ||
<li>r<u>i</u>ce, m<u>i</u>ce</li> | <li>r<u>i</u>ce, m<u>i</u>ce</li> | ||
− | <li>g<u>ui</u>de, q<u>ui</u>te q<u>ui</u>et /<span style="color:darkgreen;"> | + | <li>g<u>ui</u>de, q<u>ui</u>te q<u>ui</u>et /<span style="color:darkgreen;">kwɑɪt <b>kwɑɪ</b> ət</span>/, ch<u>oi</u>r /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>kwɑɪ</b> ə</span><span style="color:grey;">r</span>/</li> |
+ | <li>k<u>i</u>nd, m<u>i</u>nd, beh<u>i</u>nd</li> | ||
<li>l<u>igh</u>t, s<u>igh</u>t, s<u>igh</u>, h<u>eigh</u>t</li> | <li>l<u>igh</u>t, s<u>igh</u>t, s<u>igh</u>, h<u>eigh</u>t</li> | ||
<li>al<u>ig</u>n, ben<u>ig</u>n, s<u>ig</u>n</li> | <li>al<u>ig</u>n, ben<u>ig</u>n, s<u>ig</u>n</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
− | <span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">əʊ</b> / <b style="color:darkgreen;">oʊ</b>/</span> | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">əʊ</b> / <b style="color:darkgreen;">oʊ</b>/</span>==== |
+ | |||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li>O, 0, (zero) | <li>O, 0, (zero) | ||
<li>cl<u>o</u>se, cl<u>othe</u>s /<span style="color:darkgreen;">kləʊ</span><span style="color:grey;">ð</span><span style="color:darkgreen;">z</span>/, ch<u>o</u>se, ch<u>o</u>sen</li> | <li>cl<u>o</u>se, cl<u>othe</u>s /<span style="color:darkgreen;">kləʊ</span><span style="color:grey;">ð</span><span style="color:darkgreen;">z</span>/, ch<u>o</u>se, ch<u>o</u>sen</li> | ||
− | <li>th<u>ough</u>, alth<u>ough</u>, thor<u>ough</u> /<span style="color:darkgreen;"> | + | <li>th<u>ough</u>, alth<u>ough</u>, thor<u>ough</u> /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>θɜː</b> roʊ</span>/ <sup style="font-size:9px;">US</sup> /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>θʌ</b> rə</span>/ <sup style="font-size:9px;">UK</sup>, bor<u>ough</u> /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>bɜː</b> roʊ</span>/ <sup style="font-size:9px;">US</sup> /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>bʌ</b> rə</span>/ <sup style="font-size:9px;">UK</sup> </li> |
<li><u>ow</u>n, gr<u>ow</u>, kn<u>ow</u>n, fl<u>ow</u>n </li> | <li><u>ow</u>n, gr<u>ow</u>, kn<u>ow</u>n, fl<u>ow</u>n </li> | ||
<li>s<u>oa</u>p, f<u>oa</u>m</li> | <li>s<u>oa</u>p, f<u>oa</u>m</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
+ | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑʊ</b>/</span>==== | ||
− | |||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li>1000</li> | <li>1000</li> | ||
Line 165: | Line 171: | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
+ | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɔɪ</b>/</span>==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | *n<u>oi</u>sy, <u>oi</u>l | ||
+ | *t<u>oy</u>s, b<u>oy</u>s | ||
+ | *p<u>oi</u>gnant /ˈpɔɪnyənt/ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">eə</b>/</span>==== | ||
− | |||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li>Mostly UK. North American English (NAME) is usually /<span style="color:darkgreen;">er</span>/</li> | <li>Mostly UK. North American English (NAME) is usually /<span style="color:darkgreen;">er</span>/</li> | ||
Line 175: | Line 187: | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
+ | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʊə</b>/</span>==== | ||
− | |||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li>p<u>oo</u>r, t<u>ou</u>r (guide), </li> | + | <li>Mostly UK. North American English (NAME) is usually /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ʊr</span>/</li> |
+ | <li>p<u>oo</u>r <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup>, t<u>ou</u>r (guide)</li> | ||
+ | <li>s<u>u</u>re <sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup>, (al)l<u>u</u>re</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
+ | <p><sup style="font-size:9px;">1</sup> both "poor" and "sure" can be pronounced with <span style="color:darkgreen;">ɔː</span> i.e. <span style="color:darkgreen;">ʃɔː</span>, <span style="color:darkgreen;">pɔː</span></p> | ||
− | = | + | ====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɪə</b>/</span>==== |
− | Most consonants are paired: at each position one can make two sounds (one voiced, one unvoiced). For example: | + | <ul> |
+ | <li>Mostly UK. North American English (NAME) is usually /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɪr</span>/</li> | ||
+ | <li>d<u>ear</u>, n<u>ear</u></li> | ||
+ | <li>h<u>ere</u></li> | ||
+ | <li>b<u>eer</u>, p<u>eer</u>, t<u>ier</u></li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Consonants== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p>Most consonants are paired: at each position one can make two sounds (one voiced, one unvoiced). For example:</p> | ||
+ | <div style="font-size:10px;text-align:center;margin-bottom:14px;"> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | ! Voiced | + | ! |
− | ! Unvoiced | + | ! <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkred;">Voiced</span> |
+ | ! | ||
+ | ! <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkred;">Unvoiced</span> | ||
+ | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">θ</span> |
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <u>th</u>ink |
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">ð</span> | ||
+ | |<u>th</u>at, bro<u>th</u>er | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">b</span> |
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <u>b</u>ig |
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">p</span> | ||
+ | |<u>p</u>ig | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">v</span> |
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | e<u>v</u>en Ste<u>ph</u>en |
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">f</span> | ||
+ | | enou<u>gh</u> <u>ph</u>onetics | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">d</span> |
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | stew<u>ed</u> |
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">t</span> | ||
+ | | cook<u>ed</u> | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">z</span> |
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | read<u>s</u> |
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">s</span> | ||
+ | | write<u>s</u> | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">ʒ</span> |
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;"> | + | | plea<u>s</u>ure |
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">ʃ</span> | ||
+ | | <u>s</u>ure | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;">g</span> a<u>g</u>ree | + | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">dʒ</span> |
− | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;">k</span> se<u>c</u>ond, <u>ch</u>emistry | + | | ba<u>dg</u>e, <u>j</u>oke |
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">tʃ</span> | ||
+ | | ba<u>tch</u>, <u>ch</u>oke | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">g</span> | ||
+ | | a<u>g</u>ree | ||
+ | | <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">k</span> | ||
+ | |<u>c</u>a<u>k</u>e, se<u>c</u>ond(s), <u>ch</u>emistry | ||
|} | |} | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>Nasal consonants — <span style="color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">m, n, ŋ</span> — liquids —<span style="color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">r, l</span> — and glides — <span style="color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">w, j</span> (<u>wh</u>y, <u>y</u>ellow) — are all <b>voiced</b>.</li> | ||
+ | <li><b>Syllabic <span style="color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">n</span> and <span style="color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">l</span></b> are roughly equivalent to /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ən</span>/, /<span style="color:darkgreen;">əl</span>/. (fash<u>ion</u>, bott<u>le</u>)</li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
+ | |||
+ | :A "flap" /<span style="font-weight:bold;color:#060;">ɾ</span>/ or /<span style="font-weight:bold;color:#060;">t̮</span>/ is often used for intervocalic "t" after a stressed syllable outside of England (Australia, NZ, US, ...). The sound is made in the same place as the /<span style="font-weight:bold;color:#060;">d</span>/ but with a quicker flap of the tongue (hence the name). It is voiced. | ||
+ | :*battle <span style="font-size:80%;color:#060;">ˈbæt̮l</span>, butter <span style="font-size:80%;color:#060;">bʌt̮ər</span>, bottle <span style="font-size:80%;color:#060;">ˈbɑt̮l</span>, subtle <span style="font-size:80%;color:#060;">ˈsʌt̮l</span>, better <span style="font-size:80%;color:#060;">ˈbɛt̮ər</span>... | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Accents of North American English== | ||
+ | |||
+ | :Part I | ||
+ | ;<html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1KP4ztKK0A</html5media> | ||
+ | :Part II | ||
+ | ;<html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsE_8j5RL3k</html5media> | ||
+ | :Part III | ||
+ | ;<html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw7pL7OkKEE</html5media> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Accents of English== | ||
+ | :Some comparisons | ||
+ | ;<html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKuPfZpzEHg</html5media> |
Latest revision as of 13:57, 21 June 2023
Vowels
Vowels are always voiced (which means the vocal cords vibrate when the sound is made).
vaʊ əlz ər ɔːl wəz vɔɪst
Long "pure" vowels
/ɑ:/
- R, star, car, far
- father, bother US, bottle US, knowledge US
- clerk UK, bath UK, laughter UK, draught UK
/i:/
- B, C, D, E, G, P, T, V, Z US
- he, she, me, we
- sea, tea, seem, feet, (-)teen, key
- apostrophe, Socrates, catastrophe /kə tæ strə fi/ ; suffix-final "y" (as in stormy, safety, slowly) is also pronounced with a shorter /i/
/u:/
- 2, Q, U, W, you
- choose, use
- new, flew, grew, knew, true, blue
- to strong form, through
/ɔː/
- 4, 40
- door, floor, shore, store (US /ɔːr/ )
- daughter, caught, thought, fought
- law, saw, lawyer /ˈlɔː jər/
- fluorine, chlorine
- sort, sword (US /ɔːr/ )
/ɜː/
- first, third, 30, 30th
- shirt, clerk, certification, learn
- Some people sometimes pronounce words like sure & pure with this sound rather than ʃʊr, pjʊr, (myself included).
Short vowels
/ɒ/
- primarily UK. various US accents substitute a low back vowel, usually /ɑ:/, but sometimes ɔ:. Short ʌ in high frequency functional words like what and of.
- what UK 1
- bottle ˈbɒ tl, throttle ˈθrɒ tl
- shot, spot, lots, of UK 1, pots, across
- knowledge ˈnɒl ɪdʒ
US 1 = ʌ in what and of, ɑ: in the other examples.
/ʌ/
- 1, 100
- sun, but, mud, uncle
- son, won, brother, other, another, above
- flood, blood
- tough, rough, enough /ɪ nʌf/
/ʊ/
- Look!, a good cookbook
- put, push, pull
- woman /wʊ mən/
/ɪ/
- 6, 15, 16, 50, 60, him, this, finish, minute (n.)
- been, again
- below, behind, between, beneath, bemoan, belabor, besmirch, etc.
- women /wɪ mɪn/, electric /ɪ lek trɪk/, elegance /el ɪ ɡəns/, enough /ɪ nʌf/
- -age 1, -e(d)ge /ɪdʒ/ (village, marriage, storage, baggage, luggage, mortgage /mɔː ɡɪdʒ/, college, knowledge)
1 Exceptions include more recent borrowings from French, e.g. garage /ɡə rɑːʒ/ US /ɡær ɪdʒ/ UK, fuselage /fjuː sə lɑːʒ/, triage, montage, etc.
/e/
The precise realisation of this form varies. In South Africa the sound is closer to /e/, while in the US it is closer to /ɛ/ (le son souligné en e.g. fête, bête, lait, aime, pouvaient). Since the distinction is not considered phonemic, the standard transcription is /e/ though the sound is closer to /ɛ/ than it is to /e/ (qui est, strictu sensu, le son de fée, pourrai, pouvez, aimer).
- 7, 10, 12, F, L, M, N, S, X, zed
- health, wedding, nephew, elementary /ˌel ɪ men tri/
- says, said
/ə/
- The most common vowel sound in English (also the most central vowel) (quite lax) uh... (French "euh" is very similar, but with rounded lips)
- around, about, above, across, ago, asleep, etc.
- perpetual, residual, science, electric, elegant, woman, sermon
- to weak form, them weak form, that weak form, a, the weak form
- -ous (famous, gelatinous, disastrous)
- -er (safer, cheaper, etc.)
- -able, -ible (understandable, comfortable 1, legible, incredible)
- -ate (in ADJ and N): chocolate (n.) /tʃɑː klət/, corporate (adj.), conglomerate (adj.), associate (n.), etc.
- Some transcribe the sound of the suffix -ion as /ən/, though most dictionaries simply use "syllabic" /n/. More terminology wars... :) e.g. nation, ration, consideration, fashion /fæʃ n/, etc.
1 Most commonly the first schwa is dropped entirely. kʌmf təbl / kʌmf ə təbl, cf. "comfy" :)
/æ/
- bad, faster, fastest, that 1
- laughter US + parts of UK, draught US + parts of UK (fr. courant d'air)
- forbade: (hapax?)
1 As a demonstrative pronoun / determiner that is pronounced /ðæt/, as a relative pronoun, that is usually pronounced /ðət/, though it may be dropped entirely.
Diphthongs
/eɪ/
- A, H, J, K, 8
- they, grey
- take, plane, fate
- main, rain, paid,
said/səd/ - day, way, say,
says/səz/ - weigh, neighbour, freight
- vein
- aviation, (un)able, Asia (/eɪ ʒə/)
/ɑɪ/
- I, Y, 5, 9
- rice, mice
- guide, quite quiet /kwɑɪt kwɑɪ ət/, choir /kwɑɪ ər/
- kind, mind, behind
- light, sight, sigh, height
- align, benign, sign
/əʊ / oʊ/
- O, 0, (zero)
- close, clothes /kləʊðz/, chose, chosen
- though, although, thorough /θɜː roʊ/ US /θʌ rə/ UK, borough /bɜː roʊ/ US /bʌ rə/ UK
- own, grow, known, flown
- soap, foam
/ɑʊ/
- 1000
- out, about, around, announce, pounce
- how, now, power, tower, town
/ɔɪ/
- noisy, oil
- toys, boys
- poignant /ˈpɔɪnyənt/
/eə/
- Mostly UK. North American English (NAME) is usually /er/
- there, where
- hair, pair
- share, care
- heir
/ʊə/
- Mostly UK. North American English (NAME) is usually /ʊr/
- poor 1, tour (guide)
- sure 1, (al)lure
1 both "poor" and "sure" can be pronounced with ɔː i.e. ʃɔː, pɔː
/ɪə/
- Mostly UK. North American English (NAME) is usually /ɪr/
- dear, near
- here
- beer, peer, tier
Consonants
Most consonants are paired: at each position one can make two sounds (one voiced, one unvoiced). For example:
Voiced | Unvoiced | ||
---|---|---|---|
θ | think | ð | that, brother |
b | big | p | pig |
v | even Stephen | f | enough phonetics |
d | stewed | t | cooked |
z | reads | s | writes |
ʒ | pleasure | ʃ | sure |
dʒ | badge, joke | tʃ | batch, choke |
g | agree | k | cake, second(s), chemistry |
- Nasal consonants — m, n, ŋ — liquids —r, l — and glides — w, j (why, yellow) — are all voiced.
- Syllabic n and l are roughly equivalent to /ən/, /əl/. (fashion, bottle)
- A "flap" /ɾ/ or /t̮/ is often used for intervocalic "t" after a stressed syllable outside of England (Australia, NZ, US, ...). The sound is made in the same place as the /d/ but with a quicker flap of the tongue (hence the name). It is voiced.
- battle ˈbæt̮l, butter bʌt̮ər, bottle ˈbɑt̮l, subtle ˈsʌt̮l, better ˈbɛt̮ər...
Accents of North American English
- Part I
- Part II
- Part III
Accents of English
- Some comparisons