Difference between revisions of "Sounds of English"

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<h1>Vowels</h1>
+
==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>
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<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>
 
<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>
  
<h2>Long "pure" vowels</h2>
+
===Long "pure" vowels===
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑ:</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑ:</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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  </ul>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">i:</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">i:</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
 
   <li>B, C, D, E, G, P, T, V, Z <sup style="color:darkblue;font-size:9px;">US</sup></li>
 
   <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>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, k<u>ey</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>/</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>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">u:</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">u:</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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  </ul>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɔː</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɔː</b>/</span>====
 
 
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
 
   <li>4, 40</li>
 
   <li>4, 40</li>
   <li>d<u>oo</u>r, fl<u>oo</u>r, sh<u>o</u>re, st<u>o</u>re
+
   <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>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>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>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>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɜː</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɜː</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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  </ul>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɒ</b>/</span></h3>
+
===Short vowels===
 +
 
 +
====<span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;">/<b>ɒ</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
   <li>primarily UK. US substitutes /<span style="color:darkgreen;">ɑ:</span>/</li>
+
   <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>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>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</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>
 
   <li>kn<u>ow</u>ledge <span style="color:darkgreen;"><b>ˈnɒl</b> ɪdʒ</span></li>
 
  </ul>
 
  </ul>
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<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.
 
<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.
  
<h2>Short vowels</h2>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʌ</b>/</span>====
 
 
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʌ</b>/</span></h3>
 
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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  </ul>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʊ</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʊ</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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  </ul>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɪ</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɪ</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
   <li>6, 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>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>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>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>wi</b> min</span>/, <u>e</u>lectric, 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>w<u>o</u>m<u>e</u>n /<span style="color:darkgreen;"><b></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>
 
   <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>
 
  </ul>
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<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>
 
<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>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">e</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">e</b>/</span>====
 
 
<p>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/.  (<i>f<u>ê</u>te, b<u>ê</u>te, l<u>ait</u>, <u>ai</u>me pouv<u>aient</u></i>).  Since the distinction is not considered phonemic (since the long "A" sound is realized as the diphthong /eɪ/), the standard transcription is /e/ though the sound is closer to /ɛ/ than /e/ (<i>f<u>ée</u>, pourr<u>ai</u>, pouv<u>ez</u>, aim<u>er</u></i>.) </p>
 
  
  <ul>
+
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 <i>f<u>ée</u>, pourr<u>ai</u>, pouv<u>ez</u>, aim<u>er</u>'').
  <li>7, 10, 12, F, L, M, N, S, X, zed</li>
+
*7, 10, 12, F, L, M, N, S, X, zed
  <li>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>/
+
*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>/
  <li>s<u>ay</u>s, s<u>ai</u>d</li>
+
*s<u>ay</u>s, s<u>ai</u>d
</ul>
 
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ə</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<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>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></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>ou</u>s (fam<u>ou</u>s, gelatin<u>ou</u>s, disastr<u>ou</u>s)</li>
 
   <li>-<u>ou</u>s (fam<u>ou</u>s, gelatin<u>ou</u>s, disastr<u>ou</u>s)</li>
 
   <li>-<u>er</u> (saf<u>er</u>, cheap<u>er</u>, etc.)</li>
 
   <li>-<u>er</u> (saf<u>er</u>, cheap<u>er</u>, etc.)</li>
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<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> 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" :)
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">æ</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">æ</b>/</span>====
 
   
 
   
 
  <ul>
 
  <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>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>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>forb<u>a</u>de:  (hapax?)</li>
 
  </ul>
 
  </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>
 
<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>
  
<h2>Diphthongs</h2>
+
===Diphthongs===
 
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">eɪ</b>/</span>====
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">eɪ</b>/</span></h3>
 
 
   
 
   
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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  </ul>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑɪ</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<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>
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</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">əʊ</b> / <b style="color:darkgreen;">oʊ</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">əʊ</b> / <b style="color:darkgreen;">oʊ</b>/</span>====
 
    
 
    
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑʊ</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɑʊ</b>/</span>====
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɔɪ</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɔɪ</b>/</span>====
  
<ul>
+
*n<u>oi</u>sy, <u>oi</u>l
  <li>n<u>oi</u>sy, <u>oi</u>l</li>
+
*t<u>oy</u>s, b<u>oy</u>s
  <li>t<u>oy</u>s, b<u>oy</u>s</li>
+
*p<u>oi</u>gnant /ˈpɔɪnyənt/
</ul>
 
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">eə</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">eə</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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  </ul>
 
  </ul>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʊə</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ʊə</b>/</span>====
  
 
  <ul>
 
  <ul>
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<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>
 
<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>
  
<h3><span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɪə</b>/</span></h3>
+
====<span style="font-size:14px;">/<b style="color:darkgreen;">ɪə</b>/</span>====
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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<li>d<u>ear</u>, n<u>ear</u></li>
 
<li>d<u>ear</u>, n<u>ear</u></li>
 
<li>h<u>ere</u></li>
 
<li>h<u>ere</u></li>
<li>b<u>eer</u>r, p<u>eer</u>, t<u>ier</u></li>
+
<li>b<u>eer</u>, p<u>eer</u>, t<u>ier</u></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h1>Consonants</h1>
+
==Consonants==
  
 
<p>Most consonants are paired: at each position one can make two sounds (one voiced, one unvoiced).  For example:</p>
 
<p>Most consonants are paired: at each position one can make two sounds (one voiced, one unvoiced).  For example:</p>
Line 222: Line 217:
 
! <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkred;">Unvoiced</span>
 
! <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkred;">Unvoiced</span>
  
 +
|-
 +
| <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">θ</span>
 +
| <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;font-weight:bold;">b</span>  
 
| <span style="font-size:14px;color:darkgreen;font-weight:bold;">b</span>  
Line 265: Line 265:
 
  <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>
 
  <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>
 
</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>...

Revision as of 21:48, 27 August 2020

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 / 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 / mən/

/ɪ/

  • 6, 15, 16, 50, 60, him, this, finish, minute (n.)
  • been, again
  • below, behind, between, beneath, bemoan, belabor, besmirch, etc.
  • women / 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. <i>courant d'air</i>)
  • forbade: (hapax?)
  • </ul>
    

    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

    //

    • 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 (/ 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 / /

    • O, 0, (zero)
    • close, clothes /kləʊðz/, chose, chosen
    • though, although, thorough /θɜː roʊ/ US /θʌ/ UK, borough /bɜː roʊ/ US // 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/

    //

    • 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
    badge, joke 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 // 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...