Linguistica

Pronunciation Practice: Vowels
Prof. Shirley Santiago
English 115
c. 2008

Review the Front Vowels: /iy/ - / I /
Exercise III: Practice saying these sentences. Identify
the /iy/ and / I / sounds/
1. Please sit in the seat.
/iy/ / I /
/iy/
2. He did a good deed.
/I/
/iy/
3. Potato chips are cheap.
/I/
/iy/
4. Lynn ate lean meat.
/I/
/iy/
/iy/

Review: /iy/ - / I / Say thesewords and write the
correct symbol for the vowel sound (/iy/ or /I/).
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

slim
neat
guilt
women
niece

6.
7.

8.
9.
10.

thief
gym
mirror
key
busy

Review: /iy/ - / I / Choose the sentence that
logically answers the statement.
A
B
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

Heat it now.
Change the wheel.
Did you feel it?
Harry will leave.
You can sleep.

Hit itnow.
Change the will.
Did you fill it?
Harry will live.
You can slip.

More Front Vowels: /ey/-/ɛ/-/æ/
Say these words. What vowel sound do they have
in common?
bait

weight

break

say

they

grape

• This is the sound of /ey/ which is the same as in Spanish.
Look at the different spellings for this sound in English!

bet

friend

guess

said

head

says

• Thisis the sound of / ɛ / which is the same as in Spanish.
Look at the different spellings for this sound in English!

bat

laugh

plaid

half

• This is the sound of / æ / which does not exist in Spanish.
Place your tongue low in the front of the mouth and spread
your lips.

Review: /ey/-/ɛ/-/æ/
Practice saying these minimal pairs:
/ey/
/ɛ /
bait
bet
laid
led
mate
met
pastepest
aid
Ed

/æ/
bat
lad
mat
past
add

Review /ey/-/ɛ/-/æ/ : Choose the sentence
that logically answers the statement.
A
B
C
1. I have a pain in my hand.

I have a pen in my hand.

I have a pan in my
hand.

2. He took the bait.

He took the bet.

He took the bat.

3. Can you tape it?
4. The paste is gone.

Can you tap it?
The pest is gone.

The past is gone.Review: Front Vowel Sounds
/iy/
/I/
/ey/
/ɛ /
/æ/

beat
bit
bait
bet
bat

He beat the egg.
He bit the egg.
He took the bait.
He took the bet.
He took the bat.

Read the following limerick:
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.

A man from Kentucky named Bud,
Had a lucky young son named Jud.
When he bet on a horse,
It never lost, of course!
Until one day it got stuck in the mud!Now say it again:
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.

A ____from Kentucky named ____,
Had a ____ young ____ named Jud.
When he ___ on a horse,
It never____, of course!
Until ___day it got _____ in the mud!

Try it again!
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.

A ____from _____ named ____,
Had a ____ young ____ named _____.
When he ___ on a _____,
It never____, of _____!
Until ___ ____ it got _____ in the____!

Can you do it one last time?
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.

A __________________________,
Had a ______________________.
When he ____________________,
It never______________________!
Until ___________________ ____!

What words have the vowel sound
you hear in the word Bud?
The mid vowel sound of /ə/ or /ʌ / is produced in the
middle of the mouth. The lips are completely relaxed
and themouth is slightly open. This sound is known as
the schwa, and it does not exist in Spanish.
Practice: /ə/
/ʌ /
about
Kentucky
soda
Bud
until
young
banana
son
UNSTRESSED vs. STRESSED
a cup of coffee

Let’s have a conversation!
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:

Have you heard?
Heard what?
Heard the word.
What word?
The word that’s heard all over the world.
What’s the word that’sheard all over the world?
The word that’s heard all over the world is
the word of the Father!
B: Oh yeah!

Listen and repeat:
heard
over
word
father
world
actor
STRESSED vs. UNSTRESSED
/ɝ/
/ɚ/
The mid vowel sound of / ɚ / or / ɝ / is produced in the
middle of the mouth. The lips are protruded and the
mouth is slightly open. This sound does not exist in
Spanish!
(Ernesto vs....