Prof Francisco Zabala - 2015 The English Pure Vowels A vowel is a “sound in the production of which the air-stream comes out through the mouth (and nose), centrally over the tongue, and metes a stricture of open approximation” (Finch & Ortíz-Lira, 1982, p 189) Characteristics of vowels: They can stand on their own Some MONSYLLABIC WORDS illustrate this point: ear, or, out, err, air, I, owe, etc They occur in the nucleus of the syllable, so they are CENTRAL E.g peas, ease, pee The air escapes freely through the mouth This means that they are CONTINUANT because the airflow does not stop Also, they are FRICTIONLESS because the organs are sufficiently apart so as not to produce turbulence They are normally VOICED because there is vibration of the vocal folds They are mainly ORAL because the air escapes through the ORAL cavity However, they can be NASALISED when they are in contact with l+ m+ M Block your nostrils with your fingers and compare the word reader with morning Which of the two has a continuous nasal resonance? They are better described AUDITORILY because it is difficult to see what happens inside your mouth Also, it takes a lot of practice to be able to manipulate your organs of speech at will! The articulatory features that make vowels different from each other are: TENSENESS, the shape of the lips, their relative length and QUALITY Remember that the last feature is the most transcendental The vowel chart is used as a visual aid for understanding the quality of the vowel system in a language It is based on the cardinal vowel diagram, devised by Daniel Jones These cardinal vowels not exist in any language in particular; they are abstractions which serve as a reference point to describe and compare the vowels in a language, and also across languages The vertical axis of the chart indicates the degree of opening of the jaw and its connection with the raising or lowering of the tongue The horizontal axis shows the part of the tongue that is raised the most and forms the narrowest stricture in the oral tract Vowel chart adapted from Cruttenden (2014) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2015 H KIT – Vowel N°2 Listen to H Trim (1995, p.15) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2015 H .H KIT – Vowel N°2 DISTRIBUTION: Restricted Medial Final Initial inn !Hm shrink !RqHMj SPELLINGS Common Less common BVP ending plural & past Exceptions ill !Hk since since !rHmr singing !rHMHM s setting !rdsHM churches !sR29sRHy added added !zcHc women !vHlHm E English !HMfkHR myth !lHS rrhythm !qHCl village !uHkHcY certificate certificate r?!sHeHjHs women !vHlHm busy !aHyh building !aHkcHM biscuit biscuit !aHrjHs sieve !rHu Tips: • • • • • Basic vowel pattern in the spelling This is a checked vowel, this means that it cannot occur in word-final word final position This is similar to the Spanish sound in the incredulous version of “sí, sí” (sometimes spelt “se se”) se” or the words “Sixto, mixto” Think of Spanish /i/ and drop your jaws a bit more This sound can be stressed (e.g sit s !rHs.) or unstressed (e.g sitting !rHsHM.) The following weak, and extremely frequent words, contain this sound: in, is, it, its, it’s, if, this, with, his, him, etc Transcribe: Phil is ill Is this fish English? Will Miss Lynch live in this village? Sit, Mrs Swiss Miss Willis Smith is in this film Key: .!eHk Hy !Hk .Hy CHr !eHR !HMfkHR .vHk !lHr !kHmsR { !kHu Hm CHr !uHkHcY !kHu Hm CHr !uHkHcY .!rHs !lHrHy !rvHr .!lHr !vHkHr !rlHS { Hy Hm CHr !eHkl !lHr !vHkHr !rlHS { Hy Hm CHr !eHkl Prof Francisco Zabala - 2015 h9 FLEECE – Vowel N°1 Contrast h9 with H Trim (1995, p.16) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2015 h9 FLEECE FLEECE – Vowel N°1 Initial DISTRIBUTION: Full Medial Eve !h9u team !sh9l Final see = C= sea !rh9 SPELLINGS All Most weep !vh9o Pete !oh9s tthese !Ch9y Most mean !lh9m feast feast !eh9rs Common “the vowel says its name” Less common Exceptions machine l?!Rh9m kilo !jh9k?T piece !oh9r believe believe aH!kh9u receive qH!rh9u conceit j?m!rh9s key !jh9 people !oh9ok Tips: • • • Spellings: silent , e>, magic , < y>, two vowels together where the first one says its name name This is similar to the Spanish sound in the the words “tía, mía” Think of Spanish /i/ and close your jaws a bit more Smile a bit, this helps! Transcribe: Phoebe eats cream cheese Will we greet these people? Feed these three beasts, please! Leave these seats free, Jean Keep these green leaves clean Key: .!eh9ah !h9sr !jqh9l !sRh9y !eh9ah !h9sr !jqh9l !sRh9y .vHk vh !fqh9s Ch9y !oh9ok vHk vh !fqh9s Ch9y !oh9ok .!eh9c Ch9y !Sqh9 !ah9rsr !okh9y !eh9c Ch9y !Sqh9 !ah9rsr !okh9y .!kh9u Ch9y !rh9sr !eqh9 !cYh9m !kh9u Ch9y !rh9sr !eqh9 !cYh9m .!jh9o Ch9y !fqh9m !kh9uy !jkh9m !jh9o Ch9y !fqh9m !kh9uy !jkh9m Prof Francisco Zabala - 2015 ? Schwa – Vowel N°12 Focus on the stressed syllabes and ? ocurring ocurring everywhere else else Trim (1995, p.33) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2015 ? Schwa Schwa – Vowel N°12 DISTRIBUTION: Full Medial Initial ago ?!f?T writers !q`Hs?y Final teacher !sh9sR? SPELLINGS Common Less common again ?!fdm can can j?m professional oq?!edRmk of of ?u achievement ?!sRh9ul?ms the the C? singer !rHM? rHM? centre centre !rdms? her her g? easily !h9y?kh album !zka?l but a?s particular o?!sHji?k? actor !zjs? for for e? neighbour !mdHa? nature !mdHsR? famous !edHl?r Tips: • • • • It’s the “Queen of English” because it’s the most frequent vowel by far! Most unstressed syllables take Schwa The following weak words take schwa: am, are, can, had, has, have, does, (+consonant), must, shall, was, were, her, r, us, them, a, an, the (+consonant), and, as, but, than, that, at, for, from, of, to (+consonant), some, there Make sure you cram and lower the volume of those syllables containing Schwa (E.g “There were some professors at the conference” C? v? r?l oq?!edr?y ?s C? !jPme?q?mr Transcribe: The fisher has visited the teacher My niece, Melissa, is from the south of England The old spinsters are eating at the local cinema Mr Smithson and Miss Simpson are the winners An infamous but interesting sinner Key: .C? !eHR? { g?y !uHyHsHc C? !sh9sR? sHc C? !sh9sR? .l`H !mh9r { l?!kHr? { Hy eq?l C? !r`TS ?u !HMfk?mc l`H !mh9r { l?!kHr? { Hy eq?l C? !r`TS ?u !HMfk?mc .Ch !?Tkc !roHmrs?y ?q !h9sHM ?s C? !k?Tj'?(k !rHm?l? Ch !?Tkc !roHmrs?y ?q !h9sHM ?s C? !k?Tj'?(k !rHm?l? .!lHrs? !rlHSr'?(m { ?m !lHr !rHlor?m { ? C? !vHm?y !lHrs? !rlHSr'?(m { ?m !lHr !rHlor?m { ? C? !vHm?y .?m !Hme?l?r { a?s !Hmsq?rsHM !rHm? Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 d DRESS – Vowel N°3 Listen to d Trim (1995, p.17) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 d DRESS DRESS – Vowel N°3 DISTRIBUTION: Restricted Initial Medial Final L !dk said !rdc SPELLINGS Common BVP Less common Exceptions leg !kdf w when !vdm dead !cdc steady !rsdch friend !eqdmc ate !ds lany any !ldmh any !dmh !dmh Thames Thames !sdly bury !adqh Leicester !kdrs? says !rdy said said /!rdc against against ?!fdmrs Geoffrey !cYdeqh Tips: • • Basic vowel pattern in the spelling Think of Spanish /e// and drop your jaws a bit more The English /e/ is more open than the Spanish /e/ It may be found in Spanish words like “perro, ley” Transcribe: Wednesday the 10th of September, 2012 Geoffrey Reynolds has buried many dead men Helen, Melanie and Emily are from Reading Dreadful weather, isn’t it Rebecca? Why should I represent ent her at the French embassy? Key: .!vdmycdH C? !sdmS ?u rdo!sdla? { !svdmsh !svdku !vdmycdH C? !sdmS ?u rdo!sdla? { !svdmsh !svdku .!cYdeqh !qdm'?(kcy { g?y !adqhc !ldmh !cdc !ldm !cYdeqh !qdm'?(kcy { g?y !adqhc !ldmh !cdc !ldm .!gdk?m { !ldk?mh { ?m !dl !gdk?m { !ldk?mh { ?m !dlHkh { ? eq?l !qdcHM .!cqdcek !vdC? { !Hyms Hs q?!adj? !cqdcek !vdC? { !Hyms Hs q?!adj? .!v`H R?c `H !qdoqH!ydms 'g(?q ?s C? !eqdmsR !dla?rh !v`H R?c `H !qdoqH!ydms 'g(?q ?s C? !eqdmsR !dla?rh Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 29 NURSE – Vowel N°1111 Listen to 29 Trim (1995, p.31) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 z Z`\ Z`\ TRAP – Vowel N°44 DISTRIBUTION: Restricted Initial Medial Final apple !zok sang !rzM SPELLINGS Common BVP Exceptions grab !!fqza add add !zc plaid !okzc plait plait !okzs timbre !szla? reveille q?!uzkh guarantee guarantee $fzq?m!sh9 Notice!!! Letters & > are never z Tips: • • • Basic vowel pattern in the spelling This sound is very clear in American English (think of “The Nanny”) You need to lower your jaw and spread spre your lips Smile! ☺ Transcribe: Thanks! That was really fantastic, Grandad! Daniel Appleby has married Janet Atkinson The manager is having a massive salmon sandwich Antony and Gary fancy that activity That wild animal has attacked a lamb, ma’am Key: .!SzMjr { Czs v?y !qH?kh ezm!szrsHj !fqzmczc !SzMjr { Czs v?y !qH?kh ezm!szrsHj !fqzmczc .!czmi?k !zokah { g?y !lzqhc !czmi?k !zokah { g?y !lzqhc !cYzmHs !zsjHmr?m .C? !lzmHcY?q Hy !gzuHM ? !lzrHu !rzl?m !rzlvHcY C? !lzmHcY?q Hy !gzuHM ? !lzrHu !rzl?m !rzlvHcY .!zms?mh ?m !fzqh { !ezmrh Czs zj!sHu?sh !zms?mh ?m !fzqh { !ezmrh Czs zj!sHu?sh .Czs !v`Hkc !zmHlk { g?y ?!szjs ? !kzl !lzl mHlk { g?y ?!szjs ? !kzl !lzl Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 U STRUT – Vowel N°10 Contrast z with U Trim (1995, p.21) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 U STRUT STRUT – Vowel N°10 DISTRIBUTION: Restricted Initial Medial Final front !eqUms under.!Umc? under SPELLINGS Common Less common BVP up !Uo fun fun !eUm oven !Uum worry worry !vUqh southern !rUCm country !jUmsqh tough !sUe enough enough ?!mUe blood !akUc flood flood !ekUc does !cUy doesn’t !cUyms + Exceptions Notice!!! Letter is never UU Tips: • • • Basic vowel pattern in the spelling It may be spelt with or but never You need to look “miserable” when you produce this sound, as you need to lower your jaw and avoid smiling Transcribe: Are the buns in the oven, Duncan? Cousin Humphrey has just rung up the company They may come to London for lunch this Monday Southern Russia has been flooded Justin and Dustin are in front of the judges Key: .? C? !aUmy Hm Ch !Uu'?(m !cUMj?m .!@9 C? !aUmy Hm Ch !Uu'?(m !cUMj?m ? C? !aUmy Hm Ch !Uu'?(m !cUMj?m .!@9 C? !aUmy Hm Ch !Uu'?(m !cUMj?m .!jUy'H(m !gUl'o(eqh 'g(?y cY?r's( !qUM !Uo C? !jUlo'?(mh .!jUy'?(m+ !cYUr's( .!jUy'H(m !gUl'o(eqh 'g(?y cY?r's( !qUM !Uo C? !jUlo'?(mh .!jUy'?(m+ !cYUr's( .CdH ldH !jUl s? !kUmc?m e? !kUmsR CHr !lUmcdH .!rUC'?(m !qUR? 'g(?y aHm !ekUcHc .ah9m .!cYUrsHm ?m !cUrsHm ?q Hm !eqUms ?u C? !cYUcYHy .!cYUrsHm ?m !cUrsHm ?q Hm !eqUms ?u C? !cYUcYHy Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 @9 @9 BATH – Vowel N°5 Contrast @9 with U Trim (1995, p.23) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 @9 BATH – Vowel N°5 DISTRIBUTION: Full Medial Initial art !@9s bath !a@9S Final spa !ro@9 SPELLINGS Common Most hard !g@9c bar bar !a@9 Some + nasal + consonant Some + voiceless fricative answer !@9mr? chance !sR@9mr Less common Exceptions past !o@9rs after after !@9es? heart !g@9s hearth hearth !g@9S Derby !c@9ah clerk !jk@9j Derby sergeant !r@9cY?ms laugh !k@9e aunt aunt !@9ms calm !j@9l half half !g@9e reservoir reservoir !qdy?uv@9 memoir !ldlv@9 repertoire !qdo?sv@9 Tips: • • Note that some BATH words take @9 in British English and z in American English Engl (e.g class, grass, pass, answer, laugh,, etc.) etc.) (See BATH WORDS overleaf.) This vowel is produced at the back of your oral cavity and you need to lower your jaws a lot lot This is similar to the sound you produce when you yawn Transcribe: Are the Parkers from Argentina? Charles and Charlotte aren’t in France now Martin Grant can’t pass his drama class, Francis Our aunt married a bank clerk from Derby The dance can start after half past one Key: .!@9 C? !o@9j?y eq?l !@9cY?m!sh9m? !@9 C? !o@9j?y eq?l !@9cY?m!sh9m? .!sR@9ky ?m !R@9k?s { !@9ms Hm !eq@9mr !m`T !sR@9ky ?m !R@9k?s { !@9ms Hm !eq@9mr !m`T .!l@9sHm !fq@9ms { !j@9ms !o@9r 'g(Hy !cq@9l? !jk@9r !eq@9mrHr !fq@9ms { !j@9ms !o@9r 'g(Hy !cq@9l? !jk@9r !eq@9mrHr .@9q !@9ms { !lzqhc ? !azMj !jk@9j { eq?l !c@9ah @9q !@9ms { !lzqhc ? !azMj !jk@9j { eq?l !c@9ah .C? !c@9mr j?m !rs@9s { !@9es? !g@9e !o@9rs !vUm C? !c@9mr j?m !rs@9s { !@9es? !g@9e !o@9rs !vUm Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 BATH words Collins, B & Mees, I (2013) Practical phonetics and phonology phonology Oxon: Routledge Page 105 Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 P P LOT – Vowel N°6 Contrast @9 with P Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 Trim (1995, p.26) P LOT – Vowel N°6 Initial DISTRIBUTION: Restricted Medial off !Pe Final God !fPc SPELLINGS Common Less common BVP boss !aPr snog snog !rmPf All sock !rPj clock clock !jkPj wallet !vPkHs quality !jvPk?sh quantity !jvPms?sh what what !vPs because aH!jPy laurel !kPq?k sausage !rPrHcY cauliflower !jPkHek`T? bureaucracy aiT?!qPjq?rh cough !jPe knowledge knowledge !mPkHcY Gloucester !fkPrs? Gloucester quarrel !jvPq?k ya yach yacht cht !iPs after Exceptions Tips: • • • Basic vowel pattern in the spelling This is similar to the Spanish sound in “Hola” when people try out a microphone in a sound test test Think of Spanish /o// and drop dro your jaws a bit more Transcribe: The fashion on model lost her horror novel in Florence What a common officer Thomas was! Those socks have cost me five dollars Nonsense! This is not a monotonous song, Oliver The Austins got us a horrible orange coffee pot Key: .C? !ezR'?(m !lPc'?(k !kPrs 'g(? !gPq? !mPu'?(k Hm !ekPq?mr .!vPs ? !jPl?m !PeHr? !sPl?r !vPy .!vPs ? !jPl?m !PeHr? !sPl?r !vPy .C?Ty !rPjr 'g(?u !jPr's( lh !e`Hu !cPk?y .C?Ty !rPjr 'g(?u !jPr's( lh !e`Hu !cPk?y .!mPmr'?(mr {{ CHr Hy !mPs ? l?!mPs?m?r !rPM !PkHu? .!mPmr'?(mr {{ CHr Hy !mPs ? l?!mPs?m?r !rPM !PkHu? .Ch !PrsHmy !fPs ?r ? !gPq?a'?(k !PqHmcY !jPeh !oPs .!N9rsHmy+ !Pq?mcY .Ch !PrsHmy !fPs ?r ? !gPq?a'?(k !PqHmcY !jPeh !oPs .!N9rsHmy+ !Pq?mcY Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 N9 THOUGHT – Vowel N°7 N° Contrast N9 with P Trim (1995, p.28) Prof Francisco Zabala - 2014 N9 THOUGHT THOUGHT – Vowel N°77 DISTRIBUTION: Full Medial Initial awe, we, oar, or !N9 taught !sN9s Final law, lore !kN9 SPELLINGS All Common saw !rN9 hawk hawk !gN9j + war !vN9 more more !lN9 born, born, borne !aN9m board !aN9c cause !jN9y daughter daughter /!cN9s? talk !sN9j all all !N9k after war !vN9 quarter quarter !jvN9s? door !cN9 floor floor !ekN9 Most Most Most Less common court !jN9s four four !eN9 + cons bought !aN9s ought ought !N9s broad !aqN9c water !vN9s? sure !RN9 pure pure !oiN9 Exceptions Tips: • • • Spellings with or a combination of several vowels (e.g [...]... Less common court !jN9s four four !eN9 + cons bought !aN9s ought ought !N9s broad !aqN9c water !vN9s? sure !RN9 pure pure !oiN9 Exceptions Tips: • • • Spellings with or a combination of several vowels (e.g