English Pronunciation English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds of Vowel Sounds

How do you make English How do you make English vowel vowel sounds?sounds?

All English vowel sounds areAll English vowel sounds are VOICED VOICED

• That means if you take your hand and place it on your throat, you will feel vibrations as you say each vowel sound (we use our voice).

Let’s feel:

// // //

The air and the sound flow out of our The air and the sound flow out of our mouths when we say vowels mouths when we say vowels

// // // // // // // //

They're not blocked or obstructed in any way

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

Position: Lip position; Tongue Position; Vowel Length (long or short); Tense – Relaxed

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

Lip Position: Our lip can be rounded – // Our lip can be spread – // Our lip can be relaxed – //

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

Tongue Position: Our tongue can be high inside our mouth – // or it can be low – // or it can be somewhere in the midle – //

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

Vowel Length:

Vowels are long or short Some vowels are very short – // Sit and some vowels are longer – // See

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

Tense versus Relaxed:

Some vowels are more tense than others // – More tense // – More relaxed

How many vowel sounds are How many vowel sounds are there in English?there in English?

Not all books and dictionary present the same number of vowel sound.

In this class I’ll present 17 vowel sounds.

Let’s Start...

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

Where’s my mouth more closed, Where’s my mouth more closed, and where is it more open?and where is it more open?

/u/

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// /a/ //more closed

more open more open

more closed

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

Exercises – Answer the questions:

1. Say “gat” and “get”

Wich vowel sound is longer

a. The “a” in “gat” - /geɪt/

b. The “e” in “get” - /get/

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

2. Say “spun” and “spoon”

Wich vowel sound is longer

a. The “u” in “spun” - /spʌn/

b. The “oo” in “spoon” - /spu:n/

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

3. Say “choose” and “cheese

Wich vowel sound makes you round your lips (like in a circle)

a.The “oo” in “choose” - /tʃu:z/

b.The “ee” in “cheese ” - /tʃi:z/

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

4. Say “father” and “further”

Wich vowel sound makes you open your mouth more?

a.The “a” in “father” - /fɑ:ðər/

b.The “ur” in “further” - /fɝ:ðɚ/

English Pronunciation of English Pronunciation of Vowel Sounds Vowel Sounds

4. Say “hey” and “hoe”

Wich vowel sound makes you back of your tongue rise higher?

a. The “ey” in “hey” - /heɪ/

b. The “oe” in “hoe” - /hoʊ/

Referências Bibliográficas

SILVEIRA, Rosane; ZIMMER, Márcia C.; ALVES, Ubiratã Kickhöfel. Pronunciation instruction for Brasilians: Student’s book. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009.