American Accent Book
American Accent Book
American Accent Book
A
COMPREHENSIVE on THE SOUND SYSTEM of AMERICAN ENGLISH COURSE
by
BEVERLY A. LUJAN, M.S. ccc/sip
Edited by
C. J. S. Wallia, Ph. D.
Editor, IndiaStar Review of Books Instructor, Publishing & Editing Program, U.C. Berkeley extension Berkeley, California USA
ISBN 0-9634139-6-1
Copyright 2006
Lingual Arts
P.O. Box 522168 Salt Lake City, Utah 84152
All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this manual or accompanying audio materials may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, audio dubbing or otherwise, without prior written permission from Lingual Arts, Inc.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TO MY MOTHER
gratitude
in this and
talents
included Jan D. Mayer, Rob Ronald, Rod Burkholz, Brent Amy Norris, Nathan Martinez, Dennis Misurell, Jeff Hansen,
Ron Carpenter,
in
diverse cultures and languages. She brings particular sensitivity to the problems that non-native speakers sometimes have in speaking the English language clearly and effectively. Beverly studied Linguistics teaching, non-native at San Diego State University from the University and attained BS and MS of Utah. Her research, of
She has been a practicing speech therapist for over 18 years, counseling hundreds of non-native speakers of English in Utah from 26 countries around the world. She taught American English pronunciation University. She founded the Lingual to international students at Hawthorne Arts School in Salt Lake City that has
conducted courses and seminars on accent modification for corporate, government and educational clients. As a clinical supervisor at the University of Utah, she mentored graduate students to provide training in assessment and instruction on accent reduction. She also taught English speaking skills in the public school system. She is certified by ASHA (The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association) Languages). Ms. Lujan developed The American Accent Guide as a direct result of her experience in teaching English to non-native speakers. The exercises contained in the Guide were developed as part of her work in the field. and is a member of TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other
Beverly A. Lujan offers speech evaluation and personalized speech coaching for individuals, educational, and corporate clients.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
THE PROGRAM
xi xi xi, xi,
THE DIALECT
xii xiii
xv
......
THE APPROACH
xii,
THE LAYOUT
xix xx
SECTION 1
OVERVIEW
OF AMERICAN
ENGLISH
SPEECH
PATTERNS 1.1
Questions
1.5 1.6
Stress for Emphasis and Final Inflection RHYTHM Reductions Practicing 1.9 Linking 1.9
1.10
SECTION 2
THE ENGLISH
VOWELS
2.1
INTRODUCTION
TO ENGLISH VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS FOR VOWELS 2.1 OF VOWELS 2.2 2.3
AND CLASSIFICATION
LENGTHS
2.4
IAI lal
Iii
THE STRESSED
(up)
2.5
THE UNSTRESSED
(bee) (bit)
/I
2.9
(Continued)
2.9 2.11
hi lrel 101
/\1 lrel
Contrast:
10/- lre/
lu/-
lul letl
Contrast: IAr/-
2.23 2.23
Contrast: I Ar I - I or I
THE DIPHTHONGS
- 101
- Vowels/Dipthongs
SECTION 3
WORD STRESS
3.1
3.2
3.5
3.7
3.21
Abbreviations
BONUS EXERCISE
3.22 3.23
3.22
3.23
3.24
3.25 3.25
3.25 3.26
VI
SECTION 4
ENGLISH
IDENTIFYING REDUCED
SPEECH RHYTHM
4 .1
4.3 4.4
4.4
REDUCING
WORDS
Simplifying Vowels
Underlying
Simplifying
Consonants 4.14
BONUS EXERCISES
REDUCED
Combining
4.18
of hand . ..
t 4.19
.. . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. .. . ..
4.20
4.23
WITH CONTRACTED
FORMS
4.2.
4.26
PUTTING
Conversational
SECTION 5
THE AMERICAN
INTRODUCTION
ENGLISH CONSONANTS:
THE IPA SYMBOLS FOR CONSONANTS CLASSIFICATION OF CONSONANTS Tongue Tip Placement Aspiration
/p,
5.1
5.2 5.3
5.3
bl It, dl Ik, gl
5.5
INITIAL STOP CONSONANTS FINAL STOP CONSONANTS MIDDLE STOP CONSONANTS The Glottal Stop LINKING: LINKING: 5.7
Middle t, d 5.7
5.8
- CONSONANTS
5.10
Stop Consonants
Contrast: Voiceless Linking: Suffix -ed Linking: Suffix -ed BONUS EXERCISES
+ Suffix -ed
Vowels
5.11 5. 12
5.l3
5.16
t, d
k, g
5.17
Vll
5.18 5.19 5.21 Contrast 1'01- Idl Contrast 1'01- Izl 5.22 5.24 5.25 5.20 5.22
18,'01
WORDS
EXERCISES
If, v]
Contrast If I - Ivl 5.26
5.26
Contrast If. vi - 18,'01 5.27 Suffix -s, Suffix -ed Contrast: Ivl -/bl 5.27
EXERCISE
SECTION 6
THE AMERICAN ENGLISH CONSONANTS: The Sibilants Is, zl IJ, 31 (share, rouge)
INITIAL SIBILANT 151 BLENDS
6.1
6.2
6.5
SOUNDS 6.6
FINAL SIBILANT
Isl - Izl
6.6
6.8
STOP CONSONANTS
Suffix -s
CONSONANT
6.10
-S
Voiced 6.11
Contrast Isl Clusters Ipsl - Ibzl 6.11 Iksl - Iskl 6.12 Suffixes:
-es 6.15 -ize 6.16 -tion,- sion, -cian -cial, -tial -est 6.19 -sian, -sion 6.18 -ist -geous, gious 6.18
6.19
Vlll
(Continued)
6.18
+ Suffix -ed
Linking Sibilants + Suffix -ed - Vowels Silent Spellings of S 6.24 Spelling "ch" Pronounced
If I
6.24
SECTION 7
Irl
THE AMERICAN
ENGLISH CONSONANTS:
Voiceless
- Voiced 7.3
7.5
Contrast: Irtl -/rdl Contrast Irsl -lrzI More Practice Words - Irl Blends
BONUS EXERCISES 7.6-
7.6
/1/
THE CLEAR
7.8
LONG VOWEL
III BLENDS
FINAL
Contrast III Blends: Voiceless - Voiced III 7.10 A final consonant + III
THE BACK III I 7.11
Contrast: III -I
rl
7.12 7.12
Contrast: III Blends - Irl Blends The Suffix -ly 7.13 Conversational SilentI Exercise - Sounds 7.14
7.15
7.17
7.19
IX
7.20
(s i!JJ:}
7.22
7.22 7.23
7.23
7.24 7.24
7.24
SECTION
8.2
wh
VARIATIONS
8.5
Stress on Descriptive Words 8.7 Degrees of Stress 8.8 Conversational Exercise 8.8 Stress with Lower Pitch
PRACTICING STRESS FOR EMPHASIS AND EXPLAINING . 8.13 8.13 8.14 8.10 8.12 CLARIFYING
8.9
8.10
8.14
8.16
Compound sentences 8.16 Parenthetical Statements 8.17 STATING OPTIONS 8.18 Two Options 8.18 Conversational Exercise 8.18 More than Two Options 8.19
STATING ITEMS OR SEQUENCES 8.19
or INSTRUCTIONS
8.20
8.21 8.21
Conversational
BONUS EXERCISES
INTRODUCTION
THE PROGRAM
The American Accent Guide, Second Edition, is a complete program on the sound system of American hensive instruction instruction engaging on the intonation, and efficient. audio well as on pronunciation stress, book and audio instructional provides compreas of American approach English English. This program and rhythm
makes the
The American Accent Guide consists of a manual and eight hours of easy-to-follow instruction, along with additional exercises and practice word lists.
APPLICATION
The approaches and techniques used in TheAmericanAccentGuidehave students of many language levels. as a self-study program, and by to advanced proven effective backgrounds who
over the past 15 years with non-native speak English at low intermediate
The American Accent Guide can be used by individuals speech-language language pathologists and ESL teachers It has been successfully backgrounds. used with individuals
as a main instructional
resource.
THE PREMISE
The American Accent Guide is based communication of the sound system of that language on the premise that improving speech and
in a new language is more efficient ifthe student gains an understanding while practicing new skills. the
In the process of learning to identify and apply new sounds and voice patterns, student also attains improved comprehension of the language as it is spoken.
Xl
The International
Phonetic Alphabet
(IPA)
For the non-native speaker, a difficult part of learning how to speak English well is a result of written spellings. While there are 41 speech sounds in American English, there are only 26 letters to represent them. This Program uses the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a system that provides a symbol for each English vowel and consonant sound. Several dictionaries featuring IPA symbols are now available at bookstores. It is recommended that each student obtain one for personal use.
THE APPROACH
Interactive
Students participate in a variety of exercises. These involve listening and repeating, listening and responding, and many types of interactions utilizing analogies, synonyms, paraphrasing, and verbal exchanges. Exercises lend themselves and student. to interaction between teacher and student or student
Integrative
An integrative approach makes The American Accent Guide compact. It gives continuity to instruction and makes every lesson widely applicable to students of all language backgrounds. While each section is complete previous sections, i.e., in itself, the lessons address subject matter from
Word Stress - Practice words in most lessons are grouped according to their stress patterns in order to facilitate using proper word stress. Linking - Lessons on consonants show how to link sounds in order to facilitate English rhythm.
xu
e.g.,
Grammar and Usage The section on Rhythm includes a lesson on the pronunciation and use of articles a, an, and the and reviews the underlying rules for their use. The section on Consonants addresses pronunciation and usage of suffixes and provides repeated practice of the suffixes -ed , -s, -es, and S,
Vocabulary Exercises using synonyms, antonyms, and paraphrasing are designed to help the student learn new vocabulary.
THE LAYOUT
The book is divided into eight sections, each with its own numbering sequence and a corresponding CD. Following is a summary of sections in The American Accent Guide:
Section 1
The overview shows how stress, intonation, and rhythm work together to create the voice patterns of the English dialect that is standard in North America. It illustrates the key role that vowel sounds have in stressed and in unstressed segments.
Section 2
Because of their impact on intelligibility and their role in stress and in rhythm, vowel sounds are addressed early in the program. A lesson on each of the 17 simple vowels and diphthongs gives attention to the varying lengths of the sounds based on the different contexts in which they normally occur. Exercises contrast sounds that are often confused by learners of English, and brief probes survey the student's ability to differentiate between these sounds.
Section 3
WORD STRESS
Lessons demonstrate the correlation between grammatical function and stress patterns of various word types, including compound words and two-part verbs. They show how the suffix can determine which syllable is given primary stress, and they feature exercises that compare and contrast word stress patterns.
~l
THE RHYTHM OF AMERICAN ENGLISH is shown how to identify reduced forms and apply new rhythm words rhythm. patterns. Focus is that
of function
and to colloquialisms
Sections
5, 6 & 7
A lesson on each of the English consonants Sounds speakers, that occur frequently
difficult
Exercises contrast sounds often confused survey the student's ability to differentiate
by learners of English, and they help to between sounds that are similar.
sounds speakers.
the context
most and
between voiceless
for example:
attention
is given to articulation
of consonant
blends
and clusters.
voiced-voiceless
MORE ON INTONATION AND STRESS introduce more patterns Attention of intonation and stress and the underlyand pitch include longer,
and conclude
XIV
Before you begin to work on speaking English more clearly , here are some hints to help you get started:
Practice Faithfully
Make a commitment to practice daily and repeat each lesson as often as is necessary. Give yourself the practice time to do the job. It has been our experience that it takes at least three hours per week to make steady improvement in pronunciation. Language is an art, and it is the most complex of human behaviors - so there is no quick and easy way to master speaking a new language clearly. It does take dedicated practice and persistence. As you learn to interpret and apply new speech sounds, you may achieve the additional benefits of improved comprehension of spoken English and improved English grammar, particularly in using articles and suffixes. This can also help you become better aware of correct English spellings, particularly at ends of words.
xv
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Relax, relax
New speech postures unnecessary will feel unnatural at first . Learn to relax, because Try not to
tighten the muscles in your throat, your jaw, or your face. Whatever tension you need to speak English is focused only in the tongue and the lips.
Proper breathing is important in order to relax and to speak effectively. Avoid holding your breath when you feel nervous. Allow each breath to flow deeply and smoothly. You can practice proper breathing by closing your eyes and relaxing as you focus entirely on your breathing. Feel each breath flow past your throat into your abdomen and out again. On a daily basis, practice meditation or another relaxation technique that will improve your concentration for speech and will promote good breathing practice.
Allow yourself to yawn and experience the feeling of openness in the throat area. An open, relaxed posture in the back of the mouth and throat is essential for achieving the proper sound for English speech.
XVI
by 26 letter symbols.
Each
letter represents more than one sound. In addition, many of the sounds are spelled
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a system that provides one symbol for each sound. The IPA symbols will help you to identify more easily the individual sounds of American English. Remember to focus on sound rather than on spelling and to use the IPA symbols to identify the individual sounds. As a sound is addressed in a lesson, practice writing its symbol. Various dictionaries featuring IPA symbols are now available at bookstores. It is
of the language.
is increasingly
on the non-speech
You can also increase your insights through watching movies and Anyone who
make notice of how you use non-speech aspects in your expression. this manner.
wishes to become a better speaker could benefit from observing him- or herself in
At right are tongue postures that are used in English speech. These postures can be difficult for many non-native speakers. tongue as shown To train them, practice in front of a mirror. Use your fingers and a spoon if necessary to help you position your
tongue spread
tongue narrowed
XV111
Explanatory
Notes
some consonants
others by their spelling. This is because some sounds when produced by cannot be heard clearly on a recording. words that have identical pronunciation, are written together,
Different separated
In word exercises, most words are grouped according to their stress pattern, as in the following examples: day time many minute about today important accounting
begins on a
lesson.
is provided in writ-
ing only.
TO ,kODUCE;
Hol4do9l'llIlie1'lpofyour
t<mgllC.wpbcc:lhtlOllp:sik$ap1lISttMlIpPtt
A shaded box contains information that is not included in the audio instruction. Stop the audio to read the.contents .
ga.bet .,..... nd.oIcou . mike . oil Is at the rlghl level. Next.chKk your tires. II the al.~r.llur. is Jow. nil you,
A box with a shadow invites you to shadow the speaker. This means, read along and follow as closely as you can the voice and speech patterns ofthe speaker.
XIX
Airflow: Aspiration: Articulators: Articulation: Carryover: Continuant: Diphthong: Final position: Intelligibility: Intonation: Inflection: Initial position: Larynx:
The breathed air used in speech. The audible rush of air produced with some voiceless consonants. The structures that produce the speech sounds. The production of speech sounds. The process of applying newly-learned patterns in conversational speech. A linguistic classification for sounds that are produced with a continuous air flow.
A vowel produced as the articulators move from one place to another.
The occurrence of a sound at the end of a word. Speech clarity; the degree to which speech is understandable. The changes in voice during speech. The changes in pitch on intonation. The occurrence of a sound in the beginning of a word. The structure that contains the vocal cords. These vibrate the airflow to produce voice. The larynx is sometimes referred to as the "voice box." The airflow is held on one sound and released on the next sound. Linking connects sounds between adjacent words and thereby gives flow to speech.
Linking:
This term, usually associated with musical notes, refers in this course to the voice tones in speech.
The accent given a specific syllable by increasing its loudness and length, and changing its pitch. Any verbal expression. A consonant sound produced as the vocal cords vibrate.
A consonant sound produced without the use of voice.
Utterance:
Voiced consonant:
Voiceless consonant:
xx
SPEECH PATTERNS
This overview gives main focus to the vocal patterns of standard American English speech. We want to show you how intonation, stress, and rhythm work together and with the individual sounds, particularly the vowel sounds, to create the English dialect that is considered standard in America and is also spoken widely in parts of Canada.
Intonation is simply how we use and change our voice. As we speak, the pitch tones in our voices change in a way that is similar to when we sing. These changes are called pitch inflections.
1.1
THE
SYLLABLE
~
::: .
"C
<
--
PRIMARY SECONDARY
unstressed
STRESS STRESS
syllable
---------------------------------
---------------------------------.
~
"fi :~
VOWEL REDUCED
As a result of reductions made to stressed syllables, most vowels in these syllables are pronounced as the schwa, /a/, as in, condition or available. This vowel is represented by a symbol that looks like an upside-down e. This is a symbol of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The schwa is the shortest and simplest sound in English speech, and it is the sound most frequently used. Other vowels used often in unstressed syllables are the vowel III, as in citizen, and larl as in other.
AT THE WORD LEVEL Within a word, pitch rises to its highest level on the syllable with primary stress. From there, it falls, or it rises more. This inflection in pitch is made as a step or as a glide. Following are examples:
- Pitch steps down from the stressed syllable onto an unstressed syllable. Listen to examples spoken with a falling inflection. STEP INFLECTION
simple
amazing
accurate
impossible
1.2
Overview
Now listen to the same words spoken with rising inflection.
simple GLIDING
amazing
accurate
impossible
INFLECTION - Pitch glides on the syllable with primary stress when the word consists of one syllable, or when that syllable ends a word. Listen to examples with falling inflection:
now
agreed
guaranteed
.
now
..} guaranteed
agreed
correct
enough
today
responsibility
qualification
.J
never today forever
obligation
responsibility
qualification
1.3
FUNCTION WORDS
Examples:
a, an, the, any, some is, are, am, do, does, did and, but, if, or can, will, could, should, would in, on, of, into, about, with he, she, it, they, him, her, them
In phrases or in sentences, only certain words are normally given stress. These are the words classified as content words, because they contain most of the information III a message. Content words are nouns, verbs, adjectives, not stressed are classified as function words. and adverbs. Words that are normally
Function words serve more to provide the grammar structure that connects content words into phrases and sentences. Function words include articles, conjunctions, pronouns, and prepositions. Listen to the following sentence:
CONTENT
WORDS
FUNCTION
WORDS
TIME NOW
the, is
As you can see, content words carry the meaning in a message. Listen to another example:
CONTENT
WORDS
FUNCTION
WORDS
are, the
Are function words used in your native language? If they are not, you may have difficulty applying them in your English speech. You may also have difficulty hearing some function words as they are spoken in English, because they are normally reduced and are thereby spoken quickly.
1.4
Overview
FALLING AND RISING INFLECTION Final inflection, which is the pitch change at the end of an utterance, has underlying meaning. Generally, in connected speech a fall in pitch indicates that the speaker has finished a thought, while a rise in pitch indicates that the speaker intends to continue on the thought. Listen to examples:
Wh- Questions, which are those that begin with question words such as who, what, or when, are normally spoken with a falling inflection, as in:
The Question Words are: what, when, where, which, who, whom, why & how
\
Who called? What's new?
What is it called? Where is it? Which way? How did you do that?
Yes/No Questions, which are those that request a yes or a no response, are normally spoken with a rising inflection. Listen:
)
Is that right?
)
Can you join me?
)
Are you ready? Will you be there? Do you think so?
)
Should I call? Would that be okay? Did you check your e-mail?
1.5
Accent Guide
PRIMARY STRESS AND FINAL INFLECTION In phrases and in sentences, primary stress is normally placed on the last content word, and that is where final inflection occurs. In the following sets of sentences, the first ends with a content word, and the second ends with one or more function words. Listen to an example:
Grammatical Forms of Final Words
..
"' :..
VERB
Preposition, Pronoun
VERB
Pronoun
ADJECTIVE
Preposition, Pronoun
!
ADVERB
Preposition, Pronoun
ADVERB
Preposition, Pronoun
..
l.6
. i
NOUN -
Did you show the notebook? Did you show the notebook: to her?
Overview
STRESS FOR EMPHASIS
While primary stress is normally placed on the last content word of an utterance, in everyday speaking situations intonation and stress work together in a flexible manner to convey underlying meaning. Stress is shifted in a sentence to emphasize the words that mean more specifically what the speaker wishes to express. Listen to an example spoken first with normal stress. Sam called last night. Now listen to the sentence spoken with shifted stress.
To communicate a distinction between what the listener expects and what you mean, you can shift stress to call attention to the distinction, as in the following response:
Stress can also be shifted within a word for clarification, as in the following: I understand the people there are unfriendly. Some are unfriendly, but most are friendly.
When primary stress is shifted in a phrase or in a sentence, final inflection also shifts. Listen to an example with falling inflection.
We are interested.
We are interested.
We are interested.
. .
1.7
Accent Guide
. .
RHYTHM Rhythm in speech results from the timing in connected segments. This rhythm can be compared to the timing in drumbeats. English syllables, for example, are like long and short beats, with stressed syllables spoken longer and stronger, and unstressed syllables spoken quicker and lighter. Function words are normally unstressed and therefore are often spoken with the same timing as unstressed syllables. Following are pairs of words and phrases, for example, that usually sound identical in connected speech. Listen:
announce offense
an ounce a fence
arresting as sorted
today
The day.
available
It's capable.
organization
..
organizational
..
1.8
Overview
Now listen to sentences and phrases with matching stress and rhythm.
Absolutely true! false! Extremely careful.
That's completely
I had nothing to do with it! That is not what I'm looking for!
Reductions
Besides reductions to unstressed syllables, other reductions are made to sounds or words in connected speech which also influence its rhythm. (These reductions are addressed in Section 4 of this Program.) For example:
going to ...> "gonna" want to ...> "wanna"
Linking
Rhythm is also affected by the ways in which words are connected in running speech. In English, words are linked in the following ways: Often, the end of a word is pronounced the next word. For example: found it
... > ... >
found~it
What~time? Keep
j
pace.
1.9
Conversational
Exercise:
Focus on the patterns of stress, intonation and rhythm as you listen to the following dialogue.
Excuse me. are you the corRECT person to talk with to make reservations for dinner tonight? ................ Yes. That's MY responsibility. Do you have anything open for 7:30 p.m.? ................ Let me open the reservation book and check RIGHT away. Now...let's see. That s 7:30 p.m. tonight. corRECT? That's the right time. ................ Oh, and that's for TWO people? aGREED? Well. let me corrECT you on that. It's actually for two COUPles. Yes. It seems that we DO have something open for FOUR at that time. That's aMAZing! I thought getting reservations now would be imPOSsible. I'm glad we had something open. Thanks for calling.
Knowing how to apply the is key to speaking English in the audio instruction in work together and with the standard in North America.
proper voice patterns of intonation, stress, and rhythm clearly and effectively. As you listen to the speakers this Program, give attention to how these components individual sounds to produce the English dialect that is
1.10
OJ
INTRODUCTION
TO ENGLISH VOWELS
together to create speech. There
A vowel is the sound that connects consonants are two basic vowel types .
The Simple Vowels are produced with the tongue, the jaw, and the lips in one position. The Diphthongs are produced with the tongue, the jaw, and the lips moving from one position to another.
As in:
Spellings:
Iii
/II
letl"
181 lrel lal hi lou/* lul lul lal IAI larl IArI
tei!"
lau/* 181/*
*
These are diphthongs.
eat it ate end at on old own put soon ov~n Qven mother her Veye how toy
ea,ee, e, Ie, ei, 1,eo, oe, uay, ae, y . . 1, e, u, ee, u, y, ei a, e, ai, ay, ei, ey, ea, ue, ee, au, a_ e, et e, ue, ea, a, re, at a, ai a,ea,o,aw, ow, au, oa 0,a, ou, oa, aw, ow o,oa, ow, oe, oU,eau, oO,au,o_e 0,00, u,ou u, ue, ew, 0, ou, oe, ui, wo, u_ e . . a, u, 01, u, ei, at, e, 1, 00, 0, e ia, ah, oe, u ur, er, or, ar, ure, yr, oar ur,er, ir, ear, or, our . . .. 1,y, uy, et, eye, ui, 1_e ou,ow, au 01,OY
OJ
The voiced airflow is shaped by the tongue, the jaw , and the lips to form vowels. These sounds are classified based on the position of the tongue in relation to the dimensions of the mouth, ranging from front to back and from high to low.
The jaw ranges in position from high to low, aligned with the tongue.
The lips are retracted forvowels that are produced high and in front, and they are rounded for vowels produced high and in back. They remain neutral for other sounds.
Lip Posture Rounded Rounded Rounded becoming more rounded Slightly rounded Neutral
Low
Neutral
lax
The lips are neutral for vowels tarl, la/, and /AI . These are dipthongs. The other dipthongs are: tall, laul, and 1011.
The Tongue
CENTER
Ups
, , ,
BLADE
TtP
2.2
Vowels
LENGTHS OF VOWELS
OJ
English vowels vary in length. Some are referred to as long vowels and others are referred to as short vowels. The length of a vowel is additionally influenced as follows:
finish
winning
An open vowel (one that ends a word) is longer than a closed vowel (one that is followed by a consonant).
Open vowels Closed vowels
me may
mean main
A closed vowel is longer when it is followed by a voiced consonant than when it is followed by a voiceless consonant.
ad
at
bead
beat
(The difference between voiced and voiceless consonants is explained on page 5.3')
MIRROR WORK
: View your jaw and lip movements : as you practice new vowel sounds.
2.3
Vowel + No Consonant
Iii
leII
beat safe
bead save
bel bee
say
THE SCHWA VOWEL The schwa is the shortest, the most simple, and the most frequent sound in English speech. The schwa vowel requires no movement of the tongue, the jaw, or the lips; and there is no visible face movement. The sound is felt only at the larynx as a short, voiced sound. There are two versions of the schwa: one stressed and one unstressed.
2.4
Vowels
II
THE STRESSED SCHWA
This sound is used in stressed syllables. Listen:
but/butt
/bAt/
TO PRODUCE: Keep your tongue relaxed in a central position. The lips remain neutral.
bud
/bAd/
cup
IkAp/
cub
IkAb/
hunt
IhAnt/
hum
IhAm/
Notice how the consonant after the vowel affects the vowel's length. Practice the stressed schwa. Repeat:
nut runt -
none/nun run
let -
This sound is used in unstressed syllables. The following words contain both the stressed and the unstressed schwa. Listen: te, A/ /A.a/ /A.a/
above
,
B
sudden
trouble
Practice the schwa vowel, stressed and unstressed, in synonyms. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A A B
carpet confidence
rug trust
2.5
fortune haste
luck rush
retracted, raise your tongue highandshift itforward slightly. feeliiur t side~ press against the r sides of your mouth as your produce this long vowel sound.
Listen:
beaUbeet bead be/bee feet/fete feed fee
The following words contain both the vowel Ii/ and the schwa. Repeat:
li, e! Ii, el to, if la)1
"\
decent even evil reason recent season appeal appear believe
"\
complete machine police
2.6
Vowels
retracted very slightly, raise your tongue mid-high in front so that its sides touch the upper side teeth. Keep the tongue relaxed. To find the right placementfor III, moveyourtonguebetween vowels Iii and la/.
This vowel occurs frequently in English speech. It is a new sound for many non-native speakers of the language. Listen:
hit
hid
lit
lid
wit
win
it
in
hint
him
mitt
mid
sit
sin
SYNONYMS -
Practice the vowel /II in synonyms. After you hear A, and B, repeat B.
A B A B
This time after you hear A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
excavate strike
dig hit
smooch wealthy
kiss rich
2.7
Contrast:
Iif - /II
Listen to word pairs. You will hear
Can you differentiate between these sounds? one word again. Which is it?
deed
Answers:
did
deed fit
feet
hit
fit
heat
hit
Practice words and sentences with both vowels Iii and /II. Repeat, and listen again to the sentence each time. bean is sit did willfit it - been ease seat deed wheel feet eat The bean has been planted. It is. done with ease. Let's sit in that seat. Who did that deed? I will turn the wheel. Will they fit your feet? It will not eat.
Practice alternating between vowels /II and Iii in sentences. Feel your tongue relax for /II and tense for Iii. Repeat: He did eat it. Ii, I, i, II He will meet his niece. Ii, I, i, I, il Did she give me this? /I, i, I, i, II He will need his jeans. Ii, I, i, I, il Steve will leave it clean. Ii, I, i, I, il /I, i, I, i, II Will he fill these bins?
ANTONYMS
- Practice contrasting vowels /Iland Iii in antonyms. After you hear A, select its antonym in B. You will hear a model after.
A B A B
2.8
Vowels
LENGTI: TONGUE:
LIPS:
w' SHORT
High in front and relaxed Slightly retracted
/11
III/
SHORT
Centered and relaxed Neutral
Contrast:
/II - 1111
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
been
Answers:
bun
been him
him
SIn
hum
sin
son/sun
How big is the bug? ~ I heard him sing and hum. Win that one. The tin weighs a ton.
TO PRODUCE: Position your tongue mid-high in frontand slightly forward. Keepyour lips neutral.
Listen:
bent bend debt dead let led
2.9
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Practice the vowel 18/ as you focus on vowel length. Repeat: meant - mend pet - pen spent - spend went - wed
SYNONYMS - Practice the sound If) in synonyms. After you hear A, you say B. You
Ie/
LENGnt
TONGUE: Llr;'S:
/ /II
SJOR"
Mid high, relaxed Neutral
SHORT
Centered, relaxed Neutral
Contrast:
tel - IAI
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? bet
Answers:
but
bet just
jest _just_
must
must
messed
Repeat the following words and sentences: rest met net I need to rest. .. We have never met. .. They fish with a net. .. . . . rust mutt nut The metal has rust. The dog is a mutt. Don't act like a nut.
Repeat:
.\
address affect again collect
.\
connect offend select upset credit debit merit template
2.10
Vowels
PRODUCE: With your tongue relaxed and its"middle raised mid-high, lower your jaw slightly. Press down both the back and the front of the tongue. Keep your lips neutral. TO
Listen:
can't
can
map
man
rank
rang
mat - mad
tank - tan
rat - ram
sank - sang
SYNONYMS A
This time after you hear A, you say B. You will hear a model after.
A B A B
angry applaud __
mad clap
money unhappy __
cash sad
2.11
/re/
SHORT Centered and relaxed, low in front and in back. Neutral
Contrast:
tel -Leet
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
head had
Answers: had send
send
tan
sand
ten
tan
Repeat these words and sentences. Listen again to the sentence each time.
guess - gas head - had men - man pen - pan said - sad I guess the car needs gas. Two men or one man? The pen is by the pan. They said it was sad.
fn:>
/aa/
LENGTH: TONGUE: LIPS: SHORT High in middle, relaxed & low in front and in back. Neutral
//\/
SHORT Centered and relaxed. Neutral
Contrast:
teet -1111
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? bat but
Answers: bat cap
cap _
mast
cup __
mast
must
Repeat the following words and sentences. Listen to the sentence again each time.
bat - but cap - cup cat - cut lack -luck ran - run The bat can hear but not see. The cap is by that cup. The cat will cut the string. That team has a lack of luck. must have a mast. I ran and I will run again.
2.12
Vowels
SYNONYMS - Contrast
A
B, repeat B.
container crumble
can crush
collapse particle
crash crumb
This time after you hear A, you say B. You will hear a model after.
A B A B
reckless hurry
rash rush
jogged jog
ran run
.\
attach attack command Japan
Matt.
2.13
The
COMPREHENSIVE
American Accent Guide to FdroElUCE: Low3'r your" jaw, as you press down slightly the back of your tongue. Keep ~~!Jr retped,nd IlJtral~
II
Listen: got gone hot hall
19
lot
log
Practice 1a 1 as you focus on its length. Repeat: cop - call jot - job not pot nod pond rock - rod top - tall
timely truthful
prompt honest
This time upon hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
sob rob
highest stone
top rock
2.14
Vowels
101
LENGTH: TONt3UI:: JAW; LIPS: SHORT Low in back, relaxed Lowered Neutral
lrel
SHORT Mid-high and relaxed Lowered slightly Neutral
Contrast:
lal-/rel
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
hot
Answers:
hat
hat pot Ann
pot
Pat
on
Ann
Now practice both sounds /re/ and /0/ in one sentence. again to the sentence each time.
Ann - on hot not Pat hat gnat pot Ann is on the phone. ~
It's too hot to wear a hat. That insect is not a gnat. Pat made a PQ1of tea. Try not to rock the rack. Ron and I ran.
statements
You will
He took off his hat, because the weather What did he take off? How was the weather?
was hot.
His hat. Hot.
She washed the pot, and Pat dried it. What did she wash? Who dried it?
The pot. Pat.
The rack was light, but the rock was heavy. What was light? What was heavy?
The rack. The rock.
2.15
The
COMPREHENSIVE
IAI
SHORT Central and relaxed Central Neutral
JAW:
LIPS:
Contrast:
101 - IAI
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
got_
Answers:
gut_
gut hog not
hog_
hug _
not_
nut
Repeat these words and sentences. Then listen to the sentence again each time.
boss - bus hug - hog hot - hut not - nut color - collar My boss takes the bus. Can you illJg a big hog? It was hot inside the hut. I could not crack the nut. What color is the collar?
statements
You will
2.16
Vowels
/0/ versus /0/ English dictionaries make a distinctionbetween these vowels,'and both \towels are used widelyin the Eastem and Southern regions ofthe United States. In the Midwest and Westernregions, including California, however, the vowel 101 is used instead of /3/ in many words. In audio exercises accompanying this book; you will hear the vowe1 used predominantly. la!
TO PRODUCE: Lower your jaw and slightly raise your tongue in back to mid-high. Round your lips slightly.
Listen:
bought
bond
colt
cold
lawn
law
walk
wall
salt
song
pause
paw
wrong
raw
SYNONYMS -
aged agree
old conform
form increased
mold more
This time upon hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
chilly combat
cold war
door encore
2.17
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Contrast:
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to a pair of words. You will hear one word again. Which is it? bought _
Answers:
but_
bought cut
caught _
done
cut
dawn
done
Repeat these words and sentences: caught The criminal was caught. dawn I woke up before dawn. .. cough I heard someone cough. .. cut The prices were cut. done What have you done? cuff The shirt has a dirty cuff.
TO PRODUCE: Raise your tongue in back so that its sides touch the upper sides of your mouth. Keep the tongue relaxed. Round your lips. Produce a short vowel sound.
Listen:
cook
could
foot
fu II
put
pull
Repeat these words: book shook stood took wood wool cookie cooking looking
2.18
Vowels
SYNONYMS
A
and
B,
repeat
B.
hood cushion
shrub stream
bush brook
This time, upon hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
drag glance
pull look
shove lady
push woman
Practice the vowel /u/ in sentences. Repeat, and then listen again.
Could you Q..Y.t the book here? He took the cookie. Would you look for a good cook? It looks like it could be full. ~
lal
LENGTH:
1111
SHORT
SHORT
Mi83highin!~cl<
Neutral
TO'MGUE:
LIPS:
alrelaxJ
cehtral Neutral
Contrast:
l o! - IAI schwa
Listen to word pairs. You will hear
Can you differentiate between these sounds? one word again. Which is it?
book
Answers:
buck
book look
look
took
luck
tuck
took
2.19
The
COMPREHENSIVE
II
Listen:
duke doom do suit
soon
sue
-Practice
double evidence
two clue
fresh unrefined
new crude
This time after hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
nude noon
tossed select
threw choose
assume balloon
issue tissue
remove renew
2.20
Vowels
lul
LENGTH: TONGUE: LONG High in back and tensed. $1~b!19~ouhded
lu/
SHORT Mid-high in back and relaxed. Lelll\fOUnded
Contrast:
lu! - lut
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? Luke
Answers:
look
look pool
pool_
suit
pull_
suit
soot
Practice using sounds lul and lul in the following phrases. Repeat:
lu, u/ to, u/
high in the middle with its sides touching the upper sides of your mouth. Draw the tongue tip backward. keeping the lips relaxed. DO NOT touch any part of your mO~1h with the tongue tip.
ill
Tf)etongue remaIns in one poJition during sound l'dr/. This produces a sound that is different from the consonant ttl. If you can produce Ir I, prolong the sound without moving your tongue and you will say the sound /ar/.
2.21
The
COMPREHENSIVE
'"r'
Listen:
STRESSED
hurt
heard
her
first
firm
fur
SYNONYMS A
This time upon hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
gentleman labor
sir work
solid world
.firm earth
2.22
Vowels
Contrast:
lsrl=-Lerl
for l etl the tongue glides from vowel
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
fur fair
fur pair stare
per_
pair_
stir
stare
Answers:
Note the contrast between the sounds l sr] and tet! as you repeat word pairs.
curry - carry courage - carriage during - daring furry - fairy hurry - hairy jury - Jerry
Contrast:
Inr! - Iorl
For IArI, the tongue stays in one position; for l zt], the tongue glides from vowel hi to Ir/. Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
firm
Answers:
form
firm short
shirt
wore
short
were
wore
2.23
The
COMPREHENSIVE
far! - UNSTRESSED
Say these words: dinner effort favor proper other water correct direct perhaps
When /ar/ occurs twice in a word, keep the tongue raised in one position for both occurrences. Repeat: error mirror terror emperor laborer terrorist cheeseburger hamburger
SYNONYMS
A
never better
This time after you hear A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
across below
over under
dad mom
father mother
2.24
Vowels
THE DIPHTHONGS
A diphthong combines two vowels to create one sound. The diphthongs are all long sounds. The tongue and the mouth move from one position to another to form a diphthong, as in the following. Listen: l etl gauge height l oul dough count
Iall
laul
TO PRODUCE: Move from the well b the Vowellil raisIQ9 rt and retracting your lips slightly. Practice moving smoothly between the two vowels until you produce diphthong lesl.
l
If you have difficulty producing this sound before a consonant (as 1ndate). d9 the following: Break the word into parts (example: date ~ /der + t/). Repeat the parts saying them closer and closer together, until you can say them as one word. Listen:
rate
raid
ray
wait
wade
way
2.25
The
COMPREHENSIVE
SYNONYMS -
B,
Repeat
B.
attack docile
raid tame
humiliation popularity
shame fame
This time, after you hear A, you say B. You will hear a model after.
A B A B
donated flavor
gave taste
tardy perhaps
late maybe
Contrast:
lel=Lesl
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
date
Answers:
debt
debt matn
main
wet
men
wait
wet
2.26
Vowels
ANTONYMS -
Contrast
lell with tet in antonyms. After you hear A and its opposite,
B, repeat B.
A B A B
release condemn
press praise
late let
After you hear A, you say its opposite, B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
east preserve
west waste
dry proceed
wet wait
l ei.el
l ei.el
2.27
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Beginwith your tongue slightly low inthe center,and raise it into the vowel foIl. AStyourise. YO\i jaw,IstraOJ;rour lips sliifltly.
If you find this vowel especially difficult to produce when it is followed by a consonant,as in time orlike, do the following: Breakthe wordsini> paf'tst (Example:lime;: ltOI + m/). Repeatthe two partscloser and closer together,untilyou can say them as one word.
Practice I all as you focus on its length. Repeat: dice - dime - die/dye light - lied - lie type - time - tie cite/site/sight - side/sighed
sigh
Practice words with both laII and the schwa lel . Repeat:
l e.etl le.etl
tet.e!
alike alive
SYNONYMS -
comply polite
final rival
bashful detect
shy find
indication pleasant
sign nice
2.28
Vowels
After you hear A, you say B. Listen to the model after.
A B
purchase quiet
buy silent
B alike tonight
/aII
DIPHTHONG
leel
SIMPLE VOWEL SHORT
LENGTH: TONGUE:
LONG
Contrast:
letl - lee!
LIPS:
From low in middle to high in front. From relaxed to tense. From neutral toretracted.
Repeat these words and sentences: mine fine side light Those are mine. . I feel fine It's on the right side. That is a bright light.
. . .
I saw the man. We need a fan. The movie was sad. A boy is called a lad.
TO PRODUCE: Begin with your tongue low in back, and your lips rounded slightly. Then raise your tongue in back to fuf, as you round your lips more.
)@) @
~~
( \ I
2.29
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Go home. No coat.
focus modem
SYNONYMS A
notice open
ago arose
oppose suppose
loot
DIPHTHONG
101
SIMPLE VOWEL SHORT
LENGTH:
LONG
Contrast: loul - 101 Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? hole
Answers:
TONGUE: LIPS:
Moves from mid high to high in back I relaxed. Rounded to more rounded,
Neutral
hall
hall
note
not wrote
not
rote/wrote _
rot _
Repeat these words and sentences. John - Joan rod - road won't - want note - not coat - cot
Listen again after each sentence. He is John, and she is Joan. fin:> There was a rod on the road. I won't go unless I want to. The note is not there. The coat is on the cot.
2.30
Vowels
ROOUgE: Begin "'WIth your jaw lowered, your tongue low in the middle, and your lips relaxed. Then move into vowel Iu/ or lul, raIsing your Jawand tongue god rounding your lips.
,If
Listen:
bound
bow
noun
now
sound
sow
Repeat these words: bout - bowed route - round out - owl Repeat these phrases:
lau, au, aul lau, au, aul
Practice words that contain both the schwa /a/ and /aul.
i e.eol la,aul
Repeat:
repeat B.
A B A B
distrust tone
doubt sound
let encircle
allow surround
2.31
The
COMPREHENSIVE
This time after you hear A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
circular city
round town
noisy yell
loud shout
Contrast:
laul - loot
LENGTH: TONGUE: LIPS:
ieu!
DIPHTHONG LONG
loot
DIPHTHONG LONG
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
to d.
found
Answers:
phoned _
phoned know / no
now
town
know/no _
town
tone
Repeat these words and sentences. Listen again to the sentence each time. found - phoned hose - house how - hoe now - know I found out who phoned. fJ'l::> The hose is by the house. How do I hoe the garden? Now I know.
II
Listen:
TO PRODUCE: Begin with your longue low in back and yourips rounded. Then raise l your tongue high infront and retract your lipS,as for vowel IiI or /II .
m""
1m.?
boil
boy
join
joy
2.32
Vowels
Repeat these word pairs:
coil - coy
soil - soy
toil - toy
SYNONYMS
join moist
boy choice
This time, after you hear A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
gladness celebrate
joy rejoice
tip bother
point annoy
Conversational
Practice pronouncing the vowels and diphthongs in connected speaker in the following conversational exercise.
Traveling
is undoubtedly
be sure you fill your car with gas before you leave and,
of course, make
sure the oil is at the right level. Next, check your tires. If the air pressure is low, fill your tires to the higher level recommended by the manufacturer. way. Also, be is
You may need to bring a map to read in case you lose your
sure to obey all the traffic laws along your route. One rule to remember
that red means "stop," and green means "go." Try not to drive when you're tired. If you feel drowsy, pull over to the side of the road and rest, or let someone else drive. It's the smartest advice on how get to where you are going, safe and sound.
2.33
The
COMPREHENSIVE
In the following phrases each word contains a diphthong. I knowhow. No way out.
I know why. So I know. How they go. Why buy now?
Say
fOT
the underlined
words.
1. Where have you ~? 2. What!lli:!yoli do there? 3. How is y other? 4. Eat your les.
Answ~:1./blnl Pronunciation lEI or /te!? 1. I slept in a soft mm.
5. Did the gloves fit? 6. Didthe Mgt melt th(%ioo~ 7. IJid you save me' en willYO!;! arr
5. IfItl 1:1. !hit/
Ifit/_
Ihit/ __
Isit/_ fwill_
8.
1. lfiltl
/wIII
/bred_
Igres/_ Ipren/_
3. Ipenl
4. There are grooories inthe lmg. Ibeg/_ reg/_ 5. First 1 stood, and then 1 ~ Isetl /sret/_ 6. The news was very sad. Ised/_/sredl _
4./b~g/ 5. /s~tl 6./s~d/
1. She wore a redgm. 2. Didyou wear a hat? 3. Iwish you good Jygs. 4. I likeditvery much.
Answers:
/kl\p/ _
Ihl\t/_ /ll\k/_ Iml\tJI_ Ill\kl
5. Youmust see that movie. Imrest/_ 6. We had fun at the party. Ifrenl 7. Thafs a baseball bill. fbretl 4. /ml\tf/ 5.ml\st/ /
1. /krepl
2. Ihret/a.
6. fAn/ I
7. /bret/
g/_/hag/_
I~l!sglar/_
Inat/_ Ihat/__
2./dAn/ 3./goll 4. /jag/ 5./hAgI
6./kAlarl
'1./nAtl
8./hat!
3. high_ 4. hold_
5. hat_ 6. hit_
7.hair_ 8. how_
9. hate_ 10.head __
1./0/
2. lou/
3./al/
4./01
5./~/
6./11
7.1&/
S./aul
9./el/
10.1&/
2.34
Vowels
Practice the IPA symbols for simple vowels & diphthongs: Identify the wordswJ:JttelL,(n IP~symbols:
1./wet/_ 2./borl/_ 5./waI/_ 6./sed/_ 7./hau/_ 8./Jou/_ 9./bret/_ 13./bers/_ 14./sred/_ 1./per/_ 2Udaun/_ 22./daIl/_ 23./haI/_ 20./mred/_ 24. kout/_ / 17.tarm/_ / 18./Jar/_ 19./kold/_ 25./hrt/_ 26. ed/_ d 27./lelt/_ 28./gud/_
10./wer/_
11.)hu/_ 12.Jminf ' __
3./tum/_
4./nou/_ Correct: 1. wet 2. b<m 3. him 4. know/no
1'6: ItOI7"-
Write the'IPA symbo] ot:thevo~il s0'ild cqutained in each wprd, For example: bat lcel bed lei
5. 6. 7. 8.
n.
5. e,J;
6. Ar 7. ee
9. u
10. 0 11. er 12. au
14. a
8.
15. ar 16. or
Compare tongue position for simple vowels & diphthongs: Say the words in each set and compare the positioning of your tongue for the vowel sounds. Which vowel sound isproduced !}lore a~ the front in the mouth.
12. came
Say the words iff each set and compare the poSitioning of your tongue for the vowel sound. Which vowel sound is produced higher in the mouth?
10. - let lot 11. sit- sat 12. mud - mood to. let
11. sit 12. mood
2.35
The
COMPREHENSIVE
bead- bid bean - been/bin beatlbeet bit cheap - chip deeo did deem... dim deep - (jip deep~r - dipper feast - fist feel fill f~etlfete fit
dl~ DoUgJdug -
bid - bed Qig - beg bill- bell bin - Ben bft- bet, .,
diq dead
fill~fl:fll
2.36
Vowels
MINIMAL PAIRS ...continued
l el - leel
bed - bad bend- band bet - bat better - batter blend - bland blessed - blast dead- dad deo,iii;b)an dense - danae fed - fad lend - fanned .~em * uess - s g guest - gassed head - had hem - ham left - laughed lend -land las~. man mesh - mash met - mat net - gnat pest - past pet- pat. re'nt rant said - sad send - sand set - sat shell- shall 4t.ech -t8m1<' temper - tamper ten - tan tend - tanned text;- taxed trek - track vest - vast vet - vat wreck - rack
g~en.
~n
pe<m -pacl<
pen- pan
fead/led lad
Iuc!l-..
lair-/or:J1
backs - box bag -bog band -bond bass- boss bat - bouglit batch - botch black - block brat - brought cab - cob cad - cod cap - cop cat - cot, caught can - con cast - cost chap- chop ~Iack k
MiW crass-
o
lack -Iock lag -log lap -lop
Dan - Don/dawn. fan - fawn fat - fought fox - go~ gnat - knot/not hack - hock
s
laughed - loft Mack - mock
map - mop nab - knob pad - pod Dan - pawn '!@'PfWI t pat- po rack - rock ramp - romp ran - Ron !at rot,~[ougQl '&ack - sock sang - song sap - sop
sass - sauce sat - sought shall- shawl smack- smock span- spawn stack - stock, stalk stamp - stomp tack- talk tap - top whack-walk
2.37
The
COMPREHENSIVE
teet - IAI
back - buck bag - bug bass - bus batter - butter cap - cup cat - cut cram - crumb crash - crush dam/damn - dumb damp - dump Dan - done drank - drunk fan - fun fanny - funny ham - hum lack -luck lamp -lump last - lust mad - mud mast - must pan - pun rag - rug ran - run rant - runt shack - shuck stack - stuck staff - stuff stamp - stump tack - tuck tan - ton task - tusk track - truck tramp - trump
bell- baf! Ben - bane best- baste/based bled - blade bread - braid breast - braced chest - chaste debt - date Ed - aid/aide ell- ail/ale
etch h fed - fade fell - fail gel- jail get - gait/gate less -lace let - late hell - hail/hale Jen -Jane Ken - cane
kept - caped men- main/mane met- mate pen - pain pest - paste press - praise rest - raced said - Sade sell - sail/sale shed- shade
take teU tall/tale test - taste tread - trade trend - trained wed - wade well - whale/wail west - waist/waste wet - wait wren - rain
Ire/-laII
a-I ad -J'd back - bike bad-Bide bat - 1511e canned- kind cat - kite dad - died darn- dime fat fight qram- grime grand - grind lack -like Mac- Mike man- mine mat - might/mite gnat night pan - pine ,rap/wrap - ripe rat - right/write stripe tyKe ap- type van - vine
laul - loot
about - a boat bough/bow - bowlbeau bow - bow/bough clown - clone cowl- coal crown - crone doubt - dote drown - drone foul- foal found - phoned how - how jowl- Joe known - noun loud -load now - know/no out - oat pouch - poach route - wrote sow - sew/so tout - tote wow - woe
2.38
WORD STRESS
To speak English clearly one must use proper stress on words. The way a word is
stressed can affect its meaning. So it is important to focus on word stress as a part of learning to speak English clearly and effectively. In this section, we will review some ofthe most basic and frequently used word-stress patterns. There are many word-stress patterns in English. Most words consist of more than one syllable, with both stressed and unstressed syllables. There are also words that consist of two words which combined, create one meaning. We will begin with these.
COMPOUND
WORDS
A compound word combines two words into one and creates its own meaning. A compound word may be written as one word or as two. The first is spoken with primary stress, and the second with secondary stress. Listen:
bus stop
freeway
newspaper
coffee shop
3.1
The
COMPREHENSIVE
In the following sets of exchanges, practice contrasting a compound word with its two component words. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
. .
. .
. .
. .
These sentences contain both the compound word and its component words. Repeat:
I had my hair cut last month, so I need another haircut. She is not my girlfriend, she is a girl friend.
TWO-PART VERBS Many idioms are two-part verbs, and many two-part verbs are idioms. A two-part verb consists of a verb and a preposition, as in sit down or stand up. Certain verband- preposition combinations that are two-part verbs are also compound words. The difference is in their stress patterns. In a two-part verb, it is the second word, the preposition, which is stressed. Contrast two-part verbs with compound words. Listen:
compound word two-part verb compound word two-part verb
checkup cleanup
\
take off takeover -
\
take off take over
check up clean up
3.2
Word Stress
Repeat the following: workout work out layoff layoff backup back up tryout tryout check in check in . . . I had a good workout today. I work out at the spa. The company is planning a layoff. How many employees did they layoff? Is there a backup copy of the letter? I back up all my computer files. They are holding tryouts for the team. She will try out for the play. Check in time is at 11 a.m. What time did you check in? saying the
Some two-part verbs, like the following, can be separated. Practice following two-part verbs. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
Here's my phone number. . It's a real problem! Was the story true? We should start right away. .
. . . .
I'll call you UJ2tomorrow. Hope you can work it mLt. No, they made it UJ2. Yes, let's not P.Y1 it Qff.
COMPOUND WORDS ~eacfline drive-in freeway greenhouse hand~lfa~e passport pickup restroom credit card" overtime paperwork parking lot
Some two-part verbs have more than one meaning. Items in A provide clues to the meanings of the two-part verbs in B. make up
A B
It was not true. ........~...., ' . Are they stil1'mad ateflch otber',?"w, , .... . Have you dEfcided yet? , ................ Is hard work enough? .
Did thel make up the story? 0, tAeymade up.' No, I haven't made up my mind. Hard work is important, but it doesn't always make up for experience.
work out A B
I do my eXE$iises at tJ:Le gym. J,_~ .... ;, Mi@.1 work q~t at the sea. We found a solution, ...... How did you work it out? Everything went according to plan. ........ I'm glad everything is working out.
3.3
3.4
Word Stress
Prefixes and suffixes allow a word to take various fOnDS and meanings. For example: like likes liked alike likeness unlike likely e likeable likene unlikely likeliest likeliness
blcodedts-
likellh
lminmlsoutprereun-
Prefixes and suffixes also allow the English vocabulary to continue to grow. FOTexample,
information documentary + commercial + drama
= infomercial = docudrama
PREFIXES AND WORD STRESS Prefixes are used in many English words, and they carry meaning. Most prefixes are unstressed. (Stresses on suffixes are less predictable.) When the prefix is stressed, it is often a noun; when the prefix is unstressed, it is often a verb. Although these words are spelled the same, the difference between them is made clear in spoken English by their stress patterns. To contrast stress and pronunciation on such noun-and-verb pairs, listen:
noun
verb
"\
Repeat these words and sentences in order to hear the contrast between nouns and verbs.
record - record That is a good record. Please record the lecture. They are taking a survey. They must survey the damage. They were rewarded for good conduct. They will conduct a workshop. What is the content of the letter? We were content with the outcome.
survey - survey...........
conduct - conduct
.....
content - content........
3.5
tn:>
They will not permit you to enter without a permit. A farmer can produce a lot of produce.
EXCEPTIONS: Following are examples of words that serve as either nouns or verbs. In these types of words, the noun and the verb have the same stress and the same pronunciation. For example: noun - That is a good purchase. verbThey will purchase it.
COMMON SUFFIXES
-le
Ieal -ience -ient -ify -ily -inal
............. artificial ......... biography muslclan .... ... ~" . . ." ~-~:,. ...... ~tlahtrc .. ............ comical ........... patience ........... convenient ............ justify
,~ "
-ion
............ .. ~ ......
"
...........
"0 ~ ~
credential geography librarian ~clfic ffi!1 ,ogical conscience deficient terrify necessarily terminal ellion caSion~: contagio ":$ courageous facility biology
potential photography po~~jcian SPf:r,ptfic typical convenience sufficient testify temporarily original religion vocational suspicious continuous stability technology
3.6
Word Stress
SUFFIXES AND WORD STRESS Suffixes serve to mark past tense verbs and plural nouns. Suffixes also serve to change word structure. For example: creation: a noun create: a verb creative: an adjective creatively: an adverb
Meanings Determined
Most suffixes change a word into either a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. However, there are exceptions. Certain suffixes can denote either a noun or a verb. The difference between them is made clear in the way they are stressed. The noun is spoken with the suffix unstressed, and the verb is spoken with the suffix stressed. Listen to these examples:
adjective verb adjective verb
alternate duplicate
alternate duplicate
appropriate - appropriate
Repeat these words and sentences in order to contrast nouns and verbs:
associate associate duplicate duplicate estimate estimate separate separate appropriate appropriate . . . . He is an associate of mine. Do you associate with your neighbors? This is a duplicate copy. Please duplicate this key. Here is an estimate of the costs. Will you please estimate the charges? Do you want separate checks? Separate them by code. It is not appropriate to interrupt. The company will appropriate the funds.
Practice both the noun and the verb in one sentence. Repeat, and then listen again.
Can you estimate when the estimate will be complete? She will graduate from graduate school next Spring. ~
3.7
In the exercises that follow, we will practice some common suffixes. We will review general underlying rules that determine how a suffix affects word stress. We will focus on primary stress as well as on secondary stress and on reduced syllables. You will notice that pronunciation, especially of vowels, is also based on a word's stress pattern. Most exercises provide enough examples to demonstrate predictable patterns.
-able
This suffix forms adjectives, and it does not affect stress. Listen to the following verbs and the corresponding adjectives:
verb adjective verb adjective
dispose
disposable
manage
- manageable
EXCEPTIONS: The following are exceptions. These adjectives are pronounced either of
reparable comparable
or or
reparable comparable
-ity, -ility
These suffixes form nouns. As a general rule, stress is placed on the syllable before the suffix. Listen to this adjective and the corresponding noun formed by the suffix -ity.
adjective noun
.\
serene serenity
3.8
Word Stres
Repeat these pairs:
- - ~ - - -= ,.~.-,. -.'~-->
Thepi~~~"~h~~~'y~~'go %h~~~~~J:~
Listen to these adjectives and the corresponding
_t~:
..
adjective
noun
adjective
noun
able
ability
credible
credibility
To practice applying stress on long words, break the word into manageable parts, and then say the complete word. Plural suffix: -ities Lets practice on the word responsibility. Repeat:
respon si bility responsi bility responsibility
ability - abilities capability - capabilities possibility - possibilities responsibility - responsibilities
capable possible
capability possibility
available responsible
availability responsibility
eligible
eligibility
I like sincere people. . What is the availability? What is possible? Is the schedule flexible enough? Listen to this dialogue:
. Yes, sincerity is important. . The availability of what? . There are many possibilities. . We need more flexibility than that.
It's late, and they haven't arrived . ............................... What do you think possibly happened? It's possible they got lost. ............................... Another possibility is that they forgot.
Practice applying proper stress: In each set below, say the last word to complete two matching pairs. After you hear three words, say the fourth. Then listen to the model. mature secure probable available maturity / sincere - __ security / serene - __ - probability / possible - __ - availability / responsible - __ sincerity serenity possibility responsibility
-ive,
-ittve
These suffixes form adjectives. As a general rule, primary stress is placed on the syllable before the suffix. Repeat these pairs of verbs and the corresponding adjectives: -;ve
verb adjective verb
-itive
adjective
"\
impress permit describe impressive permissive descriptive
'\
compete declare repeat competitive declarative repetitive
The following is an exception. Listen to this pair. Which syllable is omitted in the adjective?
EXCEPTION:
decor
decorative
3.10
Word Stress
Practice suffixes in exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
They made a good impression Dothey like to compete? There was too much repetition
. Yes, they were impressive. . They are very competitive. . Yes, it was repetitive.
nouns:
noun
rebellion conversion
EXCEPTIONS
Primary stress is placed on the first syllable in these words. Repeat them:
supervision
television
Repeat these verbs and nouns with the suffixes -sion IIanl and -tion IIan/:
verb noun verb noun
.\
discuss omit permit discussion omission permission attract collect elect attraction collection election
Repeat these pairs: connect - connection correct - correction inspect - inspection select - selection
3.11
compete compose
competition composition
Instead of,
competition,
say,
competition.
Repeat these pairs. Listen again to the noun. define oppose repeat definition opposition - repetition
Focus on both primary and secondary stress as you repeat these verbs and nouns:
Listen to these verbs and the corresponding nouns. Notice that the first syllable is reduced in the verb, while it is stressed in the noun. Repeat these words:
verb
noun
verb
noun
"\
admire Repeat these pairs: invite - invitation observe - observation admiration
prepare reserve
- preparation - reservation
3.12
Word Stress
The suffix -ate on a verb becomes -ation on a noun. Listen:
verb noun
hesitate
hesitation
Focus on both primary and secondary stress as you repeat these words.
complicate concentrate
complication - concentration
Was there enough to selectfrom? Are you going to.aQQ!y? Were you invited? We need to reserve seats Would you like a substitution?
. I filled out an application today. . Yes, we got an invitation in the mail. . I'll call and make reservations. . Yes, but can you substitute rice for pasta?
The following are longer verbs and the corresponding in the verb, and how many are in the noun? Listen:
verb
noun
abbreviation accommodation
four,
five
3.13
Instead Instead
of of
appreciation, accommodation,
say say
appreciation. accommodation
Practice breaking these five-syllable words into manageable parts. Let's try the word appreciation. Repeat: appre ci ation appre ciation appreciation
appreciate associate
- appreciation - association
communicate congratulate
- communication - congratulations
Repeat these pairs: cooperate - cooperation discriminate - discrimination investigate participate - investigation - participation
Practice saying suffixes in the following exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A
B
Congratulations. . Didthey cooperate? Didthey investigate it? Didthey appreciate that? Howdo you abbreviate this?
. . . . .
Congratulations for what? They gave their full cooperation. There is an investigation underway. Yes, they showed their appreciation. There is no abbreviation for that.
Practice applying stress. After you hear three words, say the fourth. Then listen to the model. concentrate - concentration / celebrate - __ complicate - complication / dedicate - __ institutes - institutions / substitutes - __ accommodate - accommodation / cooperate - __ discriminate - discrimination / participate - __ negotiate - negotiation / appreciatecelebration dedication substitutions cooperation participation appreciation
3.14
Word Stress
-ify
This suffix forms verbs. As a general rule, primary stress is placed on the syllable before the suffix. Listen to these words and the corresponding verbs:
noun
verb
adjective
verb
class
classify
simple
simplify
Now practice adding the suffix -tion. Repeat. Then listen again to the noun:
verb noun
beautify verify
beautification verification
Notice again that stress shifts to the syllable before the suffix -tion.
Focus on both primary and secondary stress as you repeat these words:
certify - certification classify - classification qualify specify - qualification - specification
Practice saying suffixes in the following exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
Do they ill!illlfy for the job? Canthey justify it? Where are the specifications?
3.15
See page 3.26 for a list of words with the suffix -tion.
-ize
This suffix forms verbs. It does not affect primary stress. Repeat these adjectives and the corresponding verbs:
real - realize
sanitary -
sanitize
social -
socialize
Repeat the following verbs and nouns ending in the suffix -tion. Listen again to the noun.
verb
noun
-a/ This suffix forms adjectives. It does not affect primary stress. Repeat these nouns and the corresponding adjectives:
noun
adjective noun adjective
3.16
Word Stress
-ial, -cial, -tial
These suffixes form adjectives. As a general rule, primary stress is placed on the syllable before the suffix. The following are nouns and the corresponding adjectives formed by these suffixes. Listen:
noun
adjective
noun
adjective
memory commerce
memorial commercial
territory resident
territorial residential
confidence residence
confidential residential
Listen to this dialogue: What is occupational? ...................... It has to do with one's occupation. What is vocational? ...................... It has to do with vocation. They mean about the same. Yes, my occupation is also my vocation.
-Iy, -ally
These suffixes form adverbs. Neither suffix affects primary stress. Listen to these adjectives and the corresponding adverbs:
adjective adverb
3.17
practical physical
practically physically
initial specific
initially specifically
absolute
absolutely
The following adverbs are exceptions. They are pronounced with primary stress on either the first syllable or the syllable before -ly. Listen:
EXCEPTIONS: -
or or or
adjective
adverb
adjective
adverb
official potential
officially potentially
confidential
confidentially
3.18
Word Stress
Practice the suffix ly in exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
Is the answer positive? How severe was the damage? Is that the absolute truth? Was that intentional?
. Yes, I'm positively sure. . It was severely damaged. . Absolutely. . No. I didn't do it intentionally.
Practice applying proper stress. After you hear three words, say the fourth. Then listen to the model.
convention - conventional/intention severe - severely / sincere - __ practical - practically / physical - __ / professional - __ intentional - intentionally intentional sincerely physically professionally confidential
residence - residential/confidence
-ian, -cian
These suffixes form nouns relating to other nouns. As a general rule, primary stress is placed on the syllable before the suffix. Practice saying the suffix -ian. Repeat:
noun noun noun noun
comedy Canada
comedian Canadian
library
librarian
music clinic
musician clinician
electric mathematics
electrician - mathematician
adjective
noun
political
politician
3.19
She's musically talented . ...............What musical instrument does she play? She plays classical piano.
-logy, -graphy, -metry, -omy These suffixes form nouns. As a general rule, primary stress is placed on the syllable before the suffix. The following are nouns and two forms of corresponding listen again to the last word.
noun adjective
adjectives.
Repeat, and
adjective
Practice applying proper stress. After you hear three words, say the fourth. Then listen to the model. geographic - geography / photographic - __ biology - biological/psychology - __ ecological - ecology / technological - __
photography psychological technology
3.20
Word Stress
After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
Name a branch of math. What is a technician's field? Did you study geography? You take great photographs.
I studied photography.
-etic
This suffix forms adjectives. As a general rule, primary stress is placed on the syllable before this suffix. Repeat these nouns and the corresponding adjectives:
noun adjective
noun
adjective
apology
apologetic
Mahatma Gandhi Martin Luther King Mr. and Mrs. John Doe The President Ambassador of the United States of the United Nations
Columbia
University
The College of Law St. John's College at Cambridge The Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts
Repeat the following names of North American cities and states or provinces:
Atlanta, Georgia Chicago, Illinois Denver, Colorado San Francisco, Toronto, Ontario Montreal, Quebec California
3.21
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Park Avenue
Washington
Pacific Highway
Tobacco Road
EXCEPTION: The names of streets are an exception. Stress is placed on the word before Street. Repeat the following: Main Street Second Street Twenty First Street
Abbreviations
stress in abbreviations.
ATM ASAP USA
UK
Repeat the
following:
CO 10 DVO HDTV
Bachelor of Arts Medical Doctor Doctor of Philosophy........................... Master of Science Doctor of Dental Science Master of Business Administration
The final item is given primary stress on times and dates. Repeat:
Wednesday the 20th. Monday afternoon, June 10th . Saturday morning, the 20th Friday, October 15, 2004.
.
3.22
Word Stress
Practice applying
A
B,
repeat
B.
Where is The United Nations Building? What is the highest mountain in the world? Where are The Hawaiian Islands? Where is Buckingham Palace? Where is the Acropolis? Where is The Capitol of the United States? Where is The Eiffel Tower? Where is The Golden Gate Bridge? What is the last day of the 1900's? What does UCLA stand for?
City.
In the Pacific Ocean. In London, England. In Athens, Greece. In Washington, D.C. In Paris, France. In San Francisco, California. Decem ber 31, 1999. The University of California in Los Angeles.
BONUS EXERCISE
Practice applying proper stress on names - Name at least one each of the following:
1. An address of someone you Know.
5. The city and country where you were born. 6. An English teacher.
2. A famous musician.
3. A university
4. A professor wh
1,.
8.
ABBREVIATIONS
cassette disc video cassette recorder unidentified flying object Alcoholics Anonymous Automatic Teller Machine British Broadcasting Corporation GED
R
UFO AA ATM BBC CPA CEO
s
National Broadcasting National Public Radio New York University Public Broadcasting United Kingdom United States Service Company
3.23
3.24
Word Stress
COMPOUND WORDS
A compound word combines two words into a single word wit~ its own meaning. The compound word may be written as one word or as two words. The first IS spoken with pnmary stress, and the second with secondary streS~!M
bus driver cab driver handwriting newspaper post office school teacher scratch paper screwdriver Skyscraper sunglasses turn signal
basketball coffee shop comic book copyright credit card database dlninaroom fingerprint grocery store living room overcast overcoat
overpass paperback paperwork railroad track shopping cart shopping mall steering wheel swimming pool taxi cab tennis match traffic light underpass
airplane airport armrest background backlog backpack backtrack backyard bathroom bathtub bedroom billboard blackboard bookcase bookmark bookshelf bookstore boom box boyfriend bridegroom briefcase bunk bed bus stop carport checkbook courtyard crosswalk daycare
daytime deadline deskt~p doormat doorstep downtown drive-in driveway earthquake feedback flashback flashflood flashlight football footrest freeway French fries gearshift girlfriend haircut hairdo hairstyle han ake har re headcounf headlarnp high school highway
homework hot dog ~ot tub 'housework ice box jetlag joy stick keyboard keypad landlord laptop lifestyle lifetime light switch mailbox makeshift network notebook notepad part time passport past time llaycheck "' payday phone booth playground popcorn postcard
postmark restroom roommate scorecard shortcut sidekick sideline sidewalk six pack skylight snowman software someone staircase stop sign suitcase sunset takeout toothbrush toothpaste touchdown trademark uptown washcloth well fare wheelchair windshield wristwatch 3.25
VERB
NOUN
VERB
NOUN
VERB
NOUN
"\
adopt admit assume attend attract collect compress conduct" confess connect construct convene convict" correct create deceive deduct describe destroy detain detect dictate direct donate elect adoption admission assumption attention attraction collection compression conduction confession connection construction convention conviction correction creation deception deduction descrl'pllon destruction detention detection dictation direction donaU!;>n election
"\
employ except expense extinct frustrate impress infect inject inscribe inspect instruct jntend invent locate migrate narrate object' obstruct oppress
perfect"
0 0
"\
employment exception expensive extinction frustration
j
prevention production profession progression projection iftection reaction reception reduction reflection regression fej~ction relation reparation restriction retraction rotation Sc:l!leotion
ssion
pr
re receive reduce reflect regress reje~~
in ection injection inscription inspection instruction int~ntion invention location migration narration
relate
repair restrict retract rotate s s ribe translate transmit vacate vibrlife transcribe
These words also function as nouns, wirh primary stress on the first syllable.
3.26
Word Stress
!Ii
NOUN
operatlof
radiation segregation separation situation sttmulatton sfipula;tJon
tetminatioh
separate
situate
toletation
vacolnatlon
vegetatfon yentiJaHon
VER~
NOUN
recommendation representation
..
3.27
VERB
Four-Syllable
Five-Syllable
Noun
VERB
NOUN
VERB
NOUN
VERB
NOUN
congratulate cooperate coordinate decelerate discriminate elaborate eliminate evaporate exaggerate congratulations cooperation coordination deceleration discrimination elaboration elimination evaporation exaggeration refrigerate humiliate incinerate initiate investigate manipulate negotiate participate procrastinate refrigeration humiliation incineration initiation investigation manipulation negotiation participation
procrastination
3.28
THE RHYTHM
of
AMERICAN ENGLISH
Rhythm. Just what is it? Rhythm is a pattern in timing. We can see rhythm patterns in many things, such as in dancing, in music, and in speech. The rhythm of speech is based on the timing of sound segments. In English, these segments are the word syllables.
IDENTIFYING
SPEECH RHYTHM
Every spoken language has a distinct rhythm. This rhythm is easily seen in its music, its poems, and its rhymes. The rhythm of English can be identified, for example, in this common rhyme.
One for the money. Two for the show. Three to get ready, and four to go.
The uneven timing in stressed and in unstressed syllables gives English speech its characteristic rhythm. This timing consists of long and short beats as of a drum. Listen:
A person who speaks English with the rhythm of another language is said to speak with an accent. Many who speak English with an accent tend to apply equal stress on all syllables. In English, this pattern is used only on messages which consist of one-syllable content words. Listen to an example, and then to beats matching its rhythm:
The
COMPREHENSIVE
The BUS STOPS at LEAST TWICE a WEEK. To further contrast equal stress with unequal stress, listen to these sentences:
Note that content words are spoken fully and clearly, while function words are simplified and spoken quickly. This time listen, and then use your fingers to tap the beats of the rhythm you just heard .
The BOOTS on TOP are MINE. To distinguish how function words affect timing, listen to sentences with just content words. Then listen to those sentences with added function words:
CALL RIGHT BACK.
I will CALL you RIGHT BACK. Will you CALL me RIGHT BACK?
Notice that the added function words do not make the sentence sound significantly longer. Here's another example:
TIME GOES FAST.
Rhythm
This time, repeat what you hear and tap a beat on each stressed syllable .
In the following dialogue, the sets of sentences in A and those in B each have a matching rhythm. Repeat both sides, as you tap a beat on each content word.
A B
I was THINKing toDAY would be GREAT for a WALK. It's a WONderful DAY for a WALK in the PARK. I'll be REAdy as SOON as I FINish my WORK.
Can you identify the rhythmpatterns in your native language? Are you applying that rhythm to your English speech? To apply the rhythm of English, it may be necessary that you slow your speech rate to allowfor proper timing on syllables. Knowing reduced forms will help you to comprehend spoken English more easily, and using them will help yOu achieve the rhythm of the dialect that is standard in North America.
Who is he?
------'7
/hU~IZI/
------'7
/wJ\.daja~min/
Reduced forms give flow and rhythm to speech and make it easier to express whole thoughts. Even the most articulate speakers of the standard English dialect of North America use them.
4.3
The
COMPREHENSIVE
REDUCING
FUNCTION
WORDS
Simplifying
Vowels
Function words are normally spoken with reduced vowels. In many cases, the schwa vowel, the most simple English sound, is used. The word can, for example, is pronounced /kan/, as in,
/ken/ /ken/
can wait.
On the other hand, in certain circumstances function words are spoken clearly, with the vowel pronounced fully. These circumstances are: a) When the function word is stressed for emphasis, as in,
Yes, I can make it.
b)
We can.
4.4
Rhythm
Can you determine when to use an article? One sentence in each set below is not correct Which is it? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. a) a) a) a) a) 'I have a nice friend. .. ,1?;l 1 hswe nice fr!~nd. The car needs a gas. ... b) The car needs gas. They brought some gifts..... b} They brought gifts. I watched a video. ... b) I watched videos. We don't have an~Jllaps. ... p~ We ,Elon'tIi'ave map. ". Answers: 1. b, 2. a, 3. c) 4. c) 5. b) c) c) c) c) c) I have nice friends. The car needs some gas. They brought gift. I watched video. We don't have maps.
the items you are referencing. I like the paintings on your wall.
When you assume the listener is familiar with what you are referencing. It's somewhere in/he city. It's at the library.
Use these with a singular noun that is not yet identified. I watched an interesting video. dialogues
To speak English correctly, you need to include articles. The following provide examples of when to use and when not to use articles. trow do'You geftot~ top floor?
K
(Idenrfied noun)
I talfythe escalator,
(ldeifitji~d ndifln)
The ill()"Yingtairs? s
(Identifiedplural noun)
Do YOliknd_minda'l
you k:n.ow.
(Identificationof a class)
4.5
The
COMPREHENSIVE
the Say loal before a consonant. Move the tongue directly from 101 to the consonant, as In,
/58 peest/ The past. /58 tarrn/ The time.
(th' past)
(th'time)
The bad.
The ad.
ANTONYMS -
The difficult one; the easy one. The full one; the empty one. The closed door; the open door.
* /5/:
lei A border -
lenl
A spy.
An eye.
An order.
ANTONYMS -
lal
An answer.
4.6
Rhythm
Stressing articles gives emphasis to the words they reference.
A B
Listen:
That man is the president. * No, it's a new technology. No, it's the best. *
Now repeat:
/az/ /at/
/kan/
function words
at the corner.
/far/
/jar/*
/far/
/jar/*
* /j/:
(Section 7)
4.7
Listen:
was
Repeat:
/waz/
Who was there? That was thoughtful. Was that part of the agreement?
Who was at the conference? ............... I was. I thought you were out of town. ................. I was, but I got back on time.
will
It will rain.
Repeat:
When will that be? Who will know? Will that be okay?
4.8
Rhythm
could, should, would
Ikedl
It could rain.
We should ask.
Repeat:
What could happen? Who should attend? Would that matter?
Listen to could, should, and would reduced or stressed in this dialogue: Would you like to go? ........... I would, but I should finish this. You could finish later. But I would miss the deadline. That could be a problem. It would be.
that
This word can serve as an adverb that indicates reference, word. As an adverb it spoken fully, as in:
or as a function
That one.
I doubt that.
4.9
The
COMPREHENSIVE
American
Accent Guide
That's the book that I read. Do you recommend that I read it? I think that you would like that one better.
to, you
Easy to do.
Ijal
Repeat:
Ita I
Ijal
do, does, did These words can serve as verbs or as helping verbs. As verbs, they are spoken clearly with the vowel pronounced fully, as in: They do accounting. She does computer graphics. I did my paperwork.
As helping verbs, do, does, and did are normally reduced. Listen:
Ida/ Idaz/ Idldl
4.10
Rhythm
Listen to do, did, and does reduced or stressed in these exchanges:
A B
. No, what do you mean? . Yes, she does agree with me. . They did.
Simplifying
Consonants
are often omitted or not spoken clearly,
In some function words, certain consonants as in the function words that follow.
and
This conjunction
landl
is often pronounced
landi, as in:
You and I.
Before a consonant,
as in,
Ian I
In this dialogue, and is spoken reduced or stressed. Listen: Would you like soup or salad? ........................ I'd like soup and salad. What kind of dressing? ........................ Oil and vinegar. What to drink? Coffee with cream and sugar. And for dessert, we have cake or ice cream. ......................... I'll take cake and ice cream.
4.11
The
COMPREHENSIVE
American
Accent Guide
of The preposition spelled o.f. is pronounced lavl, unlike the preposition spelled o.t.i. which is pronounced laf/. In the word of, the f is often not clearly pronounced when it is before a consonant, as in,
lal Lots of luck. lal It's kind of nice.
Ie, evl
t, evl
have, has, had These words serve as verbs or as helping verbs. As verbs, they are pronounced clearly, as in:
We have plans. Tom has to know. Teresa had
a great time.
As helping verbs, have, has, and had are normally reduced, with h omitted.
Listen:
In these exchanges,
A
Who had applied? Who has change for a dollar? Has Sheila made an appointment?
. . .
4.12
Rhythm
In the following dialogue, listen to have as a verb or as a helping verb:
Have you made plans? .................... Yes, we have a commitment. We'll have to try another time. ................... We have the following week open.
he, him, his, her, hers These pronouns are often spoken with the h silent, as in:
ler] Give her this copy. JImJ Tell him I'll call him later.
them
. out.
. .
Who has them now? Do we need them? Give them to me. . Take them
. . . .
Who has them now? Do we need them? Give them to me. Take them.
4.13
The
COMPREHENSIVE
In the fo !lowing sets, er)'tet;ltlle al?prQ;pt;iate phrases. Then say pothpprases. . one boringone. 1) _late bus. - ~early bus. 4) _ open door, -_,qloed d09[" g. - _ weS'twiog. 2) _ down side. - _ up side. 5) _ did ope. 'o'k- new one, 3) _ entrance. - _ exit. 6) ...4, end; -...4, beginning, ~ 9) ,.- question. - uanswer,
. _
'w
Correct: 1) A late bus. - i\u eatly bus. 2) A down up side. 3) An entrance. exit.
.'_
er
.
1) I brought an apple, a pear, and a 2) I need a pencil, an 3) I'want a red one, an 4) I saw an elephant, a tiger,and it
e .
the following sentences b~pome analogies when,the' aPl?{ Complete each analogy and the:\! say ilil.as dUnractice y example:
Puppies iartel dogs, asJdt.tens la Winter IlZte/ cold as 8zim'f1Ui!r tl:Z
is to dark as day_, south as east_. 3) Ears are to hearing as eyes_, 4) The'moon is to night as the sun_. 5) Hunger is to food as thirst __ . 6) Girls are to women as boys_.
1) Night 2)
Nottn t to
4.14
Rhythm
Practice reducing function words: Practice reducing the function word and as you name two each ofthe following. For example:
Sports:
Swimming fen! soccer. 5. 6. 7. 8. flavors pf ice cream Seasons of the year. Days of the week. Months of the year.
Circle the function words in the following sentences. Then say each sentences with the function words reduced. 1. The sky is blue. 2. How was it? 3. The big house onthe corn er is mine. 4. Why don't you tell me abotlt1t. 5. What wililrappen next? 6. What do you think of that?
4
7. Put it on the table. 8. What time is it now? 9. Nine is my lucky number. 10. That is one of a kind. 11, Should I try now, or later? 12. It's close to the end.
7. Put ~ table. 8. What time i.s.it now? 9. Nine is m lucky number. 10. That is.one.of.a.kind. 11. ShmJJ.dl try now, mlater? 12. III close ~ end.
Correct: 1. The sky is blue. 2.How~ 3. The big house ~ corner is mine. 4. Why don't ~ tell me about it. 5. What Mll happen next? 6. What ~ think Qf that?
REDUCED
Combining Consonants
/tJa/*
ItJ!, as in,
Wonuou?
Why
can 'U!.ou?
/d3/, as in,
Didyou?
Repeat these sentences:
/tJa/
Woutdxou go?
/d3e/
* /tJf : ** /d3/:
IPA symbol for the sound usually spelled ch. (Section 6) IPA symbol fot the sound usually spelledj, or g. (Section 6)
I
4.15
The
COMPREHENSIVE
American
Accent Guide
Listen to both reduced and stressed forms in these exchanges: What did you think of the play? .................... I thought It was great. What did you think? it was fantastic!
Linking with the Tapped t - Between vowels, final t or d are usually tapped, as in: Notatall. What~abouUt?
.*
Repeat these sentences: WhatJs your name? Wait~a minute. Thatis what) heard. Where couldit be? You saidjtall. How abouta drink?
I'll do that later. .. Is it)mpossible? Do you think the chances are good? What do you think of it?
Common Two-Word Reductions
. .
Don't putitoff. Yes, it's outof the question. . I wouldn't beton it. . I'm crazy aboutIt.
Some function words combine into reduced phrases. In the following, the tapped t is used. Listen:
ought to got to what do
We oughtto I've
leave soon.
I've
got to go now.
You oughtto
give it a try.
4.l6
Rhythm
Listen to these exchanges with both reduced and stressed forms:
A B
I've got_to leave soon. You've got to be kidding! What_do you mean? You just got here.
want to - /wAna/
Listen to want to reduced or stressed: What do you want to do? What do you want to do? I want to go to the lecture. I want to also. going to - /gl\na/ Listen to going to followed by a noun: I'm going to the dentist.
Going to followed by a noun is always pronounced /g:)11)tu/, * while going to followed by a verb or verb phrase is often pronounced /gl\na/. Repeat these sentences with the pronunciation /gl\na/:
Are you going to be home later? We're going to go somewhere. I'm going to do my best. What are you going to do next?
/rJ/ : IPA symbol that represents the consonant sound usually spelled ng. (See page 7.22)
4.17
The
COMPREHENSIVE
I'm going to the City, so I'm going to take the subway. We're going to have to hurry, if we're going to the wedding.
Listen to both going to and gonna in these exchanges: Are you going to finish that today? .......................................... Yes, I am going to.
We're going to New York City. ........................................ Are you going to see any Broadway shows? Yes, we're going to see THE LION KING.
4.18
Rhythm
Practice reduced forms in questions:
Play the game Twenty Questions
Rules of the game: Two or more persons can participate. One individual thinks of a person, a place, or a thing, and the other(s) try to guess what the person, place, or thing is by asking questions. Only questions that request a response of yes or no are allowed. The goal of the person(s) asking questions is to guess correctly before asking twenty question. Apply reduced forms, Examples: /Izrtl Is it __
?
/dazlt/
Does it have
Omissions of hand t The h in he, his, her, and hers is often omitted when these pronouns connect with other words, particularly function words, as in:
IIzil
Is he your friend?
/rzarl
Listen to this dialogue: Is he here yet? No, what time does his bus arrive? Here is his schedule. Okay, this is his arrival time.
4.19
The
COMPREHENSIVE
American
Accent Guide
Repeat these sentences:
/drdi/ /drdrz/ /drdar/
What had he done? He had his turn. Had her mother arrived?
Will he be there? Will his family be there? When will her plane arrive?
Would he be interested? Would his sister know his whereabouts? Would her plans change?
I saw Paul at the hospital. .................. What was he doing there? He was visiting his father. .................. Is he a patient? No, he's an anesthesiologist.
CONTRACTED
FORMS
Standard contracted forms of English, like other reduced forms, give English speech its characteristic rhythm. With some practice, you will discover that they add ease to speaking.
I'm ready
You're welcome.
I have you have we have they have could have would have
I've been working. You've done a good job. We've been wondering about that. They've gone to lunch. We could've done more. I would've been prepared.
4.20
Rhythm
will Practice the following. Listen to A and B, then repeat B. Then listen again.
A
B
I will you will she will he will it will we will they will who will In these exchanges,
A
~ You'll soon find out. She'll look into it. He'll be here anytime. It'll be too late. We'll let you know. They'll ship it today. Who'll know the difference? in A are stressed for emphasis in B. Listen:
B
words contracted
I'm not sure. .. They're delicious.. .. I've never tried those I think they've left. .. I'm sure he'll do a great job ill take the box to the car.
. . . . .
I am.
They are tasty. I have tried them. Yes, they have left. He will do a great job. No, I'LL take it for you.
is, has These are spelled and pronounced the same. Practice saying both in the following. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B A B
He's left She's friendly It's late That's all right. What's happening? Where's the dog? Who's applying?
. . . . . . .
he has she has it has that has what has where has who has
He's gone. She's got many friends. It's gotten late. That's got to be all right. What's happened? Where's the dog gone? Who's applied?
Practice contracting
A
Has he gone? Is he going? Is she an undergraduate? Has she finished school? Is the movie almost over? Has the movie started? Is he an adolescent? Has he matured?
. . . . . .
Yes, he's gone. Yes, he's going. No, she's a graduate student. Yes, she's graduated. No, it's just starting. It's already started.
4.21
The
COMPREHENSIVE
It's sunny, so it's got to be warm. He's finished, so he's going home. Who's already done, and who's still working? would, had Contracted forms of would and had with a particular pronoun are spelled and pronounced the same. Practice saying contracted forms of both would and had in the following. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B A B
I would He would she would you would we would they would who would Practice contracting
A
I'd listen. . He'd agree. . She'd know about it. You'd want to go. . We'd be interested They'd leave early. . Who'd take it?
. I had . he had . she had . you had . we had . they had . who had
I'd listened. He'd agreed. She'd known about it. You'd already gone. We'd been interested. They'd left early. Who'd taken it?
Would you go? Had you gone? Would he take it? Had he taken it? Would she be there? Had she been there? Would I like it? Had I been told?
. . . . . . . .
Yes, I'd go. Yes, I'd gone. Yes, he'd take it. Yes, he'd taken it. Yes, she'd be there. Yes, she'd been there. I think you'd like it. I think you'd been told. We'd complain about it. We'd complained about it. They'd be disappointed. They'd been disappointed.
What would you do about it? . What had you done about it? . How would they feel? How had they felt? Practice sentences with contractions
We'd left early, so we'd be on time. I thought I'd go because I'd never been there. If you'd prefer that one, you'd better take it. In the following Listen:
A
exchanges,
words contracted
B
He'd never agree to that. . I'd be shocked They'd done a good job. .
4.22
Rhythm
BONUS EXERCISES Practice contracted forms -For each sentence, identify the two words that are contained in the contracted form. Select A, or B. is
or
has?
left. my best friend.
A
He is She is It is That is_
13
He has She has It has That has __
A
5. ~happened? 6. Where's he been? 7. Who's going?
What is Where is Who is
B
What has Where has_ Who has
1. ~already
2. ~
3) A
4) A
5) '13
6) 13
7)A
had or would?
1. J.:Q al ready seen it.
2.
A
I had Ihad __ She had They had_
B
I would I would __ she would they would_
B
he would we would who would
5.
J.:Q prefer
that one:
6. ~
3. ~
4.~seenit.
like that.
7. \lll.!'J.Q:.d ever
Correct: :
1) A
2) B
3) B
4) A
5) A
6) B
7) B
Practice contracted forms within reduced phrases- Change each negative statement to a negative question. Then state the question using the reduced form of the words that are underlined.
1. It isn't official.
2.~here.
5. It doesn't work.
6. He doesn't know it. 7. His phone doesn't ring. 8. ~ computer doesn't have enough memory.
5. ! dxzrnrt/ work?
5. It hasn't started. 6. He hasn't left. 7. His mother hasn't arrived. 8. Her class hasn't started. 5. /heeznrt/ started? .6. Ihcezni/ left? 7. !hcezmz/ mother arrived? 8. /heeznsr/ class started?
1. It didn't rain after all. 2. He didn't get the job. 3. His bike has a flat tire. 4. Her CD player broke, As Questions:
4. 5. 6. 7.
It hadn't been cancelled. He hadn't responded. His mother hadn't arrived. Her class hadn't started.
4. 5. 6. 7.
!hcednrtl been cancelled? Ihcedm/ responded? /heedruz/ mother arrived? /hesdnsr / class started?
4.23
The
COMPREHENSIVE
4. lkAdmt/ 5. IkAdml
be complete? be on time?
6. IJAdm/ be there?
Pronunciation:
To produce the blend lanl in didn t hadn't, couldn't, wouldn't, or shouldn't, . alveolar ridge fo~ d as enasalpassage.
do tQe followio.g;:>~aceyour tougue tongue centelto direct the aitfiow th The following pronunciations
REDUCED SEGMENTS
WITH CONTRACTED
FORMS
The final' in a contracted form is often omitted. When a pronoun such as he or have follow, the h is omitted as well. For example, "couldn 't he" is pronounced "couldn't have" is pronounced
Ikudnil Ikudnav/
couldn't,
shouldn't,
wouldn't
+ have
The following are full pronunciations could not have should not have would not have
wouldn
'I
have
4.24
Rhythm
In the following, couldn't have, shouldn't have, and wouldn't have are each spoken as reduced forms; and then they are stressed for emphasis in two ways. Listen: It couldn't have been They shouldn't have. I wouldn't have. In the following exchanges,
A B
It couldn't
It could not have been. They should not have. I would not have.
I took care of it for you. It couldn't have been worse. Had I known that, I would have gone.
isn't, doesn't + pronoun
Oh, you shouldn't have. I agree, it could not have. I wouldn't have.
Practice these in reduced forms. Listen to A and B, then repeat B. Listen again to B.
A B
Isn't it pleasant? Isn't he due back soon? Isn't her middle name Anne? Doesn 'f it make sense to you? Doesn 'f his answering machine work? Doesn 'f her hair look nice?
The following sentences contain both positive and negative reduced forms. Repeat them: Is it, or isn 't if? Does it, or doesn't it? Is he, or isn 't he? Does he, or doesn't he?
hasn't, wasn't + pronoun
Practice reduced forms of these. Listen to A and B, then repeat B. Listen to B again.
A B
Why hasn 't it been shipped? Hasn 't he picked up the phone? Hasn 't her package arrived? Wasn 'f if your turn? Why wasn 'f he there? That wasn 't her fault.
The following sentences contain both positive and negative reduced forms. Repeat them: Has it, or hasn 't it? Was it, or wasn 't it? Has he, or hasn 'f he? Was he, or wasn't he?
4.25
The
COMPREHENSIVE
didn't,
hadn't + pronoun
Didn't it matter at all? Why didn't he show up? Didn't her membership expire? Hadn't it occurred to you? Why hadn't he returned? Hadn't her sister called? Hadn't his family arrived?
The following sentences contain both positive and negative reduced forms. Repeat them:
Did it, or didn 'f it? Did he, or didn 't he?
couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't + pronoun
Had it, or hadn 't it? Had he, or hadn 't he?
Practice these in reduced forms. Listen
Couldn't it be possible? tn> Couldn 't he be there? Wouldn't it be wise? Why wouldn't her car start? Shouldn't it be left alone? Shouldn't he be notified?
The following sentences contain both positive and negative reduced forms. Repeat them:
Couldn't it, or could it? Would he, or wouldn t he? Shouldn't he, or should he?
In these exchanges the responses are spoken with emphasis. Listen:
A
B
He isn't going.
. is it?
. . . . .
Isn't he? No, that is not her signature. No, he does not. Hasn't it? Wasn't he?
4.26
Rhythm
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Practice using reduced forms and contracted forms to achieve the rhythm of American English. In the following groups of exchanges, the items in A and in B each have matching rhythm. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
Did you agree? Did you apply? Where had they gone? Would you have known?
. I could not agree. . I applied today. . They had gone to town. . I might not have guessed.
Wasn't that plenty? Wouldn't it matter? Didn't she make it? Hadn't he noticed?
. . . .
It isn't merely enough. It wouldn't matter at all. She didn't make it on time. He might've noticed it too.
When should we meet? When could you go? When will you call? Where should we meet?
. . . .
We can meet after lunch. I could leave in an hour. We will call you at ten. We should meet at the park.
Isn't it about complete? Isn't he a friend of yours? Wasn't she about to leave? Doesn't it belong to you?
. . . .
they did not complete the task. he is not a friend of mine. she had just returned from there. it does not belong to us.
Did they get any help? Do you need any more? Are you ready to start? Are you planning to go?
. . . .
They did it all by themselves. We've got enough for a week. I'm going to start in a while. I'm sure we'll go if we can.
Where did you learn to dance? What are you doing next? When would she like to start? Why did you stay at home?
. . . .
I learned to dance in school. I'll have to get a job. She plans to start today. I stayed at home to rest.
What are your plans for summer? What do you want to study? . When do you think you'll do that? Why don't you try to call them? ...
I plan to go to school. I want to study math. I think I'll start in June. I'll have to look them up.
4.27
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Conversational
Practice the rhythm patterns you have learned in this section. Repeat both speakers in the following conversation.
So... ot any suggestions for lunch? g Anywhere you want to go is fine with me. How does Middle Eastern food sound? Didn't we have that last week? Yeah, I guess we did. How about that sandwich shop down the street? Well, last time I went there, we couldn't find a seat, and I have way too much work to do to wait. Okay, How does Thai food strike you? I'm really in the mood for curry. Gee. Thai food doesn't sit well with my sensitive stomach. So... ot any suggestions for lunch? g Anywhere you want to go is fine with me.
4.28
CD
INTRODUCTION
THE IPA SYMBOLS
TO ENGLISH CONSONANTS
FOR CONSONANTS
Following are each of the 24 English consonants and the IPA symbols that represent them. Notice that some of the symbols are identical to spellings in written English.
IPA
AS IN: SPELLINGS
Ipl Ibl ItI Idl Ikl Igl ItJI Id31 IfI Ivl 191 101 Isl Izl IJI 131 Ihl Iwl Ijl Irl II/ Iml Inl Igl
]2ay
QOY
lea gay key go chew jet fee yan think the see ~oo she beige hot way you run lie me no SIng
p,pp b, bb,pb t, tt, ed, ght, th d,dd k, c, ck,cc, ch g,gg, gh, gue ch, tch, ti, t, te, tu j, g,gg,d~ge, dge,di f, ff, ph, gh v, f, ph th th s, c, cc, sc, ps, Z Z, ZZ, s, ss sh, si, ce, ti, ci, s, ch . . si, su, g, ZI h, wh,j w, u, 0, wh y, I, U rr, rr, wr, rh
1, 11
m,mb,mn,mm n,nn,kn,pn,gn ng,ngue
5.1
The
COMPREHENSIVE
American
Accent Guide
CLASSIFICATION
OF CONSONANTS
These consonants are classified by the place where they are produced and by the manner in which they are produced.
Pre Palate
Teeth ..
Lips .. :
. ......
..... Tongue
Tip
Larynx ...
Also known as the"voice box" and contains the vocal cords.
PLACE of ARTICULATION MANNER of ARTICULATION Airflow stopped and released sharply Airflow released through a constricted passage
Top Teeth & Bottom Lip Tongue Tip Top Teeth
The Lips
Central Palate
p, b f,
V
t.d
k, 9
8,5
s, z
1.3 t1. d3
Airflow stopped and then released continuously Airflow released as the tongue glides
j I
IJ
Consonants
OJ
The tongue tip rests behind the bottom front teeth during most of English speech. The very back of the tongue stays in a low, relaxed position, creating a feeling of openness in the back of the mouth.
Use of Voice for Consonants
Nine of the English consonants are produced without voice. Each of these, except /h/, has a partner sound that is produced in the same place and in the same manner, but with
VOIce.
Voiceless: Voiced:
Ipl Ibl
It I Idl
Ikl Igl
If I Ivl
ISI 131
Ihl
To contrast the feel of a voiceless consonant with that of a voiced consonant, place your hand on your throat to feel the larynx as you say these word pairs:
pin - bin ten - den came - game
The vibration at your throat should be shorter in duration on the first word of each pair. This is because no voice is used for the first consonant on those words. If you stop the voice too quickly on words ending with voiced consonants, you might say one word when you mean to say another. For example:
To feel the contrast between a voiceless ending and a voiced ending, place your hand on the larynx area and say these word pairs:
voiceless - voiced voiceless voiced voiceless voiced
tap at
tab add
cap bat
cab bad
nap sat
nab sad
Vibration should be slightly longer on a word that ends with a voiced consonant. You will find that producing the final consonant with voice makes the preceding vowel longer.
Page 5.16 contains more wordpairs for contrasting voiceless endings with voiced endings. Aspiration
At the beginnings of words, stop consonants are released with a slight burst of air. The sound of air produced is called aspiration. To contrast the aspiration of a voiceless sound with that of a voiced sound, hold the back of your hand close to your mouth as you say the words below. You should feel stronger aspiration on the first word of each set.
ten - den pin - bin come - gum
Ipl - voiceless
Ib/-
voiced
TO PRODUCE: Stop the airflow by holding your lips together. Then part the lips quickly to release the airflow with sudden pressure.
It! - voiceless
Id/-
voiced
ridge (the bump behind your upper front teeth) to stop the airflow. Then lower the tip sharply to release the airflow with sudden pressure.
Ikl - voiceless
TO PRODUCE:
Ig/-
voiced
Raise the back of your tongue against the palate to stop the airflow. Drop the tongue quickly to release the airflow with sudden pressure.
5.4
Consonants
THE STOP CONSONANTS
The stop consonants are pairs of sounds that are produced in the same way except that one is voiceless and the other is voiced. They are:
Ipl pit
It I ten Ikl cap
Listen to the contrast between voiceless stop consonants and voiced stop consonants. pan - ban pay - bay too/two - do tip - dip came - game cap - gap
Can you hear a marked difference between a voiceless and a voiced initial oonsonant? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? pit_ bit_
pit
ten
den
den
could
could
good _
llnsvvers:
Repeat these pairs: cave - gave coat - goat pan - ban pay - bay time - dime ten - den
A curl. A girl.
5.5
The
COMPREHENSIVE
cap cab
Can you differentiate between these voiceless and voiced final consonants? to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
neat_ need
Listen
Answers:
cub
lack
need
Contrast voiceless and voiced final consonants. Repeat these word pairs as you focus on their endings.
back - bag buck - bug lap - lab knack - nag rote/ wrote - road set - said
He wore a blue A laboratory is called a _ It's not good, it's _ I sleep in a_ We went for a long _
He took a taxi The napkin is on my _ In baseball, you use a _ A gamble is a _ Left is opposite of _
Consonants
Practice using voiceless and voiced endings. Listen carefully to these statements and answer the questions. You will hear a model after each response. He left his cap in the cab.
What did he leave? Where? His cap. In the cab.
On his back.
A middle voiceless consonant is aspirated when it begins a stressed syllable. Listen for a contrast:
appear - upper upon - open occur - acre become - backup
Repeat:
become - becoming occur - occurring contain - containing
t and d
The Glottal Stop - Middle t followed by n is produced as a glottal stop. This sound is made by stopping the airflow at the larynx and then releasing it quickly, as in "button." Listen to the contrast between aspirated t and the glottal stop.
attain - eaten contain - cotton retain - written
5.7
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Repeat these words and sentences: button certain witness........ fattening lightening Push the button. I'm not certain. Was there a witness? Those sweets are fattening. When there's thunder, there's lightening.
The glottal stop is occasionally used for t at the ends of words. For instance, one side of a phone conversation might sound like this: What? I hope not. Was it? Where at? What's that? Oh, that one.
The Tapped T - Between vowels, t and d are sometimes produced as the tapped t. This sound is made by tapping the tongue tip across the alveolar ridge. It is identical to the r sound in many languages, as in "vedy nice" for "very nice." Listen to the contrast between the tapped t and the aspirated t or d:
tapped aspirated tapped aspirated
eating adding
- attend - adapt
mating auto
- maintain - adore
Listen to words that sound the same because both t and d are produced as the tapped t. atom - Adam heating - heeding liter - leader matter - madder
Practice words that contain the aspirated t or d as well as the tapped t. Repeat: potato total tomato data tutor dating
5.8
Consonants
LINKING:
STOP CONSONANTS with VOWELS
Final t and d are produced as the tapped t when they occur after a vowel and are followed by another vowel. Listen:
Who wrote the letter?........ Who rode the bus? Who set the table? Who said that? . We
wrote.It,
We rode Jt. We
setIt.
We sald.jt.
Are you ready? Should I total it? Is the report ready? Did you like the joke? Did you have plans? Your efforts were rewarded Did you decide?
. . . . . .
No, wait~a minute. Yes, add.Jt up. It~is ready. I didn't geUt. No, we plaved
It by ear. thouqhtjaboutIt.
. I haven't even
As you listen to the following dialogue, mark the t's and d's that are produced as the tapped t.
A B
What do you need from the store? I made out a list. Here it is. See you later. What is it? Is that everything? Wait a minute, I thought of something else.
We need potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados. Oh yes, we need cat litter too.
Wait....a minute, I thought....of something else. We need potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes and avocados.
5.9
The
COMPREHENSIVE
LINKING:
A final consonant other than t or d is linked to a vowel as though it begins the next word. Listen, and focus on the responses:
Ipl Ibl
The capjs.
Ik/
The cabjs.
191
I'll logJt.
After you
Squeezeit. Tastethe drink. . Sendthe packages. . Pretend you know how Takea quick look. .
This time, after you hear A, state the response in B. Listen to the models after.
A
. . . .
LINKING:
CONSONANTS
- CONSONANTS
Avoid adding an extra vowel between consonants. The result can dramatically change meaning. Listen: Add numbers. - Add a number. Take turns. - Take a turn. Type papers. - Type a paper. Wrap gifts. - Wrap a gift.
In English speech, identical consonants between words are produced as one. Listen: Good_day. WhaCtime? The topjprioritv,
Take.jcare,
5.10
Consonants
To link different stop consonants, on the other hand, hold the airflow on the first one and release it on the second. Listen: big~time. Practice linking consonants in these compound words. Repeat: backQack hoLctog notebook
popcorn
feedback we.b.p.age
Practice linking stop consonants in sentences. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
Who did the driving? . We took..turns. Which one do you want? . I'll take.jboth. Were you the photographer? . Yes, I took.pictures. Is it a kitten? . No, it's a big~cat. They look like football players. .. . Yes, they're big~guys.
The Suffix -ed forms past tense verbs and adjectives. For example: past tense verB:
adjective:
The suffix -ed is pronounced It I after voiceless consonants and Idl after voiced consonants, for example:
Ik, ktl Ig, gdl
pronounced lad/:
crooked jagged
naked
ragged
wicked
Can you hear the suffix -ed clearly? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? beg _ begged_ talk talked tap _ tapped_ rob_ robbed
Answers: talk tapped begged rob
5.11
-ed -
Voiced
-ed
Pay attention to the lengths of the vowels in the following word sets. Listen:
Iptl Ibdl Iktl Igdl
mopped napped -
mobbed nabbed
Iktl
Ibdl
Igdl
LINKING: Suffix -ed to Vowels: Practice linking the suffix -ed to vowels. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A ladl B
Were they on time? Did you share? Will she be there? Did the audience like it? It broke. Did you take it with you?...
No, wewaited.and waited for them. We dlvlded.It equally. We tnvlted.her; They dapped.,a lot. Who droppedIt? No, I shlpped.jt.
Iptl
Ibdl
The bathtub looks clean. ... I scrubbed.Jt. Did you change your mind? Did you ring the doorbell?.. Is the VCR ready? The TV is not working. Did they boast? Yes, I backedout. No, I knockedon the door. Yes, it's hooked.jup. Is it pluqqed In? Yes, they braqqedja lot.
Iktl
Igdl
5.12
Consonants
LINKING: Suffix -ed - Consonants - Practice linking the suffix -ed with consonants in responses. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
How long did you wait? Did you like it there? How did they look? Which one did you like? What did you think? How much weight did you lose?
. . . . . .
I waitedtwo hours.
I hated.to leave.
They lookedtired, I likedboth. They lookedqreat, I droppedten pounds.
r.. rrt
The suffix -ed is not pronounced precisely when if'is linked to another consonant. Eorif1ailec[ the sounds very rnuchljl$:e mqil the in the following sent
/ already mailed the letter. I will mail the letter.
The suffix.-ed is not heard at all when it is linked to tor d. For example: talked to sounds identical to talk to in the following sentences:
I talked to her yesterday I talk to her every day
SYNONYMS
Practice the suffix -ed on groups of verb synonyms. Repeat each word:
1. arrested - detained - captured - apprehended
2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
- risked -
- awaited -
- detected -
located
- discovered - reminisced
remembered ordered
recalled -
- recollected demanded
- required - sampled
- r.equested
7. tested
- inspected
- examined - triumphed
8. succeeded
- accomplished
- prevailed
BONUS EXERCISES Compare the lengths of vowel sounds - In each set that follows, circle the word that contains the longer vowel or diphthong sound.
1. bid - bit 2. mate - made 3. wake - way Answers: I. bid 2. made 3. way 4. safe - save 5. house - how 6. bite - buy 7. my- might 8. lack -lag 9. feet - feed 10. been - bean 11. mutt - mud
5.13
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Compare the lengths of voWel sounds -ill (}I~hset ihat follows, one wcftd has a voiceless ending, and the other has a voiced ending. Which of the two words is spoken with a longer vowel?
1. mate
made
2. hack 3. sight
r.
made
8. tabbed
4. roped _
Answers:
tabbed
7. pig
Review the vowel sounds- Say the following words aloud as you practice pronouncing the stop consonants with different vowels.
Ipl Ibl
It I
Idl
Ikl
Igl
Iii
III
pea pin pet pay pass pun pot post pull pooch pie pout
belbee bin/been bet bay bass bun ball boast bull booth by/bye/buy about
team tip ten tame taR ton taught toe/tow took to/too/two ~ie tout
deem dip den dame ~afl done dot doe/dough do/due die/dye doubt
keep kid kept came cab come caught/cot coat could cool kind cow
geese give guest game gab gum got goat good goose guJde gown
In each the following word groups, all of the words are synonyms, except one. Say all the words and state which one is ,o,otsimi}a:rin mealJ,mgto tue others.
,@
1. arrested - detained - talked - captured - apprehended 2. bet - awaited - gambled - risked - speculated 3. expected - awaited - rejected - anticipated - contemplated 4. found - detected - located - ordered - discovered 5. looked - reme~bered - tecalle~ - recoyected -J~minisced 6. ordered - requited - demandE1g-requested - answered 7. tested - started - sampled - inspected - examined 8. succeeded - stopped - accomplished - prevailed - triumphed 9. believed - demanded - accepted - understood - concluded
The different word; I. talked 2a 6. answered 7.s 3. rejected 4. ordered 8~sttlpped 9. ~Emanded 5. looked
5.14
Consonants
Practice the suffix -ed: The following sentences are either in the present or in the future tense. Change the verb to past tense and state the sentence. Remember to link the suffixed -ed to the sound that follows it.
1. I like everything about it. 2. I will thank everyone. 3. 4. We will look everywhere. I arrive on time. 7. The bus will stop here. 8. I will pick up the phone. 9. We investigate the problem.
10. She will finish early. 11. The police will arrest him. 12. She will invite all her friends.
to Past Tense: I likedeverything about it I thankedeveryone, We lookedeverywhere, I arrived on time. 5. I intend~ _to call my parents. 6. They worked _hard_ to finish the job.
7. 8. 9. 10. I I. 12.
The bus stopped _here. I pickedup the phone. We investigatedthe problem. She finishedearly, The police arrestedhim. She invitedall her friends.
Practice irregular past tense verbs: The following sentences are either in the present or in future tense. Change the verb to its irregular past tense form and then state the sentence.
1. I think it is right. 2. I take the morning train. 3. I will bring you flowers. 4. I find the right street. 5. She will go to that college. 6. The kids run all the way to school .. 7. We wiil buy
new computer.
8. We drive carefully.
As Irregular Past Tense: I. I J;bQygb! it was right. 2. I took the morning train. 3. I broyght you flowers. 4. I found the right street.
5. She ~ to that college. 6. The kids ran all the way to school. 7. We bought a new computer. 8. We ~ carefully.
Practice the suffix oed in conversational speech: Tell about events in your day. Use regular verbs that require suffix -ed as well as irregular verbs. For example: "I walked to the bus stop and waited about ten minutes for the bus. dropped checked me off at the library. out some books ...." There, I studied, The bus and
I looked up information,
-------
----
------
5.15
F~ALSTOPCONSONANTS
P. b
cap - cab cup - cub flap - flab gap - gab lap -lab loop -Jube mop - mob nap - nab gup - pub slop - slob sOI1- sob tap - tab swap - swab
Pip - rib
rope - robe slap - slab
t, d
at - ad/add ate - aid/aide bat - bad beat/beet-bead bet - bed bit - bid brat - Brad bright - bride brute - brewed but - bud coat - code cot - cod k,g back - bag buck - bug clock - clog Dick - dig duck - Doug dock - dog flack - flag flock - flog pt, bd roped - robed looped - lubed mopped - mobbed napped - nabbed ripped - r12bed roped - rmled
,,,: .)@
cute - cued fat - fad fate - fade float - flowed fright - fried gloat - glowed grate/great - grade hat - had heat - heed mate - made/maid oat - owed pat - pad
rate - raid rTghtlrite/write - ride rot - rod rote/wrote - road/rode sat - sad seat - seed set - said 'W!lght/site- slde/sighErd slight - slide slit - slid state - stayed straight - strayed
suit - sued suite/sweet - Swede tight - tide/tied tote - toad trait - trade trite - tried wait/weight - wadelweighed wef-wed wept - webbed wheat - weed/we'd white - wide
frock - frog hack - hag Jack - jag jock - jog knack - nag leak - league lack -lag lock - log
luck - lug peck - peg pick - pig pluck - plug rack - rag Rick - rigt' sack - sag shack - shag
smock - smog snack - snag stack - stag tack - tag* tuck - tug 'W' whack - wag wick - wig
kt, gd backed - bagged bucked - bugged flocked, - flogged lacked - lagged locked - logged plucked - plugged sacked - sagged snacked - snagged ed/tG!lt~gg~tl tucked - tugged whacked - wagged
5.16
Consonants
SILENT SPELLINGS
cupboard
pneumonia j1'seudonym psychologist psychology
Spellings
debur'
depoY
hustle
whistle
Spellings k,
bou~t bri~t brou~t cau~t drou~t fe~ fipht fou9"t hei~t hi~ ~ack Jlnee Jlnock
ass~ 'nowledge ben~n rnusple carnpaigf sovereijm champagne Gonsiin desi)in distrau,9'f1t Indiyf malii resi~ toni~t
J<hOW
5.l7
The
COMPREHENSIVE
CONTINUANT
The sounds that follow in this section are produced with continuous airflow.
PRODUCE: Keep your tongue flattened, as you raise its sides against your upper side teeth. Place the flattened tongue tip below the upper front teeth, allowing a passage for the airflow. TO
The airflow must be continuous. If you are placing your tongue tip below the top teeth but are still producing a s~und that is. more Ilk~ It! Qr Id~\.you are.stopping the airflow. To a'old'this, Ibwerthe tiP sufficiently. ' Try the following technique: Place the tongue tip low enough to produce the sound Ihl, and then raise it gradually uritil'you are producing 19t. Practiced!on the words below. Say them at first with the Ihl sound, and then gradually raise the tip until you are saying them with 10/. While you do this, hold the back of rour hand close to yeur mouth '80 that you can casSellethat the air is flowing between the tip and upper teeth.
lei - voiceless
lal - voiced
Fe'Y if:nglish wo~ds cO'ntain1he sounds 10, 51. Som~ of these words, nowev,er, are used very frequently, including;
W
the, this, that, these, those, they, than, then, and thank.
5.18
Consonants
lei lal
Contrast: lei - It I Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
thank_ thick Answers: tank_ tick_ thank tick bath_ booth bath bat_ boot_ booth
Say the following words to contrast the 181 and It! sounds. Remember that the airflow is continuous for /8/, while stopped for It/. Repeat:
thought - taught thread - tread thin - tin threw/throuqh three - tree with - wit true both - boat faith - fate math - mat
See page 5.24 for more practice words that contain the sounds 161 and It/.
Try sentences with both /e/ and /t/. Repeat, and then listen again.
..
5.19
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Practice contrasting the 181and It I sounds. After you hear A, say the correct response in B. You will hear a model after.
A B
A
It involves numbers. . . Short for Matthew. .. . It's an idea. .. Past tense for teach. The upper leg. .. Short for necktie. . . . .. .
Math. Matt. A thought. Taught. The thigh. Tie. A booth. A boot. Death. A debt.
A washing It's used in baseball. It's a number A tall woody plant. Opposite of thick. . A kind of metal. One and the other. . A water craft.
. . . . . . . .
A kind of enclosure. .. .. You wear it on your foot. No one can avoid this. A liability. .. .. .
Contrast: lal - Idl Can you hear the contrast between the 101 and Idl sounds? Listen to these word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
there then dare den den they _ breathe day breathe day_ breed
Answers: there
Remember that the airflow is continuous for 101, while it is stopped for Id/. Repeat:
those - doze though - dough lather - ladder soothe - sued
Practice both 101 and Idl in sentences. Repeat, and listen again.
I then went to the den. They took one day.
t:n>
5.20
Consonants
Contrast: 161 - Isl Can you differentiate between 181 and Is/? Listen to these word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
faith face force faith force thank thing_ thank sank sing_ thing
forth/fourth Answers:
Practice both 181 and Isl in sentences. Repeat, and listen again.
It's no sin to be thin. I think it's in the sink. There's something on my thumb. ~
After you hear A, state the correct response in B. You will hear a model after.
A B A B
It's part of the hand.... The total. It means narrow. A wrongdoing. The date after the third. It means power.
Opposite of thin. He's ill. Another name for object. _ What a choir does. It's below the nose. It's by the computer....
5.21
Practice both 10/ and Izl sounds in sentences. Repeat, and listen again.
The clothing store is closing. Breathe in the cool breeze. He then studied Zen.
3, 13
30,333
1000, 1033
3000,3030
Sound Clusters - 18, ()I When 181follows Inl, place the tongue tip for Inl in the same place as for 18/, with the tongue tip between the upper and lower teeth. Repeat these numbers:
In the following words, the consonant before 18, 01 is produced in the same place as 18, 01. First stop the airflow, and then lower the tongue tip quickly for 18, 01. Repeat:
eighth length width
5.22
Consonants
To produce /8/ + /s/, move the tongue tip from the position of /8/ into the position of /s/ without touching the alveolar ridge. Repeat: booths eighths fifths fourths months tenths
Practice linking /8, 51 with It! or Id/. Repeat: What~thing? Who didthat? I'll waitthere. Didthey? I wouldthank him. You might)hink that.
Practice 18, 5/ sounds in synonyms. After you hear A, say its synonym, B. Then listen to the model.
SYNONYMS A B A B
_ _ _
_ _ _
both /8, 5/ sounds in antonyms within phrases. After you hear A, say its opposite, B. Listen to the model after.
A
_ They're apart It's a birth. It's ours. It's either. _ My father. Is it here? They're nearer. _ Go north. Do it now.
They're together. Its a death. Its theirs. It s neither. My mother. Is it there? They're farther. Go south. Do it then.
Two sisters. I have nothing. I like those. Look at that. Very thick. Go with us. We are. What's the length? With sugar.
Two brothers. I have something. I like these. Look at this. Very thin. Go with them. They are.
-
Practice the sounds /8, 51 in a dialogue. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
I think these are the best ones. No, there's another kind over there. Yes, they're the new ones. .. .
I thought they were the only ones. Those on the right? . I think those are even better than these.
5.23
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Conversational
Excuse me? Do you have that in blue? ................... No, that! This? No, that right there. Just so we understand each other, is this the "that" you were referring to? That's it! But I do have a question. What exactly is the difference between this, that, and those over there? .................... That I can understand. .................... Well, it basically boils down to this: This, that, and the other. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Hey. It's this simple: That's my job. Do I have this in blue?
161
booth both death eatth faith Initial & Final math moth mouth, teett1 with author ethics nOJlllnp sam-eth infji! truthful athlete bathtub phone@gooth ~Qotm;'yClsh toothpaste athletic' authentic pathetic s'hthetic
fal
\
t"'an that them there/their Middle
by therefore therein
faf
another together
Ieath
5.24
Consonants
BONUS EXERCISES
Identify pronunciations of the suffix -ed:
How are the endings of the following words pronounced? Select from thesounds shown above the words. od/ Iptl Ibdl /ktl Igdl 1ft! Ivdl
7. a~ted__ 8.loved __ 9.added __
[W
lodl
10. baked__ 11. laughed __ 12. bathed__
1. packed__
2. tipped __ 3. booted__
Correct:
I. Ikt! 2. Ipt!
3. laQJ
4. Igdl
!:
~I
7. lad! 8. Ivdl
9. ~d1
12. Mdl
Below are sets of synonyms. For each item say a sentence containing both words. For example:
SYNONYMS -
or
5. dirty 6. disturb
9. religion
4. dirt
7. grateful 8. idea
11. skinny
12. spcrts
ANTONYNSMatch each word under A with its antonym under B (The first set ismatched for you). Then say sentences containing both words. For example:
"Apart is the opposite of together./'
J3
or
'
apart birth deposit either 5. father 6. here 7. 'bearer 8. north 9. now 10. ours 1. 2. 3. 4.
Corresponding Antonym:
1. 'together 2. death 3. with .~. sou~. tficng.ip, thei '15. that . 16. them w17. they
'r'
4. neither 5. mother 6. there 7. farther brotlitlt 12. no,thing 13. those 14. thin 18. length 19. with w
5.25
lvl - voiced
vine, view, vinyl
Contrast:
IfI - Ivl
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to these word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
face Answers: vase vase leave leaf save leave safe save
fine - vine
5.26
Consonants
Contrast:
Can you differentiate between /8, 5/ and If I or Iv/? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which one is it?
Answers:
thirst
fink
vat
This will quench your thirst. I'll take one of these. Take a look at that!
See page 5.29 and 5.30 for more practice wordson the sounds If! and Iv!
f + suffix
V
~S
'i.. /fsl
+ -suffix - s
= Ivzl
proofs
proves
safes -
saves
waifs
waves
f + suffix -ed
= 1ft{
v + -suffix - ed = /vdl Suffix -ed Suffix -ed is voiceless after If I, and it is voiced after Iv/. Listen:
laughed
loved
lift - lived
proofed -
proved
5.27
Practice If I and Ivl plus -ed. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
Iftl A B
Did he find it funny? Did they work hard? Did you leave late? Was it included?
. . . .
Yes, he laughed about it. No, they goofed off. No, I left early. No, it was left out.
Ivdl
Does he still have a mustache? How was the movie? Did you have any doubt? Did the package arrive?
No, he shaved it off. . I loved it. . No, I believed it. . Yes, I received it yesterday.
Contrast:
Ivl - Ibl
For Ivl the airflow is directed between the upper teeth and the bottom lip. For Ib/, the airflow is stopped by the lips, and then released quickly. These sounds are usually pronounced as spelled. Can you differentiate between the sounds Iv/ and Ibl? Listen to these word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? van_ ban
Answers: ban vest very
a vest.
5.28
Consonants
Words that end with -lfbecome plural by changing fto v and adding the suffix -es.
Practice the singular as well as the plural forms of words that end with If Repeat:
Ilfl
Ilvzl
/lfl
Ilvzl
self
selves shelves
himself
themselves yourselves
shelf -
yourself -
If I
"\
fade fail fan fat fed
"\
fight firm fist fG)Jf1 food
"\
foot fowl/foul full fun phone
final
If I
"\
laugh loaf off proof
"\
roof rough scarf surf
"\
tough safe turf wife
"\
5.29
The
COMPREHENSIVE
initial
, ,
Ivl verse vest void vote leave live love move
, ,
, .,
alive arrive believe receive
BONUS EXERCISES
. I
and have lived there since. In the past few years, I have traveled
5.30
Consonants
THE SIBILANT SOUNDS
TOP ROD UC E: Hold y~ur tongue tip behind your bottom teeth and place the tongue sides against the upper sides of your mouth. ,,~aise .,the front, o(the tongue toward the alveolar ridge to form a narrow passage. Direct the airflow forward continuously througrn the; passage.
Isl
voiceless
l zl
- voiced
. 151
and
Izl/
~
Retract for high-front vowels, as in: see lease easy
,
s
6.1
Ifl - voiceless
she nation wish
131 - voiced
pleasure beige
In English this sound occurs onlY in the middle or at the ends of words.
Itfl
- voiceless
each
I d3I - voiced
jam major edge
chew watching
~
~'
Round the lips and project them outward slightly.
6.2
Consonants
THE SIBILANT SOUNDS
A sibilant is a sound that has a whistle-like quality. The sibilant speech sounds are pairs of sounds produced in the same way, except that one sound is voiceless and the other is voiced. The sibilants are:
Izl 131
Itfl
Id31 jaw,jam,
Can you hear the difference between different sibilant sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
sack Zach sea/see_ she_
Answers: sac she
junk
chunk_ share_
junk_ chair_
Zoe Asia's
share
chip chop
cheap choke -
Zachary is called
Zach.
trl::>
Have you heard from Jack? I'll save you a seat. I signed the sheet. It's not fair to cheat.
chain How long is the chain? shack They live in a shack. sack Look in the sack.
6.3
It's below the mouth. . It's below the knee. . What kind of animal? What kind of vehicle? What's that game? Who's that? What's another word for select. What would you like to drink? Is it a difficult task? Is it a seaside? Here's a drink. .. How will you get there? Is it like this one? Is it embarrassing? I wasn't serious. .. I couldn't stop coughing. . Is it a tiny piece? Is that good stuff?
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It's chess. It's Jess. Choose. Juice. Yes, it's a chore. Yes, it's a shore. I'll take a sip. I'll take a ship. Yes, it's the same. Yes, it's a shame. Were you joking? Were you choking? No it's a chunk. No, it's junk.
Listen carefully to these statements and answer the questions. You will hear models after each response. Jess was visiting, and we played chess.
Jess. Chess.
While
driving
the sheep.
The Jeep. The sheep.
He found
the chunk,
and mistook
it for junk.
The chunk. Junk.
6.4
Consonants
stm"~tay
sm - smile
sk ~ sky sl - slav\! sp
w
spy
sn - snow
ISI BLENDS The consonant /s/ combines with certain other consonants to form s blends.
TOPRODUCE:As you are releasingthe airflow for /s/, formthe adjoining consonant:
IstJ tiki 11$81, Ism! IslI,/snl
As you release /s/, place the tongue lip for It!. As you release Is/, raise the tongue back for Ik/. A\you releasl'l'/s/, close the lips for Ipl or for Im/ .. As you release Isl, place the tongue tip for III or for In/.
To produce an s blend, form the second consonant while releasing /s/. To say stand, for example, place your tongue tip in position for /t/ as you release /s/. Practice s blends. Repeat:
Istl Iskl Ispl Isml Is/I Isnl
Refining the s Blend - Avoid adding a vowel sound before an s blend, as in "estay" for stay, or "esky" for sky. This can change meaning. Listen:
A B
What's another word for respect. What is water vapor? A facial expression Opposite of frown Repeat these responses:
A
. . . .
An institution of learning. Where did you go today? An opinion or position. .. Opposite of sit.. An aroma or scent. To sniff Part of a bicycle wheel. Past tense for speak. .. . . . . . .
6.5
Where's the best location? Is that a pan? Who is James Bond? .. Is that a cake? Now repeat the responses:
A
What do you find attractive? How far is that? How small is the micro chip? What is that building? What did you find in the garden? What is that sharp object?
That smile. That's a mile. That small. It's a mall. That snail. That's a nail.
\
FINAL SIBILANT SOUNDS
Contrast: Listen:
151 - Izl
hearse -
hers
hiss -
his
this - these
Can you hear the difference between the final sounds /s/ and Izl? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it? lace
Answers:
lays_
lace Ms.
miss
race
Ms.
race
raise
6.6
Consonants
Practice final Isl and final Izl in exchanges. listen again.
A
It means location. . Broadway is famous for these. . Opposite of conflict. . A kind of vegetable. . A contest. An increase in pay. . The damage They're made to protect us What made the drinks cold? What do you notice first? What are you looking for? What are you hoping for? Are they fleas? Are they true?
. .
.
. . . . . . . . . . .
A raise.
The loss. The laws. The ice. The eyes. The price. The prize. No, they are lice. No, they are lies.
Frequently
Listen:
A B
. . .
Was, or wasn't it? Does it? Whose was that? Has he called? Was she here? Is it as old?
. . . . . .
6.7
III - ItII
Practice the final /J/ and the final /tJ/ in exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B. Then listen again.
A B
. .
A dish. A ditch. Mash them. Match them. Okay, I'll wash it. Okay, I'll watch it.
What should I do with the potatoes? What should I do with the socks? .... It's dirty. . Pleasetake care of this.
Contrast:
Itfl - Id31
Contrast the voiceless ending ItJI with the voiced ending Id3/. Listen: batch badge etch edge h age
What is a belt? What is a slight burn? I'm learning calligraphy I'm 29 years old. . That's a large wash load Is that a large button? . . . .
A cinch. A singe.
That's a good h. That's a good age. It's a big batch. It's a big badge.
J{
6.8
Consonants
Word meanings determined by voiceless or voiced endings:
Certain words can function either as nouns or as verbs. When spoken with a voiceless ending, the word is a noun. When spoken with a voiced ending, it is a verb.
Isl
noun
Izl
verb
Isl
noun
Izl
verb
abu~e - abu~e advice - advise close - close Noun Isl (voiceless) Mistreatment is abuse. .. That's a good excuse. .. ,. I need some ~ ....................... Do you have any ~ for that? I live ~ to work. .. . . ,. . .
excu~e - excu~e house - house u~e - u~e Verb- Izi (voiced) Po not abuse your privileges Excuse me. I~ you to wait. I \!ViII ~ this. Please ~ the door.
The following dialogues contain nouns (voiceless endings), and verbs (voiced endings). I asked for gdvice. .......... What kind of advice? On what to do with my life. .. What did they advise you? They advised me to think for myself. Is the store in the mall? .......... No, it's close to the mall. What time do they close? ... They close at six, and open at nine.
ladvaisl
ladvaisl /advaizl ladvaizdl
Iklousl /klouz/
Iklouzl
Now repeat:
use all usual enclose hers enclosures
6.9
aging
Grammatical Form (third person verb) (plural) (possessive) (contraction: noun + is) (contraction: noun + has)
Iz/ Voieett Vowel+z The plaintiff sues. There are.two,Stles, It's Sue's fault. Sue's home. SU~$ gon!.l home.
IZ/
Vof!ed
Consonant + z He bags groceries. Ineedtw0~, The bag's contents. The~full. The ~*beerpfilled. He~thed09 H6wmlfny~? The pefs owner. The pet's eating. The~eateri.
STOP CONSONANTS
+S
Suffix -s
Can you hear the suffix -s attached to consonants? Listen to words, once with a suffix and once without. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
caps_cap_
Answers: cap date bags
dates
date
bags_
bag_
6.10
Consonants
Contrast: Suffix
-s Voiceless
Suffix -S Voiced
after voiceless
consonants,
laps/lapse
labs
rates
raids
Note again that voiced endings are longer than voiceless endings.
To produce stop consonants + /s/, stop the airflow and then release it sharply for Is/. Listen:
ups aches its
Can you hear the difference between voiceless suffix -s and voiced suffix -s? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
knacks
Answers:
nags_
nags robes
ropes _
fats
robes
fats
fads
Ips/-/bzl
Repeat these words to contrast the voiceless ending Ips/ with the voiced ending /bz/: To Produce: Stop the airflow for Ipl or Ibl, and then release it sharply for Isl
caps -
cabs labs
rips ropes -
ribs robes
laps/lapse
tn:>
6.11
-----------------------------------
backs lacks/lax
bags - lags
bucks docks
bugs dogs
Iksl -/skl
Contrast the sound /ks/ with the sound /sk/. Can you hear the difference between words such as ax and ask? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
ax ask
ax
bricks_
bricks mask
brisk
Mack's/Max
mask
Answers:
En:>
Spelling X is pronounced voiceless as in extra, or voiced as in exactly. Spelling x as a voiceless sound. Listen:
Iksl
extra
except
extreme
6.12
Consonants
Spelling x as a voiced sound. Listen:
/gz/
exist
existing
of stressed
syllables.
Repeat these
exaggerate
exaggeration
Repeat sentences with both voiceless and voiced endings. Listen again to the model.
Its/-/dzl
T<rPROIUCl:: 'As/- Stopthe airflowat the alveolarridge,and then releaseit sharplyfor /s/. For IdzJ add voice.
rides
kits - kids
We need first aid kits. They're acting like kids. Should we bring our mates? Motels employ maids. We took the front seats. We planted the seeds.
mates - maids
seats - seeds
6.13
contracted
forms.
Which stall is empty? He's seven feet tall. Which character did you like? What kind of dessert is it? Which school? What's slang for "that's great"? What should we do with the boxes?.... What should we do with the rugs?
That stall. That's tall. That spy. That's pie. That school. That's cool. Let's stack them up. Let's tack them down.
SYNONYMS - Practice voiceless as well as voiced endings in synonyms. hear A and B, repeat B. Then listen again.
A B A B
After you
desires embraces
wants
hugs
permits retains
lets keeps
This time after you hear A, say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
CONSONANT
Consonant clusters are groups of consonants. Listen to consonant clusters ending with /s/.
drafts
facts
waists/wastes
Note that these clusters actually sound like a double s. Listen again, casts. To practice consonant clusters with final /s/, break up words, and then put them together. Example: for feasts say "feas-ts," then "feasts." Listen:
Iftsl
Istsl
Iktsl
craf ts - crafts
lis ts - lists
fac ts - facts
6.14
Consonants
Repeat the following:
cas Is - costs tes Is - tests ac Is - acts
Practice consonant clusters in exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B. Then listen agam.
A B
How long is the play? Did you try? How much do I owe? What is the truth?
. . . .
It has three acts. tn> I made some attempts. Here are the costs. These are the facts.
Suffix
Practice the suffix -es in exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B. Then listen again.
A B
Did you have a good weekend? . Is it a good place to work? How many languages do you speak?.. How was he punished? Why did you choose that?
Yes, we went to the races. They pay good wages. I speak two languages. He lost his privileges. It has many advantages.
6.15
B.
__ __ __
__
Practice the suffix -es in synonyms. After you hear the first word, say its synonym. You will hear a model after.
A B
A
__
VOWS
__
hurries
promises rushes
Practice the different pronunciations of suffix -S in groups of synonyms that are third person singular verbs, as in "He lives there" or "She works there." Repeat:
checks prefers helps loves sleeps talks - inspects - favors - assists - adores - speaks - examines - chooses - aids - treasures - discusses - investigates picks selects
- naps - dozes
Suffix l etz! (-ize) - Practice using the suffix -ize on verbs, as you also focus on correct word stress. Repeat: critic - criticize emphasis - emphasize analysis - analyze
Practice the suffix -ize in exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B. Listen again.
A B
They specialize in computers. Yes, I'll summarize it. He does like to socialize.
rro
Practice changing a noun to a verb by adding the suffix -ize. After you hear A, say B. Then listen to the model.
A B
6.16
Consonants
Suffix !fan! (-tion, -sion, -cian) - Practice the suffix IIenl on nouns as you focus also on word stress. Repeat:
action caution mention addition ambition condition admission commission position permission physician technician
Practice the suffix IIenl in exchanges. After you hear A, and B, repeat B. Then listen again.
A B ~
I won a lottery. Congratulations! Why do you go to school? For an education. What does a yellow traffic signal mean? Proceed with caution. What you find in a dictionary. Definitions. The way a word is pronounced. Pronunciation. A specialist in technical work. . A technician. A person skilled in magic. A magician. A specialist in electricity. An electrician. A person engaged in politics A politician. Four basic math functions. Addition, subtraction, division,
and multiplication.
Suffix /fall (-cial, -tial) - Practice the suffix IIel1 in adjectives as you focus also on word stress. Repeat:
financial initial official artificial beneficial confidential
PARAPHRASING
The B responses are paraphrases of the A statements. After you hear A and B, repeat B. Then listen again.
A B
It's a secret. It is not natural. The law has passed It's good for you It's the beginning It is economic
. . . . . .
It's confidential. It's artificial. It's official. It's beneficial. It's initial. It's financial.
Suffix Ifasl (-cious, -tious, -xious) - Practice the suffix IIezl on adjectives as you focus also on word stress. Repeat:
cautious luscious
ambitious nutritious
obnoxious suspicious
6.17
They are bad tempered and cruel. They are very valuable. . It is roomy They taste very good. . She's polite and friendly
. . . . .
They are vicious. They're precious. It is spacious. They are delicious. She's gracious.
Suffix !3an! (-sian, -sion) -Practice the suffix !Jan! on nouns as you focus also on word stress. Repeat:
PARAPHRASING - The B responses are paraphrases of the A statements. After you hear A and B, say B. Then listen again.
A B
Tell me your side of the story They are supervisors. .. The ruler is precise. .. It's a special event. He's a medical doctor. .. I have made up my mind. ..
. . . . . .
~ Tell me your version. They provide supervision. It measures with precision. It's a special occasion. He's a physician. I've made a decision.
courageous
religious
outrageous
PARAPHRASING -The
B responses are paraphrases of the A statements. and B, repeat B. Then listen again.
A B
They are faithful. They are brave It is shocking! She is very beautiful.
. . . .
They are religious. They are courageous. It's outrageous! She is gorgeous.
6.18
Consonants
Suffix lestl (-est)
SUPERLATIVES
highest longest
nicest strongest
noisiest sloppiest
- Practice the suffix -est in antonyms within phrases. After you hear A and B, repeat B. Then listen again. ANTONYMS
A B
This time, you state the antonym. After you hear A, say its opposite, B. Listen to the model.
A B
slowest train. . shortest meeting. . weakest coffee. . lowest point. smallest computer.
. . . . .
The fastest train. The longest meeting. The strongest coffee. The highest point. The biggest computer.
Suffix ltstl (-ist) - The suffix -ist on a noun indicates a title, or a person who practices or is skilled in something. Repeat these words:
artist dentist florist tourist optimist pessimist pharmacist perfectionist psychiatrist receptionist
Pronunciations
= = = = =
Istl -/zdl
Repeat these word pairs:
cost - caused faced - phased post - posed raced - raised/razed
6.19
It depends on how fast you want to get there. Twenty-First Street is the shortest, and Forty-First Street is the longest.
Then Twenty-First must be the fastest ..... It has the most stops, and Twenty-First Street has the least. Okay, which has the best scenery?
Iftl
Practice the sound IJI with suffix -ed. Repeat:
hushed rushed wished famished finished nourished
SYNONYMS
-Practice the suffix -ed in synonyms. After you hear A and B, say B. Then listen again.
A B
This time you state the synonym. After you hear A, say B.Then listen to the model.
A B
Itftl
Practice the sound ItJ/ with the suffix -ed. Repeat:
matched patched touched watched attached approached
6.20
Consonants
Practice the suffix -ed in synonyms. After you hear A and Then listen again.
SYNONYMS A B
B,
say
B.
extended soaked
stretched drenched
This time you state the synonym. After you hear A, say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
handled exchanged
touched switched
paired fastened
matched attached
Id3dl Practice the sound /d3/ with the suffix -ed. Repeat:
damaged managed packaged privileged arranged alleged acknowledged encouraged
SYNONYMS -
and
B,
repeat
B.
determined advantaged
judged privileged
motivated recognized
encouraged acknowledged
This time you state the synonym. After you hear A, say B. Then listen to the model.
A. B A B
controlled prepared
_ _
managed arranged
spoiled wrapped
_ _
damaged packaged
There is no break between sibilants adjoining each other between words. Listen: Isshe? Which~scene? Repeat: It hascharm. Which~store is it? They cashchecks, It's a huqestorm.
/IZfI/ /wrtjsin/
Lesschance. It'sjunk.
/lcstjeens/ /Itsd3t\nk/
6.21
ANTONYMS
The first stop. .. The worst show. .. The least generous. . The smallest chance. . The least successful.
. . . . .
The laststop. The bestshow. The most generous. The biggestchance. The mostsuccessful.
Linking: Sibilants
Say the suffix -ed as though it begins the next word. Listen: passed, up losthim
/peestxp '
/lastrm/
missedout
caused jt
/mrstaut/ /kazdrt/
Repeat these examples. Then listen again. It's punchedout. frl::> They encouraqedhim.
frl::>
Istl
Where's the key? How did they feel? No, thank you. .. I missed the chance. .
. . . .
I lostIt. They were embarrassedabout it. But I insiston it. You passedup an opportunity.
6.22
Consonants
Izdl There was a fire Were you for it? Did they accept? Did she leave early? Did you hurry? When did you finish? Was the apartment furnished. Did you pull it? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What causedit? No, I opposedIt, They refused jt, Yes, she excusedherself, I rushedall I finishedit the way. yesterday.
Iftl
No, we furnished jt. No, I pushed jt. I've searchedand searched. Everyone pltched jn. We watched
l tft!
Where could it be? Who cleaned up after the party? Who watched the late show? Did you get there?
It.
Yes, we reachedIt.
Id3dl Did you make reservations? Did they sell rice in bulk? How did you find him? Who broke it? Conversational Exercise
Now practice the different sibilant sounds in the following exercise. Repeat: THE OCTOPUS The octopus has been a most fascinating and mysterious creature.! I have seen it as a mischievous and cute character in cartoons,! but as a scary sea monster in movies.!
. ~~
Actually, the octopus is a member of the mollusk family.! It has no skeleton and is a cousin to squids, clams, and snails.! The octopus is graceful and curious rather than aggressive.! It is rather shy, and it avoids humans.! Instead, it hunts at night for its favorite sea delicacy,! crabs, and other crustaceans such as lobsters,! oysters, shrimps, and clams.! The octopus has excellent eyesight and is clever.! To disguise itself, it changes its shape and its colorl to match surrounding sand and rocks.! It slips into narrow holes in wallsl and escapes danger by ejecting ink/ that creates a cloud-like smoke.! Next time I scuba dive,! I'd be ecstatic to see an octopus.! But what if I spot instead a big scary shark?!
6.23
following:
chic niche quiche cQateau chagrin chalet champagne Charlotte chauffeur Chevy charade chiv~!rY Chicago chandelier chaperone
MI
ALPAIRS
/51
If I - Itfl bash cash lash leash mus wis batch catch latch leech/leach ch
BONUS EXERCISES
Review the vowel sounds - Practice sibilant sounds with different vowels as
/zl
zlp Zack
III
ItII
ch
Id31
Jeep gyp Jane
seei> sip same sack sun sock sew/so/sow soot So sigh sound soy
o
chain champ shun shock chunk chalk choke
0
Jam
junk jock joke
loot
101 Iu! lat! l aul I:JII
Zoe
show shoo
Junfij
6.24
Consonants
6.25
1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
6. 7.
8.
checks - inspects - examines - takes - investigates prefers - favors - questions - chooses - picks - selects rejects - gets - obtains - acquires - gains hates - dislikes - detests - despises - requests denies - helps. - assists - aids supports , 0 loves - attempts - adores res - cherishes sleeps avors - naps oozes tal ks - disc-k!s omrmfmicat Correct: L
ates
CLASSIFICATIONS - Each item lists two animals that belong in one of the categories shown in the box below. Say the names of both animals and state their category. For example:
leopards - cheetahs Leopards and cheetahs are members of the cat family. -orLeopards and cheetahs are felines. 1. lizards - snakes 2. cheetahs - leopards 3. rabbits - squirrels
REJ;>TILF;S
RODENtS
lizard family
cat family
dogfamily
rat family
Practice the Suffix ttst] (- ist) Following are labels that can describe a person. Create sentences using any of the words that you know. Provide definitions if you can. For example: novelist pharmacist chemist dentist florist tourist optimist pessimist physicist scientist
A novelist is a person who writes novels. The pharmacist filled my prescription.
cardiologist
6.26
Consonants
Wb() would saYl'hat? -lJllderA
t you a~~quotes under-B. Match each quote in A witlfa pers B.T example: An artist would stry, "May 1paint your picture"?
A
nT
Ml
A pharmacist. 5. Do you like these roses? A piEWist. Life is wonderful. 2. It has to beperfect. ".,& bi!iW 7. You hq,ve no dawties. 3.7!1ere is your prescripT ton. An artIst. 4. ] play with the symphony. A perfectionist. 8. Let's visit the Eiffel Tower. 9. There is no hope.
1. May I paint your picture?
Answers:
A
A dentist.
B
Life is
You ha A pianist.
derful. cavities.
Following are sets of words that are Gither synonyms or antonyms. Say both words and state whether they are~ony:tus Oiantonm.::For e!~ple: "Inhale and exhale are opposites." "Test and exam are synonyms. " 1. 2. 3. 4. costly - expensive include - exclude "fall - sucseed inhale - exhale
Correct:
1. synonyms 2. antonyms 3. antonyms 4. antonyms 5. synonyms 6. synonyms 7. antonyms 8. synonyms
)$
- or- or -
"Inhale means the opposite of exhale. " "Test and exam have similar meanings. " 9. 10. 11. 12. reject - accept repair - fix simple - complex surplus - excess
9. antonym 10. synonyms 11. antonyms
5. precise - exact
p. cheap - inexpensive
minimugl - maximum 8. tired - exhausted
12. synonyms
Discuss what you know about, or what interest you may have, in any of the following topics. Focus on pronunciation of the sound 1kB1. comics physics psychics aerobics athletics ceraraies gymnastics mathematics politics academics
Practice the sounds Iks/ and /gzl as you complete the following 1. To relax, I ... 2. For exercise, I ... 3. The most ex 4. If s6'hething
sentences:
5. When I'm exhausted, .... 6. If I expect to be successful,. 7. Befor king a school exam, ... . You d experience in ~rder to ...
6.27
All are citrus fruits; except for apples. All are citrus fruits with the exception of apples.
5f centirpeter$l$l1'lilesW.wlfters,kilometers
1. carrotssaoplee,
squas~, pq,tatoes
2. trucks, helicopters, jets, airplanes 3. freeways, sidewalks, streets, highways 4. lions, tigers, leopards, elephants
The Exception: 1. apples - (not vegetables) 2. trucks - (not air transportation) 3. sidewalk;r;: (not.~or.vehicle 4. elephan~ - (notil:! the citt fa
6. houses, condominiums,
garages,
apartments
6. ages -(not a-place to.live in) 7. ~(,!101fs,l/leasurJ? of ~) 8. urkey - (not a countr' in A$l~
teat (-etf)
Practice applying the suffix-edto sibilants. Each item below contains two seritence. Determine which sentence requires the suffix -ed. Then say both sentences correctly.
1. I always (dress up, dressed up) for weddings. 2. I had to (guess, guessed) the answer. .
. . .
6. The car looked shiny, because they (wash washed) it. Correctly Said:
I. I always ~ for weddings. 2. I had to gill:.S.S. the answers.
!:~;h~';f'
w~~
thelJus.
.. ... ".-
5. 1rnsh whenever I'm running late. 6. The car looked shiny, because they :l!l.iiShl:d it.
I dressed up for the party yesterday. I~ an answer on the test yesterday. I didp.'t hut.1Wi. So l~!!4e bus. WCf!~a~ on time. I mshl:d because I was running late. The car will look shiny after they ~ it.
6.28
Consonants
THE GLIDE SOUNDS
TO PRODUCE: Arch your tongue in the middle and place its sides against the upper sides of your mouth. Draw the tongue tip back or roll it backward without touching the alveolar ridge. Keep your lips neutral. MIRROR WORK - View your mouth in the mirror as you practice raising your tongue for the sound frIo Be careful not to touch the alveolar ridge .. your tongue tip, or you will produce thetapped t or the II/ y.Jith sound instead. Avoid vibrating or tapping your tongue tip against the alveolar ridge. Practice rolling the tip backward without touching any part of the mouth. w To produce a clear English Ttl souna, focus on raising the tongue in front. Keep the back of your tongue down and the back of your mouth widely open. LipPosture: he lips are not involved in producing the/rl sound, but they are rounded when the neighboring T
01;1'011',
rude, round.
If you can produce the vowel tart, use it to help you train the sound Irl as follows: Prolong the lerl sound. Then witi10ut moving your tongue, say a word that starts with Ir/. Remember to avoid touching the alveolar ridge.
II
ec-read
ar- red
et-rid
This sound is influenced by its neighboring sounds. Therefore, it is produced in more than one way. With your tongue sides touching the sides of your mouth, raise and lower your tongue tip slowly for Irl as you repeat these words:
arrow era carry hero marry/Mary/merry vary/very
Practice by prolonging the Irl sound and then lowering the tongue tip slowly, without sliding it forward. This will keep the tip from touching the alveolar ridge. Repeat these words.
read/reed rim rent ran rain/reign right/rite/write rote/wrote root/route
7.1
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Irl BLENDS
Sound Irl combines with other consonants to form r blends, as in, brand, dress, or friend.
br - brand pr - pray kr - cry gr - grand fr -fry
dr - dry
tr - try
To produce these sounds, position your tongue for /rl as you begin forming the first consonant.
lpr, brl
Position your tongue for Irl as you join your lips for Ipl or Ib/. Repeat these words:
prompt print prayer praise brief bring brush broke
l tr, drl
To help you position your tongue for Itrl, produce the sound It I as ItSI. Repeat:
tree try true trade trust trauma
To help you position your tongue for Idrl, produce the sound Idl as Id3/. Repeat:
drain dream drove drive drama
lkr, grl
Position your tongue for Irl as you raise it in the back for Ikl or Ig/. Repeat:
creep crime crook crude crazy crooked grate/great grant green group grow grateful
Ifrl
Raise your tongue for Irl as you position the lower lip for IfI. Repeat:
free front friend frown fragile fragment
7.2
Consonants
Istrl
While releasing Isl, slide your tongue backward into Itrl. Repeat:
street stress strict strike stroke stranger
IOrl
While releasing 181, slide your tongue backward into Ir/. Avoid touching the alveolar ridge. Repeat:
three thrill threat threw/th roug h/th ru
IIrl
While releasing II!, draw your tongue backward for Ir/. Repeat:
shred shrimp shrink
Contrast:
Irl
Blends - VoicelessNoiced
Can you differentiate between r blends that begin voiceless and those that begin voiced? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
crow grow_ pride dry pride _ bride try_ dry_
Answers: grow
Practice
7.3
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Respond to statements using the correct r blend. After you hear A, say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
A type of container .... Big or extensive. Breaking the law. Dirt. A type of black bird.... To increase in size. ... Another name for wrinkle. Oil or fat.
A construction lift. Rice or wheat. Opposite of false. Past tense for draw .... The stem of a tree. Intoxicated.
There are some words in which the vowel before Irl is not pronounced. the following:
Repeat
asplrln
bevrage conference
coveraqe
restaurant
MIDDLE /r/ BLENDS The combinations of It! or Id/ + Irl are tapped, except when t begins a stressed syllable. Listen to examples:
party partake
lrt, rdl - Position your tongue for Irl, as you tap the alveolar ridge for ItI or Id/. Repeat:
order sorting ordeal sardine
Irdnl - The sound spelled rdn can be produced as in garden Igardenl or as in Igardn/. Repeat the following:
burden garden pardon
7.4
Consonants
lrtnl - In the following, the spelling 't' is pronounced as a
glottal stop. Repeat:
carton certain curtain important certainly
in these sentences.
My birthday
Repeat:
is on the fourth. artist?
Repeat:
Missouri Nebraska Ontario Virginia
Irtl - Irdl
contrast voiceless with
The suffix -ed is voiced after Irl, as in hard. The following voiced endings. Listen:
abort aboard chart
charred
Contrast:
Irsl - Irzl
Suffix -s is voiced after Irl, as in hers. Listen to the contrast between the voiceless and the voiced endings. /rs/
course
/rz/
cores
/rs/
pierce
/rz/
peers
7.5
The wind blew with force. Rare also means scarce. The supplier is the source.
'\
impress prepare pretend regret subtract
abroed
across agree attract degree
BONUS EXERCISES Practice the Irl sound. What colors are the following items? 1. grass 2. gorillas 3. grapes State your responses in complete sentences. 7. watermelons 8. The American flag 9. The flag of my native country
~. &the .fol~9'Wiblg:ite ur quarts in a gallon. 1. centimeters - meter 2. hours - day 3. months- year 4. quarters - dollar
exatttple:
State how the two words in each item are different and how they are alike. For example: composer - conductor a) A composer writes music, and a conductor leads an orchestra. b) A composer and a conductor both work with music. 1. helicopter - airplane 2. car - truck 3. rat - mouse 4. radio - tape player 5. leopard - tiger 6. guitar - violin 7. 8. 9. 10. rectangle - triangle orange - grapefruit cauliflower - broccoli flower - tree
7.6
Consonants
In each of the following groups~ one :item does !&otbelong. State which item does not belong and why. For example:
meter liter centimeter kilometer Liter does not belong. Meters, centimeters and kilometers measure length. A liter measures liquid. 6. 7. 8. 9. October November April September Monday Tuesday Saturday Wednesday horrible terrible wonderful dreadful tree flower rock grass
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Correct:
Madrid Rome Germany Paris motorcycle helicopter car truck orange grapefruit pear lemon radishes turnips corn carrots stairs elevator sidewalk escalator
1. Germany - (not a city) 2. helicopter . (not a ground vehicle) 3. pear (not a citrus fruit) 4. corn - (not a root vegetable) 5. sidewalk - (not for going up or down) 6. April- (not a fall or autumn month) 7. Saturday - ( not a week day) wonderful - (not a description of something bad) 9. rock- (not a type of plant)
a.
Complete each item below to make an analogy. Use complete sentences. For example:
fish - ocean I bird - __ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. correct - right I incorrect- __ calendar- day I watch __ celery- vegetable I orangechair - furniture / shirt. 100% 25% I Dollar _ four - number I redAfish is to the ocean as a bird is to the sky. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. bracelet - wrist I ring - __ rocket - astronaut / airplane __ shark - fish I parrot __ mother - grandmother I father __ Canada - North America / Brazil - __ San Francisco - California I Miami
Missing Words:
1) wrong 2) hour, or minute 3) fruit 4) clothing 5) quarter 6) color 7) finger 8) pilot 9) bird 10) grandfather 11) South America 12) Florida
What are your favorites? State one item or more in each of the following categories. Use complete sentences and include the word favorite; For example:
flower 1. actor 2. actress 3. drink My favorite flower is a rose. 4. color 5. fruit 6. sport - or - A rose is my favorite flower. 10. singer 11. TV program 12. musical instrument
What are your preferences? The following sets provide two choices. State which of the two you would prefer. Use complete sentences. For example:
cook - wash dishes
I lPould rather cook than tuasb dishes.or, I prefer cooking to llJoshittg dishes.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Read a newspaper. Read a magazine. Watch a video at home. - Go out to a movie. Travel by airplane. - Travel by train. Wear the color green. - Wear the color purple. Listen to piano music. - Listen to guitar music.
1. Dance. - Watch others dance. 2. Work indoors.' Work outdoors. 3. Be the driver. - Be a passenger. 4. Sing. - Listen to others sing. 5. Watch TV. - Listen to the radio.
7.7
TO PRODUCE: The Basic 11/: With your tongue relaxed and flattened, place the upper surface of the tongue tip on the alveolar ridge. Lower ohe side of th gue to allow passage for the 'iElitflow, You must hold "the 11/ sound long enough, or you may produce a tapped t instead. Practice the feel of the /1/ sound by holding the tongue tip in place, as described above, and producing a long /1/ sound.
The /1/ sound is influenced by its neighboring sounds. Therefore, it is produced in more than one way.
THE CLEAR /1/ This sound occurs at the beginning of words as in let, or after short vowels, as in all. To help you strengthen your /1/ sound, hold the top surface of your tongue tip on the alveolar ridge. Repeat the following:
Initial /1/ Final/l/ Middle /1/
LONG VOWEL +
/1/
When final /1/ follows a long vowel, a schwa vowel is added before /1/. Listen:
lie!
lual rule
leral mail
real
l eiel
l oie!
7.8
Consonants
Repeat these sentences:
Did you say boil or broil? Does that tool need oil? Don't fail to mail it early . I stood in the aisle for a while. That sale is a real good deal. It feels real cool in the pool.
pi - play . bl - black
kl - clip
91 - glad
fl - flag
sl - slow
III BLENDS
TO PRODUCE: Position your tongue for I as you begin forming the first consonant. Avoid adding an extra vowel before I. This can change meaning. For exq.(TlRle, sound like - police ill sound like - below - will sound like - follow
Sound 11/ combines with other consonants to form I blends, as in play, black, or glad. To produce these blends, position your tongue for III as you begin forming the first consonant. 'pl', Ibll Position your tongue for 11/as you close your lips for Ipl or fbl. Repeat:
Ipl/
Ibll
Ikl, 911
Position your tongue for /11 as you raise it in back for /kl or /g/. Repeat:
Ikll 191/
7.9
The
COMPREHENSIVE
words:
American
Accent Guide
IfII - Raise your tongue tip for IV as you position your lower lip for If!. Repeat these
flash flew/flu
flood flame
flow fly
1511 - While releasing Isl, slide your tongue tip into 11/. Repeat:
slang sleep slip slept slow sly slum sloppy
The students are in class. I need a hint or clue. The meeting was well planned. I received a plaque. ..
Pour it in a glass. I need some tape or glue. The food was too bland. She is wearing black.
FINAL III
A Final Consonant
+ III
When final IV follows a consonant, move your tongue quickly from the consonant to 11/. Listen:
dl
pl
kl
metal
apple
nickel
7.10
Consonants
SYNONYMS - Practice
A
alike . central
equal middle
chuckle modest
giggle humble
This time, after you hear A, say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
bet complete
gamble total
pair
couple double
twofold
THE BACK /1/ When another consonant immediately follows, /V is produced by raising the tongue in back. Listen:
/It/ built
/Id/
/Is/ false
billed/build
/Iz/ falls
Raise your tongue in back for /1/ in the following words. Repeat:
liz, Isl
Iitl
Iidl
Ilfl
Ilvl
Ilpl
Ilkl
Ilml
self shelf
solve involve
help gulp
bulk milk
calm film
/18/ - When /1/ is next to /8/, place the tongue tip between the top and bottom teeth for both sounds. Repeat these words:
filth health wealth filthy healthy wealthy
7.11
race
race rate
late
look
rate
look
rook
Repeat these words and sentences: The person in front led. . led long The line is long. . I like it a lot. lot lush The garden is lush. . low It's high, not low. . lice There's an epidemic of lice . . . . . . red wrong rot rush row rice The stop sign is red. Is it right, or wrong? The fruit may rot. I was in a rush. Sit in the front row. I cooked a pot of rice.
Contrast:
III Blends -/rl Blends Listen to word pairs. You will hear one
Can you differentiate between these sounds? word again. Which is it? clash
Answers:
crash
crash class glad
class
crass
glad _
grad_
Remember that the tongue touches the alveolar ridge for /1/, but not for frl. Repeat these words: alive arrive climb crime flee free
Repeat these pairs: clock - crock cloud - crowd play - pray glass - grass
To contrast 11/and Irl, state the following responses. After you hear A, say B. Then listen to the model.
A B A B
Opposite of dark. Opposite of left. Opposite of short. Opposite of right. A primary color. Another name for beer.
It glows in the sunlight. It grows in the sunlight. _ A musical instrument. It grows in trees.
_
7.12
Consonants
A They're in the sky. Large groups of people. B
Clouds. Crowds.
A
Practice saying words that contain both careless cooler really alarm control release
Maryland California
- Practice the
barely - hardly -
regularly
- fully -
thoroughly - tenderly
warmly
affectionately
- gently -
- lightly -
- carefully -
quickly
swiftly
- certainly obviously
assuredly evidently
Exercise:
Red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors.\ This means that all other colors\ are made by a combination of any two of these.\ For example, blue and yellow make green,\ yellow and red make orange;\ and red and blue make violet.\ These six colors become the secondary colors\ - red, orange, yellow,\ green, blue, and violet.\ These are the colors of the spectrum,\ as seen when a beam of light\ is broken into its component parts\ by passing through a prism.
7.13
c h ark
hajf pa~
tajk
couJ!d
safve s h o ujd
s a lm o n
wouYd
lr]
&
III
alligator elevator esoalator roller coaster
alarm
contgil
lWeca rele replace reply resolve earlier jewelry laborer library mpersorIlI
airline aiffil1ane
BONUS EXERCISES
PrC\,ctice the
suffil -Iy
Each .. roup of words below consrsts ofa<tverbs that are syn g s, with one exception. Say all the words in each group and then state which one is not similar in meaning to the others.
1. barely - hardly - totally 2. calmly - gentty - scaly 3. 4. 5. 6. ely - pt'eacefiiily
completely - partially - entirely - totally - fully - thoroughly lovingly - warmly - tenderly - fondly - carelessly - affectionately mildly - gently - ligh rapidly quickly - roughly - c{)refully - cautiously ptly .",.sWift,l:", instltly . .:m''i!ifowly lmmedtately
i!!l
7. surely - thoughtlessly - certainly - positively - definitely - assuredly 8. frequently - often - many times - rarely - regularly - repeatedly Answers: 1. totally 5. rouzhly
orselY-ir- tightly 3. neatly -or - care#ully 5 slowly 6. sadly 7. kindly -or- nicely 8. lightly
Complete each sentence with an adverb of your choice. You may use adverbs presented in the above exercises.
1. 2. 3. 4. She held the kitten _ I ate an apple _ He walked in the room I looked at them _ She answered the question They waited for an answer I crossed the street _ _ _
7.14
Consonants
Practice Irl
&
III in Sentences
air of words anJ.istate whether their meanings are similar
te
tlar in meaning.
leave are oppqsile in meaning. 1. 2. 3. 4. careful- careless cry laugh ennra- whole neglect nurture 5. 6. 7. 8. permit- allow rapid- slow every - all hard - difficult 9. horrible terrible 10. late early 11. recall - remember 12 sharp dull 13. 14. 15. 16. short- tall trua- false friendly - unfriendly rarely - seldom
Relationship:
1. antonyms 2. antonyms 3. s
4.
9. synonyms 13. antonyms 10. antonyms 14. antonyms synonyms '15, antonyms alltQr),ytns16, synonym$
itS partn~
A computer monitor looks like a TV screen. A computer monitor and a TV screen look alike. A
6. 7. 8. 9. schwa tiger the letter w wolf
B
horse big dog upside down m. leopard upsideJown e. 5. grapefruit 9. big dog 10. horse
1. 2. 3. 4.
to.
s
4. ba d6n 8. hpside down m
Matching' woid:
II
wine/whine while wool work nowhere someone somewhere sidewalk
TOP
ROD U C E: Start with your lips rounded slightly, and your tongue high in back (as for owel IU/). Then slide your tongue into place for xtvoweL feel v
(1'1. By
on your lips, you are tighteningl g your lips, You, will produce a und more like. I. Keep your lips relaxed as you round them.
Practice words and names of places containing the sound /w/. Repeat:
warranty wonderful Hawaii Norway Ottowa Washington Wisconsin Wyoming
7.15
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Ikw, twl To pronounce the sounds spelled "qu" or "tw," round your lips for'iw/, as you produce both sounds. Repeat these words:
Ikwl ItwI
quality quantity
twenty
Contrast: Ivl - Iwl Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to these word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
vent
Answers:
went
went vie
vie
west
why_
vest
west
Where,~lultJ y:ou like to spend t~e winter? ...................... In Hawa(1, where -the weather is y,'arm. and. sunny,. dildoyou? I would like to go to Wyoming or Wisconsin, where it snows in the winter.
7.16
Consonants
n
yell your/you're million
Contrast: /j/-/d3/ Can you differentiate between these sounds? word again. Which is it? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one
jail_
Answers:
Yale_
Yale Jack juice
yak_
Jack
use_ juice_
7.17
The
COMPREHENSIVE
For the sound /j/, the tongue moves without touching the alveolar ridge or palate. For the sound /d3/, the tongue makes contact near the alveolar ridge. Repeat these words to contrast /j/ and /d3/.
yawn - yellow - yoke John - Jello - joke yet - you'll - years jet - jewel - jeers
arrived w?
John started to yawn. Did you say Yale or lillJ.? Did you eat the yam with jam? Yes, his name is Jess.
Repeat:
union unit unite unique funeral uniform universal university
contribute distribute
- contribution - distribution
sets.
regular regulate regulation
7.18
Consonants
III
The Sound /h/ is a pure whisper. Listen:
he had
hook
How heavy was the traffic? The weather was hot and humid. Two halves make a whole. It is heavier than a feather but not as heavy as a house.
)fait
In the words,
J:{our
b~ spoken or not pronounced.
BONUS EXERCISE Each of the following sentences contains one word in which the spelling h is pronounced and one word in which spelling h is not pronounced. Practice the sentences. 1. Who is the heir to the fortune? 2. How many hours did it take? 3. He is an honest person. 4. Henry was very exhausted. 5. They were happy to be honored. 6. To inhibit is opposite of to exhibit.
7.19
The
COMPREHENSIVE
iii
l'Q PR:ODU65t Brtng your lips together to Wthevoicedatrl!9Yi and t.hen direct it rough the nasal passage.
iii
Contrast: Iml - Inl Can you differentiate between sounds 1m! and In! at the ends of words? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
gum_
Answers:
TrytflTs techn'qye: Break words that end in tn! into two parts (For example, say: pan = pa - n,) 'REf:pell.t t11etwo parts separately, and, tnensay Jb~rn closer and clossrstogsther until you can say the complete ~btd,
gun_
gum sane Tim
same
sane
Tim
tin
7.20
Consonants
Contrast: Voiced - Voiceless Endings The suffix oed and the suffix-s are voiced when added to ImJ or In/. Listen to the contrast between voiceless and voiced endings:
mpt- md mps - mz ns - nz
nt - nd
limps -limb
dance - Dan's
Contrast voiceless with voiced endings in these words and sentences. Repeat:
bent - bend The pipe is bent. The pipe will not bend. Explain what you meant. To fix is to mend. Perfume has a scent. Which one did you send? They filed a complaint. Have they ever complained? There are no steps, only ramps. Male sheep are called rams. The stock market has slumps. Some cities have slums. tramps - trams Hobos are also called tramps. Some ski resorts have trams. ~
meant - mend
scent - send
complaint
- complained
ramps - rams
slumps - slums
Contrast:
III - Inl
Listen to the contrast between III and In! in these word pairs:
knife - life name -lame need - lead
7.21
To avoid substituting n for I: If you tend to produce sound In! in place of If!, do the following exercise: BLock your nasal passage by closing nostrils together with your fingers. While you do t4is, practice saying words and sentences that contain the sound II! b notfhe sound In!,You will not feel al.LY vibration at your nose when you pJQduce the N sound correcfJ; e sentences: Let's go'1!tater. It 100ks*llke.aleaf. We lefflate last July.
iii
Listen to words that contain the sound /0/.
hang ring
TO PRODUCE: Raise the back of your tongue against the palate (as for the sound /g/). This blocks the airflow and direct it through the nasal passage. This sound occurs only in the middle or at the end of words in English.
sing
Contrast:
Inl-IIJI
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
ban
Answers:
bang _
bang thing win
thin
thing _
win_wing
7.22
Consonants
Contrast: Il)kl -11)1
Listen:
Il]kl 11]1 Il]kl 11]1 Il]kl 11]1
brink
bring
anchor
anger
ankle
angle
Repeat these words and sentences: bank - bang sink - sing think - thing wink - wing Did you go to the bank? When did the Titanic sink? What do you think? That is a flirting wink. . I heard a loud bang. Do you like to sing? That is a funny thing. Go to the west wing.
t nkt! banked
ltjd]
banks
bangs
- banged
Practice words with voiceless endings and then words with voiced endings. Repeat:
Inktt
lrjkt!
tndt
ltjd]
blinked linked
ranked thanked
banged hanged
longed belonged
winks
wings
Practice words with voiceless endings and then words with voiced endings. Repeat:
Il]ksl
Il]ksl
Il]zl
Il]zl
drinks ranks
thanks thinks
brings rings
songs things
sentences: She thinks the rings are gold. She sings my favorite songs.
7.23
The
COMPREHENSIVE
American
Accent Guide
Suffix-ing The suffix -ing is used in: Present progressive verbs The story was boring me. The story was boring. Nouns Adjectives The boring story made me yawn.
The Suffix -ing Repeat these words with the suffix -ing.
asking morning awaiting exciting evening listening
Contrast: Endings InkI1)1(-nking) -II)II)I (-nging) Listen to the following pairs with the suffix -ing:
sinking - singing banking - banging winking - winging
belonging
BONUS EXERCISE
SYNONYMS In the following word groups all of the words with the exception of one are similar in meaning. Say each word in a group and state which one is not similar to the others in eaning. m
1. talking - speaking - trying - discussing - expressing 2. listening - griping - attending - hearing 3. understanding - learning - kidding - investigating 4. making - creating - producing - manufacturing - speaking 5. breaking - cracking - fixing - shattering - bursting 6. teasing - listening - kidding - fooling around - clowning around 7. creating - complaining - objecting - protesting 8. attempting - trying - striving - waiting - undertaking
Not similar: 1. ttying 2. griping 3. kidding 4. speaking 5. fixing 6.listening 7. creating 8. waiting
7.24
MORE
on
STRESS & INTONATION
We will now explore how stress and intonation convey a variety of feelings, emotions and attitudes. We will address common patterns as well as less usual patterns in order to increase your communication awareness and to improve your skills at communicating in English.
It is not possible in this program to address all of the different patterns of stress and intonation that are used in everyday situations. However, there are some general rules that you may find useful in understanding how stress and intonation convey underlying meaning.
Words that express politeness can sound even more polite when spoken with an intonation pattern that has higher pitch tones. Listen to examples spoken with a normal intonation pattern, and then with higher pitch tones:
Normal Intonation
Higher Tones
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Practice contrasting
Excuse me. You're welcome. What time is it? Do me a favor. What's your name?................ Can I help you? Where are the restrooms? How much are those?
Excuse me. You're welcome. What time is it? Do me a favor. What's your name? Can I help you? Where are the restrooms? How much are those?
A pattern of mildly rising inflection conveys a sense of ease. This pattern generally has a pleasant tone and can convey an openness to continued communication, as in the following responses. Listen:
How is everything? How were the roads? When do you expect them? What did you do this weekend?.
Certain short responses are often spoken with inflection that falls at the end and then rises again. For example:
J
I think so. I hope not. I want to.
8.2
A question with a sharply rising inflection has a tone of surprise or disbelief. Listen to this dialogue:
There's a car with a parking ticket on the window.
)
Is it a red car? No, it's a blue one. Good, it's not mine!
The following contrasts a sharp rise in inflection with normal inflection. Listen:
)
Is that true? Is that true?
)
Right now? Are you sure? Is it that time? Did you see that? Were you serious? Is that your dog? Is the deadline tomorrow? . Right now? Are you sure? Is it that time? Did you see that? Were you serious? Is that your dog? Is the deadline tomorrow?
In English there is a pattern with swinging pitch that conveys disagreement, surprise, or sarcasm. Within the stressed syllable pitch rises, falls sharply, and then rises again; as in the following response:
V
PR It must have been quite a surprise. A sur IS E?! Everyone knew.
8.3
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Use a swinging pitch on the following responses. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
BV
ExCITing?! . . . . . NOW?! I thought it was dull. We just got here. EASy?! I thought it was difficult. ADequate?! FRIENDly?! A SACrifice?! It's much more than adequate. I thought they were unfriendly. I didn't mind at all.
That movie was exciting. Let's leave now. . Wasn't it easy? It's adequate, isn't it. They're friendly. .
A message with a sharply falling inflection has a tone of impatience, irritation, or urgency. Compare a sharply falling inflection with a normal falling inflection in the following responses. Listen:
Sharply Falling Inflection:
YES.
YES.
Repeat both
No! Of course! It's mine! I don't know! Who said that?! What's the matter?! What did you want?!
No.
Of course. It's mine. I don't know. Who said that? What's the matter? What did you want?
Record yourself as you practice English conversational speech. Focus on your intonation and think of how your attitude might be interpreted by others. Remember that sharp inflections generally convey heightened feelings or emotions. You want to avoid sounding impatient, for example, when you do not mean to.
8.4
A question that seeks a 'yes' or a 'no' response is usually spoken with a rising inflection. When spoken with a falling inflection, a yes or no type of question is often rhetorical, meaning that it has little communication value. It is usually more of a self-comment rather than a request for a response. This type of response, however, can serve to reinforce conversation. Listen to the following dialogue: Did you go anywhere this weekend?
I went fishing.
"
Declarative
A declarative form is at times spoken with a rising inflection. As such, it is often rhetorical and is an expression of surprise, instead of a real question. Listen: We've arrived . ..... We're here already? The scenery was great. .... I wouldn't know. I was sleeping. You were sleeping? It's lunch time. .... It's lunch time already? Yeah, where would you like to go eat?
Wh-Questions
Normally, a wh- question is spoken with a falling inflection. A wh-question spoken with a rising inflection, however, is used to request clarification. The person asking the question either does not remember the information or did not hear it clearly, as in the following dialogue: Did you meet Kim's friend? .......................... It's Dan.
8.5
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Which one? Where is it? What did you say? Where is it you're going? How did you get there?
. . . . .
Which one? Where is it? What did you say? Where is it you're going? How did you get there?
When?
On the first. On the first of next month. A Hey, I like those sweaters.
When?
Which one?
Conversational
Exercise:
As you listen to the following dialogue, focus on the use of intonation and stress to convey underlying meaning. So ...what did you do this weekend? ...... Oh, nothing much, how about you? Well, I had a great time! ...... A great time?! How so? Well, I cleaned out the garage, mowed the lawn, cleaned up the house and got a haircut . ...... That doesn't sound like a great time to me. It doesn't? ...... No, it doesn't. Well, at least I don't have to worry about it next weekend. So ...what are you doing next weekend? ...... Next weekend I think I'll clean out the garage, mow the lawn, tidy up the house, and get my haircut.
8.6
Primary stress is normally placed on the last content word of a phrase or a sentence. In everyday speech, however, adjectives or adverbs are often stressed for emphasis and are thereby given primary stress. Listen to sentences with the adjective stressed:
It's simple to learn. It's an excellent idea.
. .
place.
Sometimes Listen:
A
for emphasis,
B
as in the following
exchanges.
I understand it's easy. .. I hear the exam was difficult. Are you disappointed? He's quite busy, isn't he. .. Is it a good restaurant?
. . . . .
It's super easy. It was extremely difficult! I'm terribly disappointed! Yes, He's very occupied. It is a great restaurant.
Practice stressing more than one descriptive word. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
How's the music? Was it difficult or easy? Do you think so? I hear it's possible. .. Did the time go fast? I thought it was complicated. . Did you like the movie?
. . . . . .
That's too loud! It was so easy. certain. impossible! It is absolutely It went so fast! Yes, it was way too complicated. It was very, very good.
. I am positively
8.7
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Degrees of Stress
Different degrees of stress are used for emphasis. A stressed syllable can be given greater stress by increasing its length, its loudness and/or by raising its pitch more. In the following, the responses are stated at different levels of stress. Listen:
stress for emphasis greater stress for emphasis
How was the ship? Was it a bad storm? How was the sunset? .
PARAPHRASES: Practice using two levels of stress, as you paraphrase. A has a corresponding paraphrase in B. Repeat both A and B:
Each item in
You're exactly right! It was exciting! That's costly! It's confusing! It was embarrassing! They're sociable! It's terrible! It's hard to believe! It's terrific! .
. . . . . . . .
You're preCISEly right! It was exHilarating! That's outRAgeously It's PUZZling! It was huMiliating! They're VEry friendly! It's HORrible! It's inCREDible! It's fanTAStic! expensive!
Conversational
Exercise
told me that
learning how to play golf was REAL easy. was that What's my friend so difficult
talent
Right? The fact is, golf is easily one of the HARDest sports out being so emBARrassingly bad at it!
be good at. Simply put, it's eXTREMEly difficult when you start
to learn - especially
8.8
Stress for emphasis is sometimes made with a lower pitch inflection. While higher pitch generally has a more enthusiastic tone, lower pitch has a more calm or even a listless tone. Sometimes words are stressed in a tone that reflects their meaning. Listen
CIT It's ex ing.
HAP
I'm
py about it.
It was B
o
R
I'm T
I
R
ring. ed.
Practice stress with higher pitch or with lower pitch. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
BUS
y.
VER
Y busy.
SL
ow.
VER
SI
ow.
QUITE
It was
It was SO
de PRESS ing.
Stress with low pitch can also express opposition or disagreement, responses. Listen:
TO
as in the following
.....
N 0,
it's in Oc
ber.
Oc
8.9
The
COMPREHENSIVE
PRACTICING
Shifting primary stress in a phrase or sentence gives emphasis to words that express the main point in that phrase or sentence, and it affects its overall meaning. To see how shifting stress affects meaning, listen to a sentence spoken with normal stress, and then to that same sentence as it might be spoken in a different circumstance. I plan to finish tonight.
Possible Questions: Possible Responses: (normal Stress)
Who plans to finish tonight? Do you think you'll finish tonight? Do you plan to begin tonight? Do you plan to finish tomorrow?
. . .
Notice that shifting stress in the responses often communicates what the listener expects and what the speaker means.
a distinction between
Practice shifting stress in the following exchanges. After you hear A and B, repeat B.
A B
When do we leave? Does the plane leave at9 a.m.? Does the train arrive at 9 a.m.? I think the train leaves at 8 a.m. . Does the train leave at 9 p.m.?
A
train leaves at 9 a.m. (normal Stress) the train leaves at 9 a.m. train leaves at 9 a.m. train leaves at 9 a.m. train leaves at 9 A.M.
What do you do for exercise? Does anyone here exercise? Do you jog often? Do you ever walk to work? Do you ever go on walks? Do you exercise every weekend?
. . . . . .
I walk for exercise every day. I walk for exercise every day. No, but I walk for exercise every day. No, but I walk for exercise every day. I walk for exercise every day. I walk for exercise every DAY.
CLARIFYING
AND EXPLAINING
In the following exchanges, the responses clarify and also explain. Listen: Do plumbers work on lights? .
No, plumbers do not work on lights. Plumbers work on pipes. Electricians work on lights.
Practice using stress to clarify and explain. Listen to A and B. Repeat each sentence in B.
A B
.....
No, a computer is not a type of software. A computer is a type of hardware. Computer programs are software.
8.10
Is Rhode Island the largest state in America? . No, Rhode Island is not the largest state. Rhode Island is the smallest state. Alaska is the largest state.
This time, you answer the questions by emphasizing the words that make your message clearer in meaning. Stop, if you need to, and mark the words that you will emphasize. Listen to items in A, then say the items in B. You will hear a model after each sentence in the responses.
A B
_ _
No, Mexico is not north of the United States. Mexico is south of the United States. Canada is north of the United States.
Correct: No, Mexico is not north of the United States. Mexico is south of the United States. Canada is north of the United States.
The moon does not rotate around the sun. The moon rotates around the earth. The earth rotates around the sun.
Correct: The moon does not rotate around the sun. The moon rotates around the earth. The earth rotates around the sun.
Now practice responses that have more than one word stressed for emphasis within a sentence. Listen:
Are all apples red? No, not all apples are red. Some are green and some are yellow. Both the bus and train arrive at noon.
8.11
Doesthe bus or the train arriveat noon? Neither the bus nor the train arrives at noon. The bus arrives at two and the train at four. Chicago and Washington are states in the EastCoast.
No, it's the last day of December. New Year's Day is the first day of January.
This time, you answer the questions by emphasizing the words that make your message clearer. Stop, if you wish, and mark the emphasized words in each sentence. Then continue. After you hear A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B
_No,
Botanyis the study of animals, and zoology is the study of plants. _ the study of animals.
8.12
Addressing the Listener by Name When addressing a listener by name in a message, add a slight pause between the listener's name and the rest of the message. The name also has its own inflection pattern. Listen:
"\
./
.-/
./
When did you call,!Alan?
Without a pause and a separate inflection, the name of the person addressed sound as if it is part of the message. For example: Did you call, Alan? Call your mother, Alan becomes becomes...... Did you call Alan? Call your mother Alan.
will
8.13
Messages with Tag Forms A tag form is a message that immediately follows another message. The speaker makes a statement or asks a question and then follows immediately with another question or statement, as in the following examples:
)
It's appropriate,! don't you think?
)
What do you-think I am,! a genius?
The tag is set apart from the rest of the message with a distinct pause and a separate inflection. In the following exchanges,
A
Generally, a tag with a falling inflection seeks agreement, while a tag with a rising inflection assumes that the listener will agree. Listen to exchanges to contrast a tag that seeks agreement with one that assumes the listener will agree.
A tag fonn that is not actually a question is punctuated with a period, not a question mark.
)
A B
Seeking Agreement:
Assuming Agreement:
You're excited about it, aren't you. ..... How can you tell?
8.14
)
What do you think, okay? What day is it, the tenth? When do we leave, tomorrow? This needs improvement, don't you agree? That was the last time, right? The store hasn't already closed, has it? You'll remember that, won't you. They seem happy, don't they. It's not a good idea, is it. That doesn't look right, does it. It's a nice day, isn't it. You won't do that again, will you.
Listen to
This is the right bus, isn't it? We want number 26. . I'm not sure. .
. .
No, we want 20, don't we? We'd better ask, don't you think?
It's too late to see a movie. . . It's not that late, is it? What time is it? . It's only six, I think. That's right, it is only six . Then what's the answer, yes?
....
,e"..
,......
e . -. '.
'......
' .
" ..
'...
t
t
d of a "chugga, chu99~
fhlng.
r rIght?
: i
Yeah, rom, it still runs, but not very well at all. ........ The "chugga, chugga" thing .... So if I brought my car down, could you take a look at it? Well, no, because here at Tom's Auto Repair, we focus on
I'
:
:
;
rar.
-c
\\ \',
"clunkc, clunka" sounds. For "chugga, chugga" sounds, I recommend that you call my brother Ted, of Ted's Auto Repair. "Chugga, chugga" are his specialty. Thanks, I appreciate the help, goodbye.
~., _.' .,... .. 0 .
~.c
' __
t t t : ...........
8.15
Conjunctions connect thought segments or clauses into sentences. A conjunction may occur at the beginning of a sentence or between clauses. A slight pause between the clauses and changed inflection, make the clauses in a sentence clearer. Listen to a sentence first without, and then with, a slight pause and a change in inflection:
CONJUNCTIONS: and, as, but, if, so, also, when, because, after, before, although, thus, however, whenever, whereas, nevertheless, etc.
If there's
a festival,
...............
If you can go, I'll get the tickets. ............... I'll let you know soon, if I can go.
Say the following sets of sentences with the conjunction in the beginning and then in the middle. Repeat:
Conjunction at Beginning:
Conjunction in Middle:
Before you start, think about it. When you get there, please send a postcard. If we can't make it, we'll have to cancel. Whenever you have time, give me a call. As we arrived, I remembered something.
. Think about it before you start. Send a postcard when you get there. . We'll have to cancel if we can't make it. Give me a call whenever you have time. I remembered something as we arrived.
8.16
Parenthetical Statements
A parenthetical statement is a thought segment within a sentence. It is set apart from the sentence by one or more pauses and by its own intonation pattern. It can occur in the middle, at the beginning, or at the end of a sentence. Listen to examples:
Practice using parenthetical statements in different parts of a sentence. In the following exchange, the response is stated in three ways. After you hear 'A and B, repeat each item in B.
In fact, we were just introduced. We were, in fact, just introduced. We were just introduced, in fact.
That is impossible, of course. That, of course, is impossible. Of course, that is impossible. As far as I'm concerned, that is justified. That, as far as I'm concerned, is justified. That is justified, as far as I'm concerned. They are moving in two weeks, in case you didn't know. They are moving, in case you didn't know, in two weeks. In case you didn't know, they are moving in two weeks. Unless you hear otherwise, the meeting will be on Monday. The meeting, unless you hear otherwise, will be on Monday. The meeting will be on Monday, unless you hear otherwise. Unless we change our minds, we will begin at two o'clock. We will begin, unless we change our minds, at two o'clock. We will begin at two o'clock, unless we change our minds.
8.17
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Conversational
You know, when you think about it, cats really are smarter than dogs. Dog owners consider cats as aloof, and often times, self-involved. They sleep all day; and, with rare exceptions, They run things, more or less, of cats As a cat owner, I can confirm all of those refuse to perform tricks. on their terms.
that makes them so appealing as pets. Cats only like you if they know you, and if they think you deserve it. They will not ask you, as their owner, to do anything they would not want to do if the circumstances were reversed, and they owned you. They would never make you get up at four o'clock in the morning, just to let them out. the other hand, are smart. They would never relieve themselves on your expensive Persian rug. Sure, dogs are cute. But cats, on And as experience will tell you, being cute can only get you so for in this world.
STATING OPTIONS
When providing choices or alternatives, a slight pause between items and a change in inflection makes the message clearer. Two Options When two options are stated, the first is spoken with a rising inflection second with a falling inflection. Listen: and the
8.18
How would you rather send it, by FAX or bye-mail? Do you like to go out for lunch, or order pizza? When will you be back, Monday or Tuesday? When would you like to schedule an appointment, morning or afternoon?
More than Two Options When choices include more than two options, each item, except the last one, is spoken with a slightly rising inflection. Listen:
Practice saying sentences that offer more than two choices. Repeat:
Will you take the bus, the train, or fly? Were you happy, disappointed, Is it today, tomorrow, or what? or the day after tomorrow?
Would you like coffee, juice, tea, or soda? Should we go out to dinner, to a movie, or both? We can fix dinner, order takeout, or eat out. Will you be here this week, next week, or the week after? Which would you prefer, cash, check, credit card, or money order?
STATING ITEMS OR SEQUENCES When stating a list of items or sequences of events, the items or events before the end are often spoken with an overall higher pitch. Listen:
We have a cat, a dog, and a bird. I washed the dishes, swept the floor, and vacuumed.
8.19
and pulled the hood, lined with goose down, over my head.
Then I put my hands into my pockets. Man, was that snow coming down! Finally, much to my good fortune, a friend of mine, who drives a four-wheeldrive truck, happened by. He saw me, pulled over, and asked me if I needed a ride. Since the answer was rather obvious, anyway, I climbed in without responding. and my mouth was frozen shut thinking out When I got home, I made myself
some tea, and proceeded to thaw out my toes. Then, I started on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean, enjoying something other than tea, something with one of those little it, while watching an awesome sunset. umbrellas in
about how nice it would be if, instead of thawing out, I was stretching
Items can be made more distinct by stating each, prior to the last one, with a rising inflection and adding a slight pause in between items. Listen:
../../../ They're going to Athens,! Istanbul,! ~ Cairo,! and Tel Aviv.
The classes offered are algebra, trigonometry, They require an application, Reading, painting,
The hotel provides cable TV, a hot tub, and a swimming hiking, and mountain
The price includes round trip airfare, sightseeing tours, and hotel accommodations. On a tour of London we visited Kensington and Windsor Castle. Buckingham
Indefinite Listings or Choices When listing items or providing options as unlimited possibilities, with a slightly rising inflection and with slight pauses. Listen:
Would you like black tea, herbal tea, latte, espresso ..... They have a pool, a spa, tennis courts .....
8.20
Conversational
Exercises - Putting it All Together of stress, rhythm, and intonation as you repeat the
Be clear about the audience) A writer should know his readers, and then write so they can understand.! writing as simple as possible) Always make the Even complex ideas can often
be written simply.! The simpler one writes, the more likely the reader will understand.! Clear, simple writing is much easier to understand, and much easier to translate into local languages.! Remember, keep it simple.
Dolphins which are probably the most popular of sea animals, are said to be intelligent and friendly.! If you ever take an ocean voyage or cruise, you will likely get to see Dolphins swimming alongside the ship or just in front.! They will appear ~ to be racing playfully with the ship, as they dash and leap, cutting back and forth across the bowl. Dolphins are seen commonly in the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.! They travel in schools and accompany ships for long distances.! They grow to a length of sixto nine feet and are dark above, with yellowish and brown stripes on the sides, and a clear white belly.! They are not fish, but mammals.! They are closely related to the whales and porpoises.
8.21
The
COMPREHENSIVE
on bare feet.!
hats that shade rosy, mischievous cheeks, land it is the glowing, adventure and a longing for discovery.
of a runaway slave that shines like ebony.! In its ripples we sense freedom,
Now practice applying the patterns of stress and intonation, as well as pauses, as you shadow the speakers in the following paragraphs.
How to get big laughs at a party? First, you have to be naturally funny. Philosophically, you should also understand that you need to be in tune with your audience. That means knowing what they consider humorous and what they do not. For example, it would be wrong to make attorney jokes around members of an organization like the National Bar Association. Simply put, at a you to be sure use discretion. Discussing "Confessions of a Vegetarian" Beef Council convention ought to get you some laughs. But remember, have to be clever about it. Use your head or you could, as they say, go over like a lead balloon. Getting lots of laughs? ~ Approach it as though it were very serious business. ~
O~
I
Grocery shopping, provided you know what you are doing, can be quick and easy. The first thing to remember, is that you need to find a time when there are fewer shoppers in the store, at least in the check-out lanes. To do this, recommend you find a grocery store that is open 24 hours a day, a week. Studies show that after 1 a.m., grocery traffic becomes noticeably less congested. So, just to be on the safe side, I suggest that you wait until 1:30 a.m. to begin your grocery shopping. virtually to yourself. In this circumstance, You'll find that other than the you'll have the store guy cleaning up with the mop and the night-checker, seven days
unencumbered shopping, but quicker checkout as well. Finally, I highly recommend choosing Friday night as your grocery shopping night, because you will have the distinct advantage of sleeping in on Saturday morning.
8.22
BONUS EXERCISES
In the folrowlng verbal '~xdllahges. each response in B contains a word that is stressed for emphasis. Which word is it?
1. Did you take photos? . &2. I don'Uhi~ you can fini~ on tin1e.. ......,........... 3. Is the book blue or gray? . 4. Are you sure it's nex~week? ............................. 5. Who can (Jance? . 7. Did you attend the meeting? . 8. I want to thank yOu.......................... ,., A . 9. Is the concert this week? .
Correct:
1. Yes, I did take a few 2. But I ca\finish pn time. 3. It's blue and gray. 4. ~s, ram sure. 5. Sheeao. 6.l~U doIt, 7. No, were you there? 8. And I want to thank you. 9. No, it is next week.
Yes, I did take a few. But I can finish on time. It's blue and gray. Yes, I am sure. I will do it. No, were you there? And I want to thank you. No, it is next week.
Practice using stressfor emphasis as you state your opinions. Indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Use complete sen,tegces.
1. New York City is the most popular city in the world. 2. There-is too much vlolertce in movies. 3. Children are growing up too fast these days. 4. ~u(!lear weapons should be banned in every country.
5. Srnokipq of tobacco should not be allowed in public buildings. 8. Everybody should be able to Buya gun.
9. Recycling is ne~essary in order to preserve the world's natural resources.
3. Inrerests o~past'mes.
8.23
The
COMPREHENSIVE
Complete the following sentences. Begin each with a cortjunction such as: if, whenever before, after, because. For example:
...1get dressed ..
After! get dreased,Jieat bf4~akfast. - Or! Before T'get dressed, I eat lJreakfast.
1 2, 3 4 5
1 do my homework
1 brush my teelh
. .
6 .... 8. 9
I go to a party ....
7. ... I
gl a cors ....
1$
Describe each of the following. Apply changed inflection and slight pauses to add clarity to your speech.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The house~ou Il\e in or woulcPlike to live The room or place you are in. The car you own or would like to own. A familiar city. A pet that belonqs to yotror to;~friend. A character in a movie or a play you saw recently. The flag of your native country.
tit
Provide directions or instructions. Select from any of the following. Apply changes in inflection and add slight pauses between steps in a sequence in order to make your messages clearer.
1. Sending a letter. 2. Making coffee or tea. 3. Cooking your favorite dish. 4. Making a long distance phone call. 5. Finding a web site on the Internet. 6. ~-eGording a TV
I.
8.24
Personalized
Accent-Reduction A. Lujan,
Coaching
with Beverly
MS - ccc/sip
guided instruction
on the pronunciation
In person, By telephone, One-on-one instruction, With groups, In educational settings, At the workplace.
course of instruction
A speech assessment prior to beginning the course. Ten hours of personalized, Additional one-on-one instruction. are available.
sessions, if necessary,
include:
Her expertise as author of The American Accent Guide, 2nd Edition. Having an experienced instructor who has taught English pronunciation for 18 years to people from around the world. Having a highly qualified instructor who specialized in accent reduction during her formal training in, both B.S. and M.S. from the University of Utah, in speech-language pathology. Having an instructor who thoroughly enjoys her work helping clients achieve their speech improvement goals for personal or professional reasons. Having individualized training that meets your personal needs, employment demands, and personal and professional goals. Having the best and most thorough tool on the market (The Guide) that facilitates easy and enjoyable practice between coaching sessions. The ability to make dramatic progress in a very short time, possibly achieving total accent elimination within the ten-week period. Ms. Lujan has a success rate over 95%, as rated by her clients.
Testimonials
Dear Beveriv, Thank. you for the exceiient yrogram you provided . over the phone . .Jtfter 1 isfiea few fin sessions, my staff at the clinic were so impressed. 6'1 my 'Engfish ana my patients never have to ask me: could. you repeat that again? Or what did. you say? Say that one more time y{ease. Ta{king over the phone now is much easier ana the most important for me now is: 1am no Congernervous about syeaking in grouys ana meetings. Thani: you so much, Zeyaoun Souiasrman. V.V.S.
1 came from India 9 years ago ..... 'Even though my 'Engfish {anguage skirrs were gooa, 1 [aced. challenqes communicating at work because of my accent. 1wanted. to be confident in communicating with executives from my company ana with ciient executives, ..... .Jtfter two sessions 1knew exactlv why 1had. to repeat what 1said, ana why yeoy{e had. aifficu{ty understanding certain words 1said. Working with :Ms. Lujan on interactive sessions heryea me make corrections quite quick{y. 1can now communicate a rot better ana speak witfi confidence . Dev :Muaafiar
1'1' of Techno{ogy
Teieperformance 'US.Jt
'Before imyroving my speech. skirrs with the hetp of 'Beverfy Lujan, 1was not abte to function well in my j06 as a manager in bani: operations which requires me to train bani: officers ana emplo-qees 1had' studied 'Engfish in Nigeria since etementarv schoot ana had. Iived. in the 'U.S.for 7 years .Jtfter on{y ten weeks of working with :Ms. Lujan ana yracticing with The .Jtmerican .Jtccent (juiae, people no Conger asked. me to repeat what 1said. :My accent has aefinite{y improved, ana yeoy{e actua{{y say they fike the way 1sound.
..1have great{y improved' my speech. ana am now abl to achieve my career qoals. 1also have the oyy ortun it '1 to teach economics ana business management classes at a community co{{ege which would. not have happened. had. 1not improved. my speech. skirrs.
J-fong Xong 9 years ago, ana spoke Ching fish - 'Engfish with an injiuence of 60tfi Chinese ana 'British 'Engfish. 1also spoke fast thinking 1would. be more [Iuent, bu: 1 [ound. that this made my speech. more aifficu{t understand. . :My experience in training sessions with 'Bever{y was incredibiu pleasant Within ten weeks, she showed. me a{{ the basics of the standard. .Jtmerican accent inciudinq yroyer stress, intonation, rhythm, vocai patterns, ana yronunciation of a{{ the voweCs ana consonants. She aiso hetped. me be a criticai judqe of my speech. 1am now abie 'fine tune" my accent 6'1 detecting ana then fixing my mistakes. She is very yatient, very derailed; ana very thorough. 1 think it is important to have a professionai to give you [eedhack, provide you guiaefines, ana show you how to make corrections. 1aefinite{y recommend. Beverlu. Sherman Tse Oracle Developer, Charlotte, NC
REGISTRATION
FORM
Register your copy of The American Accent Guide, 2nd Edition and be eligible for the following: FREE Quarterly Speech Newsletters by Beverly A. Lujan. or you lose
You may replace your CD set, if it ever gets scratched or unusable, a CD, for only $59.00 for the set, (normally $99).
You may purchase extra copies of The American Accent Guide, 2nd Edition, Book only for $19.95, less in quantity (normally $29.95).
Mail to: Lingual Arts PO. Box 522168 Salt Lake City, Utah 84152
NAME:
First Middle Last
ADDRESS:
Street Address or Post Office Box Number
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
OUTSIDE
of U.S. ADDRESS:
Country
TELEPHONE:
__________________________
Ext.
E-MAIL:
OCCUPATION:
NOTES:
.....
NOTES:
NOTES:
NOTES:
NOTES: