The Sounds of English

Generally, the speech phones or sounds of English may be classified into vowels, consonants, and diphthongs.

Vowels are voiced sounds produced without obstruction of the oral cavity or constriction of the breath stream.

Consonants are produced with the breath stream obstructed to produce friction either by completely stopping or narrowing the passage for a length of time or diverting the sound through other passages

Diphthongs are a combination of two vowels produced as a single sound.

The Vowel Sounds of English

A vowel is a voiced sound produced without any obstruction or constriction as the sound flows through the oral cavity.

The vowels vary from each other as to their production, in the size and shape of the oral cavity. When producing the sound, there are thing that are taken into consideration:

Position of the tongue Shape of the lips Degree of tension of the lips and the tongue

The tongue is an important speech organ when producing the vowel sound. The front, middle or back of the tongue is bunched toward the palate, thus varying the size and shape of the air passage. Hence, vowels are classified as front, central and back.

The position of the lips is another factor in the production of the vowel sounds. The lips may be rounded or spread, closely rounded or in a smiling position.

The degree of tension refers to the degree of tenseness (or lack of it) of the muscles of the speech organs in production. Some vowel sounds are produced with more effort and intensity than the other vowels.

Vowel sounds may also vary as to the distance between the upper and lower front teeth. It may either by narrow, wide, half-wide.

KINDS OF VOWELS1. Front vowels – are vowel sounds formed in front of the mouth or the

tip of the tongue./i/ /I/ /e/ / / ε /æ/ /a/

2. Central vowels – are vowel sounds formed in the middle of the mouth. /ɝ/ / / /^/ə

3. Back vowels – are vowel sounds formed with the back of the tongue arched toward the back roof of the tongue.

/u/ /U/ /o/ /ô/ /ä/4. Diphthong – is a combination of two vowel sounds that glide to form a

new vowel sound with the first vowel given more prominence. /eI/ /aI/ / I/ /oU/ /ɔ au/ /I / / a/ /u /ə ε ə

1. The Sound /ē/ Webster /i/ IPA

Length of Sound - longFront of Tongue - high

Jaw - tenseLips - spread wideBetween Teeth - narrow gap or space

To produce the /i/ sound, the tongue is bunched forward with its tip pressing the lower front teeth. The teeth and lips are slightly parted as a smile. The tongue, lips and jaw are all rigid as the air is pushed from the mouth.

The /i/ sound is the highest of all the front vowels and it is voiced like all other vowels.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. e as in she, me, be2. ea as in meat, neat, seat3. ee as in sweet, leeks, beets4. ie as in believe, retrieve, siege5. ei as in receipt, spontaneity6. eo as in people7. oe as in amoeba, foetus

WORDS

1. grieve2. seizure3. impede4. beaver5. sheep6. weak7. chief8. treason9. obese10. legalize

11. sheaf12. cheese13. arena14. feast15. peach16. eaves17. sheik18. tease19. mean20. leisure

21. screen22. easel23. demon24. torpedo25. scene26. seize27. thief28. theater29. foetus30. excrete

31. teethe32. leach33. cease34. believe35. physique36. heather37. ravine38. secrete39. achieve40. secret

PHRASES

1. trees in the field2. feed the sheep3. a weird dream4. a piece of meat5. please repeat

6. hear the cheers7. easy to eat8. clear the pier9. a spear from the rear10. appear near the deer

SENTENCES1. The preacher claimed that praying the novena inside the cathedral is

obsolete.2. The amoeba attack on the comedian was lethal.3. The zealous streetcleaner kept on speaking queerly.

4. Each child was given a serving of a piece of meat, green peas and sweet beans.

5. Please repeat your speech for the eager team.

QUOTATIONS/POEMS1. Believe not all that you see nor half of what you hear.2. Diplomacy should bring about a happy meeting between the ideal and the

real.- A. Roces

3. Only reapers, reaping earlyIn among the bearded barley,Hear a song that echoes cheerlyFrom the river winding clearly.

- Alfred, Lord Tennyson, The Lady of Shallot4. Ah, my Beloved, fill the Cup that clears

Today of past Regrets and future Fears:Tomorrow! Why, Tomorrow I may beMyself with Yesterday’s Seven Thousand Years

- Edward Fitzgerald, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam of Nishapur

5. My little horse must think it queerTo stop without a farmhouse nearBetween the woods and frozen lakeThe darkest evening of the year.

- Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

6. I sent thee late a rosy wreath,Not so much honoring theeAs giving it a hope, that thereIt could not withered be.But thou thereon didst only breatheAnd sent’st it back to me;Since when it grows, and smells, I swearNot of itself but thee!

- Ben Jonson, Song to Celia7. There was the Door to which I found no key

There was the Veil through which I might not see;Some little talk a while of Me and TheeThere was – and then no more of Thee and Me.

- Edward Fitzgerald, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam of Nishapur

2. The Sound /ĭ/ Webster /I/ IPA

Length of Sound - shortFront of Tongue - high

Lips - less spread Between Teeth - narrow gap or space

The produce the /I/ sound, keep the tongue bunched up toward the front of the mouth. The tip of the tongue is behind the lower front teeth. Lips and teeth are very narrowly parted. The lips are more relaxed than those for /i/. As the air moves through the mouth, the mid part of the tongue is arched upward toward the hard palate.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. i as in pick, trick, pit2. y in the medial position as in gym, larynx, tyranny3. ay as in the final position as in Thursday, Monday, Friday4. ai as in captain, bargain, certain5. at as in chocolate, private6. age as in postage, cabbage, cottage7. ace as in necklace, preface, solace

WORDS

1. niche2. limb3. linear4. prison5. inch6. bliss7. hiss8. whimper9. scripture10. single

11. limousine12. drift13. witness14. tick15. kindle16. inquiry17. skimpy18. scrimp19. timid20. trip

21. city22. scribble23. myth24. brilliant25. dwindle26. pitch27. civil28. liquid29. wink30. ripple

31. mint32. fifth33. rhythm34. skillet35. mystic36. victor37. civil38. thick39. chill40. mitten

PHRASES

1. sit in the kitchen2. think big3. a Latin film4. a silly little kitten5. spill the ink

6. vim and vigor7. kill the pig8. drink milk9. a willing witness10. a trip to the big city

SENTENCES1. This morning, Him left for Milan, Italy on a business trip.2. During the inquiry, the fifth witness to the crime was made to testify.3. The timid king gifted his six siblings with a free trip this winter to

Switzerland.4. Is having a good diction a gift or a skill?5. The villain was asked to sit still for a few minutes.

QUOTATIONS/POEMS1. He that eats till he is sick must fast till he is well.2. God will forget our country if we forget those who die that we may live.3. Come, fill the cup, and in the fire of Spring

Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling;The Bird of time has but a little wayTo flutter – and the Bird is on the Wing

- Edward Fitzgerald, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam of Nishapur

4. The boatman, he thrills as he hears itOut there in his little shiftHe sees not the reef as he nears itHe only looks up to the cliff.

- Lorelie5. Then round and round and out and in

All day the puzzled sage did spinIn vain – it mattered not a pinThe pigtail hung behind him.

- William Thackeray, A Tragic Story

CONTRASTIVE PAIRS

/i/ - /I/

1. peel – pill2. team – Tim3. cheap – chip4. feast – fist5. read – rid

6. heat – hit7. bead – bid8. peach – pitch9. seek – sick10. teen – tin

1. Banana chips are cheap.2. The ship sank fifteen feet deep.3. Sit beside me and kiss me on the cheek.4. Pete was seen riding on a jeep.5. Just kneel down and begin reading your misdeeds.

EXERCISESA. Encircle the word pronounced by the teacher

1. beach – bitch2. sin – scene3. cheek – chick4. Sid – seed5. reach – rich

6. bit – beat7. wean – win8. sick – seek9. dean – din10. least – list

B. Read the sentences aloud. Emphasize the difference between the /i/ and /I/ sounds.

1. Go back to your seat and sit down.2. I have to leave this place if I want to live longer.3. Do you think it is a sin to watch that violent scene in the film?

4. Peel the fruit and swallow it like a pill.5. The old man slipped in the bathroom and fell into a deep sleep.

3. The Sound /ĕ/ Webster /ε/ IPA

Length of Sound - shortFront of Tongue - low - middleLips - slightly parted Between Teeth - half - wide

To produce the /ε/ sound, let the middle part of the tongue bunch forward while the tip of the tongue is against the back of the lower front teeth. Lips and teeth are slightly parted in a “half smile” position

This sound does not occur in the final position

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. e as in wed, Ted, ten2. ea as in tear, read, bread3. ai as in the said4. a as in any, many, says

WORDS

1. legend2. bench3. dead4. debit5. trek6. sensible7. infection8. treasure9. engine10. special

11. reckon12. etch13. jester14. second15. edge16. pleasant17. bread18. dreadge19. trench20. senate

21. selective22. says23. fence24. editor25. heaven26. tremble27. ledge28. many29. gesture30. embezzle

31. tender32. scent33. bed34. steady35. weapon36. peasant37. shelve38. rebel39. seventy40. swell

PHRASES

1. met the deadline2. test with death3. an excellent lecture4. a precious engine5. fences and hedges

6. seven to eleven7. meant something else8. a September wedding9. a dreadful spectacle10. a genuine leopard

SENTENCES

1. Among the wedding presents they received were a bed, a kettle, an electric range and a cute teddy bear.

2. Ted painted the fence red and yellow.3. Our treasure hunting in Negros was a pleasant experience.4. Maribel fell from the edge of the bench.5. My nephew sent me a red belt and a bread toaster

PROVERBS /POEMS1. Better die a beggar than live a beggar.2. Creditors have better memories than debtors.3. He that gains well and spends well needs no account.4. I prefer the death of an ant which bites even in the moment of dying.5. I sometimes think that never blows so red

The rose as where some buried Caesar bled;That every Hyacinth the Garden wearsDropt in her Lap from some once lovely Head.

- Edward Fitzgerald, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam of Nishapur

CONTRASTIVE PAIRS

/ε/ - /I/

1. fell – fill2. pen – pin3. set – sit4. send – sinned5. tell – till

6. pet – pit7. head – hid8. mess – miss9. spell – spill10. hell – hill

1. bread in the bin2. a deaf prince3. a pit in the hill4. filled to the brim5. sit on the sala set6. a fencesitter7. hit on the head8. spilled the mess9. a pen and a pin10. led to sin

EXERCISESA. Listen as the teacher reads each sentence. Underline the word used by the

teacher.1. Don’t forget to (send, sand) the door right away.

2. Look for the (cattle, kettle).3. My daughter Pamp loves to be (petted, patted).4. The (men, man) refused to follow instructions.5. Let us always pray for our (dead, Dad).

The Sound /ă/ Webster /æ/ IPA

Length of Sound - slightly longLips - widely opened /slightly spreadTeeth - slightly partedMouth - slightly tenseBetween Teeth - wide

To produce the /æ/ sound, put the tip of the tongue slightly upward and above the lower front teeth. The teeth are slightly parted while the lips are widely opened and stretched upward.

This sound is voiced so there should be vibration when it is produced. It occurs only in the initial and medial position.

Spelling for this sound:a as in nap, cat, class

WORDS

1. brackish2. lacquer3. halves4. gadget5. trap6. grass7. wrath8. fragile9. hammock10. package

11. gallant12. panic13. grasp14. fanatic15. patent16. brag17. canned18. chance19. plaque20. dazzle

21. parasite22. fabric23. Adam24. rack25. hazard26. havoc27. traffic28. parable29. camera30. back

31. hatchery32. tramp33. example34. applicable35. stand36. band37. flash38. cattle39. batter40. bath

PHRASES

1. abandon the bank2. can’t stand the demands3. a sample of outcast humanity4. a batch of bad actors5. a gang of bandits

6. a badge on his back7. bad manners8. lack of plants9. a family match10. plants for the pageant

SENTENCES1. Many love pancakes with canned apples.

2. The angry man strangled the robber.3. Knowing the plane crash victims, we are all saddened by their deaths.4. Dad was very glad to accept the plaque.5. The captain now stands near the traffic lights.

PROVERBS/POEMS1. An empty sack cannot stand by itself.2. The strongest man in the world

Is he who stands most alone.- Henrik Ibsen

3. A face made upOut of no other shapeThan what nature’s hand set up.

4. Son, said my motherCome, climb into my lapAnd I’ll soothe your little bonesWhile you take a nap

5. And gold threads whistlingThrough my mother’s handI saw the web growAnd the pattern expand.

CONTRASTIVE PAIRS

/æ/ - /b/

1. knack – knock2. band – bond3. tan – ton4. shack – shock5. add – odd

6. cab – cob7. black – block8. rack – rock9. pat – pot10. sack – sock

1. a black block2. a hat for the hot summer3. a tap on the tabletop4. a golden cap for the cop5. kept several rocks in the rack

/æ/ - /ε/

1. flash – flesh2. band – bend3. mass – mess4. batter – better5. fad – fed

1. sand – send2. add – ed3. bag – beg4. dad – dead5. mat – met

1. begged to bring her bad2. lend me your land title

3. mess up the mass pamphlets4. send several sandbags5. said a sad farewell

/æ/ - /eI/

1. cash – case2. chasm – chaos3. past – paste4. plaid – played5. fact – fake

6. gas – gaze7. black – blake8. has – haste9. badge – beige10. stand – stayed

1. played with her plaid skirt2. stayed behind to stand by3. gazed at the gas station4. faked all the given facts5. a pair of beige plaid pants

EXERCISESA. Encircle all the words with the /æ/ sound.

1. He clasps the crag with crooked hands;Clue to the sun in lonely lands,Ringed with the azure world he stands.

- Alfred, Lord Tennyson2. Under a spreading chestnut-tree

The village smithy stands;The smith, a mighty man is he,With a large and sinewy hands;And the muscles of his brawny armsAre strong as iron bands.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Village Blacksmith

The Sound /e/ /i/ /õ/ /û/ Webster / ɝ/ IPA

Length of Sound - longLips - spread / slightly roundedMouth - tenseBetween Teeth - half-open

To produce the / / sound, hump the back of the tongue quite highɝ toward the soft palate. The tip of the tongue points upward toward the hard palate and the tongue is tense and rigid. Let the teeth have a narrow opening and the upper front teeth almost touching the inside of the lower lip. The sound glides from the initial /U/ and as it moves toward /r/, the lips start to close together more tightly.

~ ~

Remember to keep the lips almost closed with only a small hole and the upper front teeth almost touching the lower lip.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. ir as in bird, irked, sir2. er as in herb, germ, desert3. ear as in early, earnest, search4. or as in worst, worth, work5. ur as in fur, curb, urban6. our as in journey, tournament

WORDS

1. perch2. purge3. fertile4. insurgent5. curl6. earnest7. curtain8. err9. bird10. circle11. lurk12. squirt13. journal14. dirge15. learn

16. nerve17. while18. circle19. germ20. dirt21. church22. curse23. reverse24. inferno25. scourge26. absurd27. murder28. search29. tourniquet30. currency

31. skirt32. curry33. pearl34. disturb35. saboteur36. work37. occur38. refer39. verse40. hurt41. firm42. earl43. smirch44. courage45. sermon

PHRASES

1. the first and third surgeons2. the nerve to work3. a pearl for my girl4. an urban circus5. ferns and herbs

6. the early bird7. curse the attorney8. the earnest colonel9. a perfect sherbet10. a turbulent turkey

SENTENCES1. The early bird catches the worm.2. The surgeon immediately returned to the hospital for an emergency

operation on the colonel.3. The intern is the perfect person to nurse the sick Burmese president.4. The worst circus accident in the world happened last Thursday.5. The girl refused to wash the dirty curtains and girdles.

QUOTATIONS/POEMS

1. The devil’s mouth is a miser’s purse.2. Experience without learning is better than learning without experience.3. A hero lives not only because of his heroic deeds, but also because he has

a biographer who preserves, interprets, and depicts his life and deeds on the imperishable parchment of written literature.

- Zaide4. The globe we inhabit is divisible into two worlds: the common

geographical world and the world of books.- Leigh Hunt

5. If you were a cloud, and sailed up thereYou’d sail on water as blue as airAnd you’d see here in the fields and say“Doesn’t the sky look green today?”

The Sound /ŭ/ Webster /^/ IPA

Length of Sound - shortLips - not roundedMouth - laxTongue - low, mid-wayBetween Teeth - half apart

To produce the /^/ sound, pull back the tongue toward the rear of the mouth and hump the back of the tongue slightly upward toward the soft palate. The lips and teeth are slightly parted. As the air steam moves through the mouth, it passes through the narrow space between the humped tongue and the soft palate.

The difference of the /^/ from the schwa sound lies in the formation of the tongue during production. In the /^/ sound, the tongue is humped in the back of the mouth while in the schwa sound, the tongue is flat in the mouth.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. u as in us, sun, under2. o as in son, love, oven

WORDS

1. blunt2. plump3. rough4. scum5. bunch6. punch7. hum8. scrub9. pumpkin

13. tust14. mumps15. tongue16. smug17. rupture18. luster19. jump20. some21. rugged

25. skull26. duck27. pungent28. shuttle29. mushroom30. publish31. judge32. cousin33. refund

10. induct11. plunge12. love

22. rummage23. custom24. lunge

34. shrug35. justice36. hungry

PHRASES

1. an abundance of honey2. struch with a club3. the lucky judge4. a hundred muscles5. run in the slums

6. rough and tough7. fun on Sunday8. consult my brother9. a ruptured tongue10. public trust

SENTENCES1. My brother was punished because he got mother’s money and spent a

hundred pesos on toys.2. Much honey spilled in the oven when I was preparing lunch.3. Her son, tough still young, looked husky, rough and rugged.4. The judge left his luggage on the bus.5. My cousin, who is an athlete, tried a high jump but unluckily he broke his

skull.

CONTRASTIVE PAIRS

/^/ - / æ /

1. run – ran2. cut – cat3. truck – track4. luck – lack5. but – bat

6. trunt – grant7. drug – drag8. dumb – dam9. crush – crash10. fun – fan

1. cut the cat’s tail2. lack of drugs3. made fun with my fan4. dragged the drug addict

5. kept track of the truck6. run into the cat7. cut through the dam8. ran into the dam

EXERCISESA. Underline the word used by the teacher

1. wish you (luck, lack)2. a feather in his (cup, cap)3. a (track, truck) field4. (whom, hum) a tune5. deaf and (dam, dumb)6. a (drug, drag) race7. (crushed, crashed) ice8. a sharp (tang, tongue)9. (grunt, grant) his request10. a hamburger (bun, boon)

B. Underline all the words with the /^/ sound in the sentences.1. The lucky hunters found an abundance of elephants’ tusks and

skulls in the jungle.2. Last Monday, a young judge from the Dutch government arrived

for a conference.3. It is fun to go hunting especially during Sundays.4. The committee discovered rampant graft and corruption among

our government officials.5. Every lunch and supper, I and my close chums see to it we

consume all food up to the last crumb.

The Sound /ă ĕ ŏ ŭ / Webster / ə / IPA

Length of Sound - shortLips - slightly open Teeth - slightly partedMouth - laxTongue - low

To produce the /ə / sound, relax the tongue at the bottom of the mouth. Put the tip of the tongue against the lower front teeth. The lips and teeth are slightly parted and there is almost no movement.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. u as in until2. a as in above, alone, attend3. e as in the, believe, maker4. o as in symbol, polite, purpose

WORDS

1. afraid2. appear3. alone4. attend5. affair6. around7. behind8. bacon9. soda10. sofa11. believe12. pagoda

13. occur14. circus15. focus16. compare17. debtor18. telephone19. purpose20. error21. delta22. cover23. epoch

PHRASES

1. made to understand2. afraid to be alone

6. acame all along7. a polite society

3. around for the affair4. about to announce5. a telephone near the fountain

8. unable to volunteer9. a Catholic activity10. a mischievous character

SENTENCES1. The debtor failed to attend the conference.2. I couldn’t believe the affair was postponed again.3. The focus of the president’s attention was the error on the cover.4. Don’t leave the cactus on the sofa.5. My husband loves to eat bacon with soda.

EXERCISESRead the sentences and encircle all the unstressed syllables or schwa sound.

1. The arena will be closed till Sunday.2. Do you think you will be absent for the occasion?3. That person sounds both ignorant and mischievous.4. I have no idea as to his whereabouts.5. Father finds the affair absurd though well-attended.6. The soldiers surrounded the factory.7. Always wear the proper attire for class.8. The husband works in the circus.9. The chairman called off the conference after about an hour of

waiting.10. Don’t leave that machine behind the sofa.

The Sound /oo / Webster / U / IPA

Length of Sound - shortMouth - laxTeeth - slightly partedLips - slightly open Tongue - low - high

To produce the /U/ sound, pull back the tongue, tis back humped toward the soft palate. the sides of the tongue are turned up allowing air to pass over. The teeth are parted narrowly and the lips are slightly open forming a small hole to let air pass through.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. oo as in book, stood, hook2. ou as in would, could, courier3. u as in cushion, bush, full

WORDS

1. stood2. partook

11. boulevard12. should

21. wolf22. could

3. hood4. pudding5. hook6. bouillon7. rookie8. push9. goody10. foot

13. shook14. fulcrum15. book16. cook17. bosom18. woman19. jury20. brook

23. push24. cushion25. pulley26. pulpit27. bulletin28. wooden29. soot30. butcher

PHRASES

1. a good cook2. full of soot3. ambush in July4. stood by the pulpit5. shook the wood

6. a wolf by the brook7. not good to look8. pull the fulcrum9. a crooked cook10. took a good book

SENTENCES1. The government official was ambushed and riddled with bullets by men

who stood near a wooden building.2. The cook and the butcher only shook their heads when they were

questioned.3. The crook took a last look at the gushing brook.4. Bullions of gold were found under the pulpit.5. The pudding, which is full of raisins, tastes good.

PROVERBS /POEMS1. He who is a good son will be a good husband and a good father.

- Rizal2. A gown made of the finest wool

Which from our pretty lambs we pullFir-lined slippers for the cold.With buckles of the purest gold.

- Christopher Marlowe, The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

The Sound /oo/ Webster /u/ IPA

Length of Sound - longTongue - highLips - slightly open Teeth - slightly parted Mouth - tense

To produce the /u/ sound, the tongue is pulled back in the mouth and humed toward the soft palate, but not as far high as the /U/ sound. the lips are slightly open to form a hole for the air as it leaves the mouth when it is pushed through. the teeth are slightly parted. Since the tongue is not humped so high, the air leaves the mouth in a lower position.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. oo as in tooth, brood, rooster2. ou as in coup, group, souvenir3. u as in truth, rude, brute4. o as in tomb, womb, movie5. ue as in true, blue, sue6. oe as in shoe7. ew as in crew, brew, threw8. ui as in juice, bruise, fruit

WORDS

1. recruit2. lewd3. scrutinize4. prudent5. poor6. doom7. prune8. lieutenant9. inclusion10. raccoon11. choose12. rooster

13. tattoo14. lunatic15. suicide16. scuba17. poodle18. smooth19. cruise20. balloon21. stoop22. uncouth23. ooze24. goose

25. sleuth26. jewel27. kudos28. exclude29. tour30. moon31. flute32. leukemia33. scoop34. shoes35. proof36. fool

PHRASES

1. fruit juice for my brood2. improve your routine3. pool in school4. a smooth canoe5. a coup in June

6. a rude brute7. a blue room8. the brutal truth9. a frugal crooner10. few shoemakers

SENTENCES1. Luz wore a loose blouse in the swimming pool.2. The uncouth fool sipped the soup noisily.3. The movie fan lost her tooth when she fell from the stool.4. I found a small spoon in my fruit juice.5. The man removed his toupee before he jumped into the pool.

CONTRASTIVE PAIRS

/ U / - / u /

1. could – cooed2. soot – suit3. look – Luke

5. full – fool6. pull – pool7. would – wooed

4. stood – stewed 8. should – shoed

1. The fool is full of pranks.2. The suitor wooed the lady to go with him to the woods.3. His suit was very dirty with soot.4. Daddy tried to pull me to the deep pool.

EXERCISESA. Read the following questions and answers. Pronounce the italicized

words well.1. Do you know anyone who could shoot the fool?

It is the man who stood near the pulpit?2. Did he pull the trigger?

He did.3. Would you please pull the wooden chair for me?

Oh, sure. Wait, it’s full of soot.4. Please don’t wipe it off with your woolen suit.

Don’t worry, I won’t.5. Luke comes from a good school.

Does he read good books too?Oh, yes. In fact, he’s always full of wonderful ideas.

The Sound /ŏ/ Webster / b / IPA

Length of Sound - shortTeeth - wide apartMouth - laxLips - rounded Tongue - low

To produce the / b /, press the tongue flat on the bottom of the mouth, then open the mouth into a wide circle. The teeth are parted widely and the tongue and mouth are relaxed as air passes through the mouth. Do not tighten the muscles of the mouth.

Spellings for this sound:o as in pot, top, mop

WORDS

1. shock2. snob3. clock4. sopt5. bomb6. box7. blond8. horror

9. officer10. poverty11. orange12. college13. bronze14. gone15. adopt16. pomp

17. cottage18. foreign19. beyond20. problem21. rocky22. concert23. content24. democracy

PHRASES

1. follow the orthdox2. blocks on top of the cot3. a knot in his sock4. dishonor the project5. gone in the forest

6. a dishonest occupation7. rocks inside the box8. gone promptly9. offer to God10. spot the dot on the plot

SENTENCES1. The cop shot the robber on the arm.2. The ox hid under the log.3. Bob won a lot of money in the jackpot.4. The angry mob rushed into the hot barn.5. Geology and biology are never obsolete.

EXERCISESA. Write on the blank the word used by the teacher.

1. (body – buddy) Fred has been my _____ since high school.2. (luck – lock) I will try to find my _____ somewhere.3. (bomb – bum) The team found a _____ behind the bushes.4. (doll – dull) The movie shown this afternoon was rather

_______.5. (cot – cut) This _____ is rather long and wide.

The Sound /ô/ Webster /ɔ/ IPA

Length of Sound - shortLips - rounded (oval)Teeth - halfway openMouth - lax

To produce the / ɔ / sound, pull back the tongue, hard toward the rear of the mouth. The back of the tongue must be humped high toward the soft palate. The teeth must be parted well and the lips should form an oval with its sides pulling inward; the upper and lower lips are far apart. the feeling must be sort of choking in the beginning before releasing the sound.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. a as in all, almanac, always2. o as in off, long, cross3. au as in sauce, caught, aura4. ou as in bought, thought, ought5. aw as in pawn, lawn, shawl

WORDS

1. raucous 16. sport 31. snort

2. pause3. morbid4. torch5. aught6. taut7. ball8. lord9. law10. haughtly11. wrought12. report13. bought14. fought15. jaw

17. horn18. hawl19. staunch20. brought21. thought22. ought23. call24. slaughter25. crawl26. forge27. daughter28. caught29. taught30. audience

32. awe33. corpse34. course35. naught36. distraught37. Paul38. snort39. stalk40. water41. toss42. sought43. pawn44. author45. raw

PHRASES

1. a shawl for the pauper2. a short fortress3. a caucus this August4. an inaugural ball5. caught in the lawn

6. sought the fraud7. laundry near the faucet8. yawn at dawn9. an awkward pause10. a staunch lawyer

SENTENCES1. The pauper bought a shawl from the auction.2. Tell her to open the vault with caution.3. Do you normally put sauce over your sausage?4. The actor exudes an aura of confidence.5. The child ought to put back the hawk on the lawn park.

EXERCISESA. Write S if you hear the same vowel sound. Write D if you hear different

vowel sounds.

1. goes – gauze2. lawn – dawn3. coke – cope4. thought – ought5. pause – cause

6. call – coal7. coat – soap8. on – own9. hall – whole10. sort – sport

B. Write on the blank the word used by the teacher.1. (boat, bought) The businessman finally _____ the _____.2. (costs, coasts) Land along the _____. _____ very high.3. (lawn, loan) Mother tried to get a _____ to replace our old

_____ lower.4. (chalk, choked) The baby who swallowed the _____ _____ to

death.

5. (gauze, goes) Down _____ the new _____ I just bought.6. (Joe, jaw) _____ broke his _____ while playing basketball.7. (hole, hall) The policeman found a large _____ at the back

of the _____.8. (ode, awed) I’m always _____ whenever I read _____ to a

Skylark.9. (cold, called) Besth was _____ to work but she couldn’t

because of a _____.10. (paused, pose) The model _____ for a while to make a nice

_____.

The Sound /ä/ Webster /α/ IPA

Length of Sound - longBack of the Tongue - lowTongue - laxLips - unroundBetween Teeth - wide

To produce the /α/ sound, raise the back of the tongue very slightly, almost flat but keep the tongue lax. Keep the mouth relaxed too and side open but not rounded. Produce the sound a little longer but keep the tongue low.

Spelling for this sound:a as in alm, mark, darling

WORDS

1. balm2. arm3. alm4. chart5. darn6. far7. farm8. mark

9. jar10. card11. charm12. yard13. carve14. heart15. smart16. scarlet

17. barn18. charge19. hard20. lark21. parch22. harsh23. partner

PHRASES

1. a charming card2. a farmer on his farm3. a sarcastic remark4. at the back of the yard5. a mark on her arm

6. a large scarf7. parched farm8. an artistic partner9. cards in the jar10. the dark park

SENTENCES

1. Sergeant Alonzo was appointed as Arthur’s guardian.2. A large scarf was tied around Pam’s arm.3. The gardeners had a hard time putting up the welcome arc in the park.4. Roxas Boulevard seemed very far from our orchard.5. The smart artist marked the scarlet cards.

EXERCISESA. Read the questions and answers. Make sure you pronounce the italicized

words well.1. Why is Arthur crying?

A burning cigar dropped on his palm.2. What did the gardener find?

He found a guitar in the park.3. You look so happy!

Who woundn’t? Mark gave me this marvelous garland.4. What is the commotion about?

The guards are clearing the market of all junk.5. Where are you going?

I’m going to the pier to claim our cargo of garlic and charcoal.

The Sound /a/ Webster / eI/ IPA

Length of Sound - longTongue - low Teeth - apartLips - spread widelyMouth - tense

To produce the /eI/ sound, the tongue is bunched forward and high. The tip of the tongue is above and slightly behind the lower front teeth. Lips and teeth are wide apart as in a smile before it begins to close a little as the air stream moves through the mouth. At the same time, the tongue moves forward and lower in the mouth.

This vowel sound is a diphthong which means it has two vowel sounds but it pronounced as one syllable. this first vowel sound is more stressed than the second vowel. The sound begins with /e/ gliding to /I/. This sound is more extended in the final position as in tray. It is shorter before a voiceless consonant as in waif.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. ay as in pay, day, bay2. ey as in they, prey, obey3. ei as in eight, sleight, weight4. ea as in steak, break, great5. ai as in pail, tail, nail

WORDS

1. plague2. stamen3. freight4. rampage5. great6. shake7. Asia8. whale9. strange10. vacate11. sauté12. neighbor

13. cradle14. beige15. reign16. radar17. waif18. faint19. maid20. stay21. papacy22. weight23. paisley24. frail

25. eight26. hazel27. hasten28. parquet29. daily30. flame31. placate32. feign33. braid34. waste35. trace

PHRASES

1. a tray on the table2. break the plates3. my favorite apron4. a beige negligee5. planes and trains

6. tornado in April7. a gracious alien8. daily mail9. the reign of the atheist10. make the same mistake

SENTENCES1. The amiable lady paid Mother a long-awaited visit.2. Shane ate a plate of baked macaroni and a slice of raisin cake.3. Clothes with shades of gray and beige suit the lady very well.4. The speeding train hit the main gate of the Bayview Building.5. Please don’t waste your clay and crayons.

EXERCISESA. Cross out the word with a different sound..

1. ache, gauge, gauze, craze2. weigh, receive, phrase, feign3. bail, late, eight, knead4. opaque, acre, plaid, bouquet5. beige, wage, hedge, plaque6. sauté, matinee, alien, foreign7. against, parquet, croquet, resumé8. ballet, freight, suede, amass9. psalm, negligees, status, cliché10. mosaic, avail, plaque, wail

The Sound /ī/ Webster / aI/ IPA

Length of Sound - longTongue - low Teeth - close togetherLips - spread Mouth - tense

To produce the /aI/ sound, keep the tongue down with the lips and teeth apart for the /a/ sound. Then glide slowly to /I/ with the lips spread and the tongue bunched forward.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. i as in ice, like, bright2. y as in try, shy, cry3. ie as in die, cries, pie4. ui as in disguise5. ei as in height6. ey as in eye7. uy as in buy

WORDS

1. bribe2. typist3. thrice4. pioneer5. idle6. height7. sprite8. pry9. tyrant10. grime11. squire12. island13. sigh

14. like15. stylus16. defy17. python18. stile19. might20. fright21. dry22. twine23. enzyme24. science25. slimy26. quite

27. describe28. thigh29. excite30. bias31. hive32. pride33. blithe34. myopia35. wiry36. pied37. disguise38. supply39. riot

PHRASES

1. malign his client2. like to disguise3. preside at night4. choir in the aisle5. a quiet inquiry

6. a dynamic guide7. twilight time8. entice her to die9. fly high and mighty10. a wise mind

SENTENCES1. The neophyte left her diamond ring inside her diary.2. I surmise Mile’s crisis would be over by Friday.3. The tyrant tried to stifle the violence in the islands.4. A giant wave tossed the tourist guide a mile away.5. My client tried to entice the migrant to buy her a fake sapphire.

CONTRASTIVE PAIRS

/aI/ - /eI/

1. ride – raid2. mine – main3. lice – lace4. right – rate5. while – whale

6. bite – bait7. sign – sane8. fight – fate9. pine – pane10. try – tray

1. try to take the tray2. didn’t bite the bait3. a mighty mate

4. will die any day5. tried to fight off his fate6. buy a lot by the bay

/aI/ - /I/

1. mice – miss2. height – hit3. like – lick4. sight – sit5. grime – grim

6. rhyme – rim7. fight – fit8. light – lit9. mile – mill10. gripe – grip

1. to fill up the file2. bring the kit and the kite3. got ill on the isle

4. missed hitting the mice5. liked to lick a lollipop6. sit away from my sight

EXERCISESA. Encircle the word with the /aI/ soundand underline the word with the /I/

sound.1. Jun tried to find the missing witness to the crime.2. The prisoner, after a deep silence, made assign upon seeing the

tyrant.3. This fight tonight will finally decide his famous might.4. I easily caught his sight because of his height.5. I developed migraine because of the blazing city lights.

The Sound /oi/ Webster / Iɔ / IPA

Length of Sound - longMouth - laxLips - slightly closedTongue - midway Teeth - slightly closed

To produce the / I/ɔ sound, pull back the tongue toward the rear of the mouth, at the same time, hump it high toward the soft palate. This position has a choking effect just as in /b/. The teeth and lips should be closer but only slightly. As the air moves into the mouth, move down the tongue from the / / sound toɔ /I/, stretching the lips and making it tense and rigid.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. oi as in boil, choice, broil

2. oy as in coy, toy, cloyWORDS

1. destroy2. embroider3. boycott4. hoist5. anoint6. oyster7. ointment8. recoil9. buoyancy10. loiter

11. avoid12. point13. spoiled14. voyage15. broil16. poignant17. exploit18. noise19. deploy20. moist

21. choice22. poison23. void24. voice25. toil26. turmoil27. foist28. employ29. poise30. rejoice

PHRASES

1. several noisy boys2. broiled oysters3. a poisonous poinsettia4. destroy the boycott5. a coy viceroy

6. a flamboyant employer7. a royal portrait8. an annoying voice9. a spoiled boy10. noise in the cloister

SENTENCES1. Joy loves to embroider lovely doilies.2. The envoy from Hanoi seemed to enjoy his voyage.3. Lloyd has poignant memories of his exploits with his employer.4. Troy ordered broiled sirloin and boiled oysters.5. Do poinsettias grow in moist soil?

The Sound /ō/ Webster / oU/ IPA

Length of Sound - longTongue - mid-high Lips - roundedTeeth - opened midwayMouth - lax

To produce the /ou/ sound, draw back the tongue from the lower teeth. The muscles in the back of the mouth are tight. The teeth are parted widely with the lips forming a circle. As air comes out of the mouth, the tight circle of the lips relaxes, the tongue moves forward and flattens on the bottom of the mouth.

There are many who not produce this sound properly because they do not open and round their mouths well before letting air come out of the mouth.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. i as in go, elope, nose2. oa as in float, boat

3. ow as in blow, show, row4. ou as in though, bough5. ew as in sew6. oe as in woe

WORDS

1. remote2. rotor3. episode4. motive5. chose6. ocean7. abode8. scope9. evoke10. those11. throne12. emotion

13. dough14. veto15. expose16. tiptoe17. mope18. grown19. hoe20. croak21. torso22. shallow23. open24. both

25. mocha26. elope27. vogue28. token29. rope30. remote31. owe32. poke33. soda34. erode35. bloat36. zone

PHRASES

1. boasted in high tone2. hold my elbow3. soap your nose4. broke into a joke5. prose and poetry6. roam around the globe7. groped for his soaked clothes

8. hoped to be known all over9. wrote a note10. a noble goal11. woke alone12. old jokes13. a frozen doughnut14. a hoax this October

SENTENCES1. Homer doesn't know how to row a boat. 2. The chaperone opened the door and watched the commotion. 3. I hope you noticed the hole in the envelope. 4. The tourists roamed around Rome as a bonus. 5. The old folk moaned as they choked over a piece of pork.

CONTRASTIVE PAIRS

/oU/ - /b/

1. robe – rob2. coke – cock3. bloat – blot4. goad – god5. pope – pop

6. node – nod7. ode – odd8. note – not9. soap – sop10. coat – cot

1. a note in his coat2. a coke for the pop singer3. an ode to God4. soap it so it won’t blot5. a coat on his cot6. not a note again7. an orange robe

/oU/ - /ɔ/

1. coal – call2. hole – hall3. coast – cost4. owe – awe5. role - roll

6. boat – bought7. loan – lawn8. row – raw9. coat – caught10. sew – saw

1. caught in a hole2. saw a boat3. bought a new lawn mower4. a roll call5. a hole on his coat6. a costly loan7. roll along the coast

EXERCISESA. Listen to the teacher as she reads the sentences. Which word did she use?

1. (saw – sew) You _____ the green cloth, didn’t you?2. (hall – hole) Go over to that _____.3. (bowl – ball) I couldn’t find the _____.4. (lawn – loan) The spinster is very happy to get the _____.5. (low – law) The teenager wasn’t sure it was _____.

The Sound /ou/ Webster / au/ IPA

Length of Sound - longTongue - low to high Lips - rounded widelyTeeth - wide apartMouth - lax

To produce the /au/ sound, the tongue must be high and far back. The teeth are wide apart with the lips forming a “hole” or a circle. As the air moves through the mouth, the tongue moves forward with its tip touching the lower front teeth. At the same time, the lips close together to form a smaller hole.

To produce the sound properly, open the mouth well before closing it to form a smaller circle.

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. ow as in plow, prowl, brow2. ou as in pound, hound, abound3.

WORDS

1. house2. owl3. cloud4. oust5. aloud6. devout7. foul8. sour9. amount10. shroud

11. hound12. lounge13. doubt14. proud15. howl16. town17. lousy18. grouchy19. abount20. tower

21. frown22. council23. couch24. shower25. renounce26. browse27. drown28. mountain29. pout30. brow

PHRASES

1. out for an outing2. shouted aloud3. impound the owl4. plowed through the house5. a proud accountant

6. a town council7. frown and pout8. without doubt9. an ounce of sour cream10. surrounded by scouts

SENTENCES1. He stool proudly on the ground but frowned upon seeing the grouchy old

man.2. The old woman ousted the old man out her lousy house.3. The victim of a foul play was found crouched in the lounge.4. The children were not allowed to play near the mountain or the howling

sea.5. I found a small wooden owl in the pouch of his trousers.

EXERCISESA. Cross out the word that has a different sound. What common sound do

you hear?1. frown, brown, round, blown2. toad, cloud, aloud, proud3. drown, renounce, known, town4. count, mount, cold, amount5. foul, howl, fowl, bowl6. sprout gout, doubt, gourd7. brow, browse, brown, broom8. crowd, loud, found, old9. flow, plow, cow, scowl10. south, mouth, both, trout

The Sound /a/ Webster / aε / IPA

Length of Sound - shortTongue - middle Lips - slightly openTeeth - halfway openMouth - lax

To produce the /εə/ sound, raise the front part of the tongue midway to the hard palate. The sound, being a diphthong, begins with the / / sound and quickly glides to the /a/ sound.ε

Alternate spellings for this sound:1. a as in dare, bare, care2. ea as in swear, bear, tear3. ei as in their, heir4. e as in there, where5. ai as in lair, pair, fair

WORDS

1. rare2. wear3. pare4. square5. bear6. hair7. dare8. rare9. despair10. prayer11. compare

12. affair13. varied14. area15. Mary16. glare17. declare18. various19. aware20. welfare21. marriage22. careless

23. barely24. heirloom25. solitaire26. apparent27. repair28. agrarian29. February30. aquarium31. necessary32. hilarious

PHRASES

1. care for my hair2. a town square3. a hilarious affair4. glared at the pair5. share in the repair

6. an expensive air fare7. a pair of shoes8. spare the debonair9. marriage in January10. careful on the stairs

SENTENCES1. The daring pilot landed the airplane with a broken fuselage.2. You have to repair the tear in your dress before you can wear it.3. I am not aware that you really care for me.4. The architect was very careful in selecting the rare design.

5. The heiress was in deep despair over her broken marriage.