Reference Guide to Phonetic Symbols

As you probably know, phonetic symbols are a great help when it comes to learning to pronounce English words correctly. Any time you open a dictionary, you can find the correct pronunciation of words you don't know by looking at the phonetic pronunciation that follows the word. Unfortunately, learning the phonetic alphabet is not always the easiest thing to do. This week's feature includes a phonetic chart with the majority of basic sounds in English. In English, as you certainly know, many words can ha e the same pronunciation but be written differently with different meanings. !or e"ample #to, two, and too# which all ha e the phonetic transcription $tu$. %ometimes, words can be written similarly but ha e different pronunciations as in the #ough# combinations thought, though, bough, and through. Another factor in pronunciation is the how the word is stressed. Understanding the phonetic alphabet can greatly simplify the learning process, especially for students who do not ha e the opportunity to work with a teacher. !ollowing the chart is an e"ample of a te"t that has been transcribed in to phonetics. &otice how the te"t, as it would be spoken, differs from how each word might be transcribed indi idually. This is principally due to two factors' elision and unstressed syllables. I will discuss these two factors in an upcoming feature. !or now, becoming familiar with the phonetic alphabet is plenty(

This te"t is the following) There is a police message for motorists in the *arnet area of +ondon. A lorry has shed its load at the Ape" ,orner roundabout on the A-. .ou are asked to a oid the area as much as possible. %outh/bound traffic will be di erted for the ne"t two hours. That is the end of the message. As you can see, the phonetic alphabet seems like another language entirely, howe er, with patience, it can ser e you well in impro ing your pronunciation.

English Pronunciation Exercises - Short Vowels and Consonants

The following series of pronunciation exercises combines words beginning with the same consonant sound followed by similar vowel sounds. Voiced and voiceless consonants are paired (b - voiced / p - voiceless, d - voiced / t - voiceless, etc.) to help students compare and contrast similar consonant formation. . !epeat each line slowly, listen for the minor differences between the vowel and consonant sounds. ". !epeat each line three times. #ach time repeat more $uic%ly trying to %eep the sounds distinct. &. 'ind a partner and listen to each other repeat the lines. (. Try to invent sentences using each sound at least once. 'or example) The big bat bet he could beat the others. - *on+t worry too much about the sentence ma%ing much sense, ih pronounced +ih+ as in +hit+ big pig did tip gill %ill sip -ip ship gin chip hit ee pronounced +ee+ as in +see+ beat peep deal teeth gee, %eep see -eal sheet .eep chee% heat eh pronounced +eh+ as in +let+ bet pet death tell get %ept set -eppelin shelf .ell chess help ae pronounced +ae+ as in +cat+ bat pat dad tap gap cat sat -ap shaft .ac% chat hat

Vowel Sounds +eh+ - as in +let+, +ih+ - as in +hit+, +ee+ - as in +see+, and +ae+- as in +cat+ +long ah+ - as in +car+, +short ah+ - as in +got+ +long uh+ - as in +put+, +short uh+ - as in +up+, +oo+ - as in +through+ Diphthong Sounds +ay+ - as in +day+, +ai+ - as in +s%y+ +ou+ - as in +home+, +ow+ - as in +mouse+, +oi+ - as in +boy+ +ieh(r)+ - as in +near+, +ehi(r)+ - as in +hair+

udio Examples of English !P Symbols" Consonants

The following pages contain charts of the /01 phonetic symbols with the examples spo%en using !eal1udio technology. The first page contains vowel and diphthong sounds, with the following page focusing on consonant phonemes. Suggestions

'irst read the words on the chart aloud for yourself. 1fter you have read the words aloud, listen to the audio to chec% your pronunciation. !ead the words again by yourself. !epeat until you feel comfortable with the various sounds.

udio Examples of English !P Symbols

1t the re$uest of a number of visitors to the site, the following pages contain charts of the /01 phonetic symbols with the examples spo%en using !eal1udio technology. The first page contains vowel and diphthong sounds, with the following page focusing on consonant phonemes. Suggestions

'irst read the words on the chart aloud for yourself. 1fter you have read the words aloud, listen to the audio to chec% your pronunciation. !ead the words again by yourself. !epeat until you feel comfortable with the various sounds.