CRASH

COURSE
in British English Pronunciation

850 WORDS
 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

Ashley Howard has asserted his moral right to be identified as the author of this
work. Some of the word lists have been sourced from C. K. Ogdens The ABC of Basic
English (which is freely available on the internet), which have been regrouped into
their lexical sets for the purposes of this free publication.

All right reserved. No part of this publication, including the accompanying audio, may
be reproduced in any form of binding or cover or circulated electronically without
prior permission of Edwin Publishing and Media Ltd.

Edwin Publishing and Media Ltd

First published in 2015 by Edwin Publishing and Media Ltd

57 London Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1BS
www.edwinpublishing.co.uk
 CRASH COURSE
in British English Pronunciation

adapted, written and illustrated by

Ashley Howard
 Hello, and congratulations!

Youve taken your first step on your pronunciation roadmap journey

towards speaking British English with more clarity and more confidence.

Speaking English is a complex thing, not least of all because what is written
on the page has little or no relation to how it should be pronounced.
Short of swallowing a pronunciation dictionary, there is no quick fix or
is there?

Nothing really beats one-to-one coaching, a video coaching course, or

a comprehensive book. However, someone told me recently that in
everyday spoken English, most speakers use a core of about 850 words.
Arguably, each of us uses vocabulary that is specific to our circumstances
and the situations we find ourselves in, but here are 850 words that most
native English speakers use in everyday speech and how to pronounce
them! Its a sort of crash course in British English pronunciation if
you can pronounce these words accurately, you are a huge step closer
to clearer, more intelligible speech, plus youll sound more like a native
speaker!

These words have been sourced from C. K. Ogdens The ABC of Basic
English, but I have grouped them into their standard lexical sets which
is to say the pronunciation of the vowel of the stressed syllable in each
word is the same.

Dowload the audio to guide you:

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com/dl/crashcourse

Practice, practice, practice and mimic, mimic, mimic! Imitation is the way
we learn our first language its the spoken word, not the written word
that we first experience. We repeat sounds over and over, playing with
them without fear of failure until they become engrained in our neuro-
physiological muscle memory. Have a go and be playful!

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 1 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the KIT vowel sound
phonetic symbol - i

When pronouncing the KIT vowel sound on its own, the tongue tip is
behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward.
The lips are very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is short
in duration.

give will in with till this if still little addition

bit building business committee competition condition
decision distance division drink existence fiction
grip history impulse increase n. industry ink insect
instrument interest kick kiss lift limit linen liquid
list middle milk minute mist opinion position print
religion rhythm river silk silver sister slip stitch
2
swim system thing tin trick twist wind winter
brick bridge chin finger fish lip picture pig pin
prison ring scissors ship skin spring stick ticket
whip whistle window wing fixed living military
physical political quick sticky stiff thick bitter different
ill mixed simple thin
www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 2 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard
 the DRESS vowel sound
phonetic symbol - e

When pronouncing the DRESS vowel sound on its own, the tongue tip is
behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward,
but not as much as in the KIT vowel.The lips are very slightly spread, the
jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

get let send any every when ever then together

well very yesterday west yes attempt attention bread
breath connection credit death debt development
digestion direction edge effect end error event
expert friend help invention jelly leather letter level
measure memory metal pleasure question record n.
regret request respect rest secretary selection self
sense sex smell step stretch suggestion tendency
test vessel weather bed bell berry chest dress 4
egg engine feather head kettle leg neck net pen
pencil shelf stem thread umbrella chemical dependent
electric general healthy medical necessary present n.
present v. ready regular irregular second separate adj.
separate v. wet yellow bent dead delicate left special
www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 3 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard
 the TRAP vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

When pronouncing the TRAP vowel sound on its own, the tongue tip is
behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward,
but not as much as in the DRESS vowel. The lips are very slightly spread,
the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

have at as than that and act animal attack

back balance canvas comparison crack damage
expansion fact family land language man manager
mass reaction sand smash tax transport n. value
wax angle ant apple bag band camera carriage 6
cat flag hammer hand hat map match rat stamp
acid angry automatic black elastic fat flat hanging
happy married natural parallel bad narrow sad

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 4 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the STRUT vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

When pronouncing the STRUT vowel sound on its own, the tongue tip
is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is low, almost
level with the bottom molars. The lips are dropped apart, the jaw is
loose, and the sound is short in duration.

come among under up other some such but

enough much adjustment blood brother butter
colour comfort company country cover crush current
destruction discovery discussion disgust dust front
government judge jump love money month mother
number punish rub run son structure substance 8

summer thunder touch trouble brush bucket bud

button cup glove gun monkey muscle nut oven
pump sponge stomach sun thump tongue cut sudden
young public rough shut

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 5 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the LOT, CLOTH vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

When pronouncing the LOT, CLOTH vowel sound on its own, the
tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is very
slightly raised towards the soft palate. The lips are very slightly rounded,
the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

across from off on of because not tomorrow

authority body cloth copper copy cotton cough
knowledge loss offer polish profit property quality
salt shock song stop top wash bottle box clock
collar dog drop hospital knot lock office orange
10
pocket pot rod sock stocking watch common
complex conscious hollow long possible probable
responsible strong false opposite soft solid wrong

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 6 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the FOOT vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

When pronouncing the FOOT vowel sound on its own, the tongue tip is
behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is raised up towards
the soft palate.The lips are quite rounded, the jaw is loose, and the sound
is short in duration.

11

put cook look pull push sugar woman sing. wood

wool book cushion foot hook full good woof 12
could should wouldnt shouldnt

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 7 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the FLEECE vowel sound
phonetic symbol - i

When pronouncing the FLEECE vowel sound on its own, the tongue tip
is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward.
The lips are very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long
in duration.

13

keep seem be see between the he even east

please agreement belief degree detail disease feeling
field heat increase v. lead machine meal meat meeting
need peace reading reason sea sleep sneeze steam
steel teaching week bee cheese key knee leaf 14
needle receipt seed sheep street tree wheel cheap
chief clean deep equal free frequent adj. sweet
complete female feeble green secret

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 8 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the NURSE vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

When pronouncing the NURSE vowel sound on its own, the tongue tip
is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is slightly raised
in the middle of the mouth, like a little hill. The lips are relaxed, the jaw is
loose, and the sound is long in duration.

15

advertisement birth burn burst curve earth journey

learning person purpose servant turn verse word
work bird church circle curtain girl nerve shirt 16
skirt worm fertile first certain dirty early

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 9 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the BATH, PALM, START vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

When pronouncing the BATH, PALM, START vowel sound on its own,
the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is
low, level with the bottom molars. The lips are relaxed, the jaw is loose,
and the sound is long in duration.

17

after far answer argument art brass chance example

father glass grass harbour harmony laugh mark
market part plant start arch arm army basket 18
bath branch card cart farm garden heart parcel
star hard past sharp dark last

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 10 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the THOUGHT, NORTH, FORCE vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

When pronouncing the THOUGHT, NORTH, FORCE vowel sound on

its own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the
tongue is raised up towards the soft palate.The lips are rounded, the jaw
is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

19

before for all or forward almost north cause

chalk cork daughter fall force law morning order
ornament porter record v. reward sort story support
thought walk war water ball board cord door 20
draw floor fork horn horse store wall important
normal poor tall warm short small talk

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 11 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the GOOSE vowel sound
phonetic symbol - U

When pronouncing the GOOSE vowel sound on its own, the tongue
tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is raised up
towards the soft palate. The lips are rounded, the jaw is loose, and the
sound is long in duration.

21

do through to you who amusement approval

distribution food fruit group humour move music
news produce room rule soup unit use view
22
wound (injury) boot jewel moon roof root school
screw shoe spoon tooth beautiful new smooth true
blue cruel foolish future loose

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 12 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the FACE vowel sound
phonetic symbol - e

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of

two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the FACE vowel sound on its
own, the tongue tip is behind, the bottom teeth and the body of the
tongue starts up and forward, close to the DRESS vowel sound and then
moves higher up and forward close to the FLEECE vowel sound.The lips
remain slightly spread throughout, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long
in duration.

23

make take say may against again apparatus base

behaviour change danger day education exchange
flame grain hate name nation observation operation
organisation page pain paint paper paste payment
place play rain range rate ray relation representation
scale shade shake shame space stage statement
taste trade wave way weight baby basin blade 24
brain brake cake chain drain face nail plane
plate potato rail sail snake spade station table
trail train tray able great grey male same straight
waiting awake late safe strange

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 13 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the PRICE vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination

of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the PRICE vowel sound on
its own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the
tongue starts low, level with the bottom molars, close to the BATH,
PALM, START vowel sound and then the body of the tongue moves up
and forward, close to the FLEECE vowel sound. The lips start relaxed
and apart and then very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound
is long in duration.

25

by I while why quite bite crime cry design

driving fight flight guide ice iron light mind mine
might price rice science side sign size sky smile
society surprise time wine writing eye fly island 26
knife library line pipe bright high kind like private
quiet right tight wide wise dry white

There are a handful of words, whose stressed vowel sound is called a

triphthong, which is a combination of three vowel sounds. Essentially, a
triphthong starts with a diphthong with a SCHWA added on the end.
These following words start with the MOUTH diphthong, but then the
body of the tongue moves into the middle of the mouth, like a little hill
and the lips relax.

fire wire violent tired

27
www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 14 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard
 the CHOICE vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of

two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the CHOICE vowel sound on
its own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of
the tongue starts slightly raised towards the soft palate, close to the
THOUGHT, NORTH, FORCE vowel sound and then the body of the
tongue moves up and forward, close to the FLEECE vowel sound. The
lips start rounded and then very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the
sound is long in duration.

28

join noise oil point poison voice boy boiling

coin avoid toy 29

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 15 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the GOAT vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of

two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the GOAT vowel sound on its
own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the
tongue starts slightly raised in the middle of the mouth, close to the
NURSE vowel sound and then the back of the tongue moves up and
backwards towards the soft palate, close to the GOOSE vowel sound.
The lips start relaxed and open and then round, the jaw is loose, and the
sound is long in duration.

30

go over no though only so blow growth hope

motion note owner process prose protest road
slope smoke snow soap stone boat bone coat
31
comb goat nose throat toe broken open low
slow

When the GOAT vowel sound is followed by an L (specifically an L

which either ends the word or is followed by another consonant sound),
the back of the tongue starts slightly raised towards the soft palate, close
to the LOT, CLOTH vowel sound and then moves up and backwards
nearer to the soft palate, close to the GOOSE vowel sound. The lips
start rounded and become more rounded, the jaw is loose, and the
sound is long in duration.

coal control fold gold hole roll cold old shoulder

mould soul 32

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 16 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the MOUTH vowel sound
phonetic symbol - a

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of

two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the MOUTH vowel sound on
its own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the
tongue starts slightly up and forward, close to the TRAP vowel sound
and then the back of the tongue moves up and backwards towards the
soft palate, close to the GOOSE vowel sound. The lips start very slightly
spread and then round, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

33

about down how now out south account amount

doubt mountain powder sound wound (past tense of the verb
wind) cloud cow fowl house mouth plough town 34
trousers brown round loud

There are a handful of words, whose stressed vowel sound is called a

triphthong, which is a combination of three vowel sounds. Essentially, a
triphthong starts with a diphthong with a SCHWA added on the end.
These following words start with the MOUTH diphthong, but then the
body of the tongue moves into the middle of the mouth, like a little hill
and the lips relax.

flower hour power sour shower

35

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 17 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the NEAR vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of

two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the NEAR vowel sound on its
own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the
tongue starts up and forward, close to the KIT vowel sound, and then
moves into the middle of the mouth, close to a SCHWA (or a short
version of the NURSE vowel sound). The lips start very slightly spread
and then relax, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

36

here near experience fear hearing idea theory

year ear clear material serious dear tear sear
gear shear bleary dreary appear mere were
37
adhere sphere coherent severe revere austere sincere
persevere career

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 18 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the SQUARE vowel sound
phonetic symbol - e

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of

two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the SQUARE vowel sound on
its own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the
tongue starts up and forward, close to the DRESS vowel sound and then
moves into the middle of the mouth, close to a SCHWA (or a short
version of the NURSE vowel sound). The lips start very slightly spread
and then relax, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

38

where there air care hair square share wear

rare fair compare fare dare swear scare blare
aware flare beware declare prepare ensnare nightmare
39
pair flair affair clair stairs dairy canary millionaire
Claire despair bare heir pear scarce vary

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 19 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 the CURE vowel sound
phonetic symbol -

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination

of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the CURE vowel sound on
its own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the
tongue starts up and backwards towards the soft palate, close to the
FOOT vowel sound, and then moves into the middle of the mouth, close
to a SCHWA (or a short version of the NURSE vowel sound). The lips
start rounded and then relax, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in
duration.

40

insurance assure impure obscure procure pure secure

cure plural rural Truro centurion curious furious
injurious luxurious Muriel penurious spurious curate v. 41

during fury

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 20 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 So... whats next?
- Repetition, repetition, repetition

It sounds obvious and potentially quite boring, but it is the only sure way
to build muscle memory and enable these new habits to manifest in live
speech. However, here are three main way in which you can practice:

- Sit, listen and imitate

Set aside a period of time, as regularly as you can, to sit down with the
crash course, and practice the areas that you found challenging. Take
your time, repeat the exercises, listen to the audio, imitate the examples
whilst watching yourself in a mirror and record yourself.

- Listen, listen, listen

Most of us live very busy lives, and even finding ten minutes to practice
can be challenging. But we all have time while we are doing other things,
like travelling, eating, cleaning, cooking, waiting etc where we could do
some listening. Even when we cant actually practice aloud, just listening
can be very productive! I wont bore you with the science, but the brain
and body engage in some very sophisticated imitative processes while
listening, and so download the audio, have it on your computer or mobile
devise and listen to it. Have it on in the background while youre cooking
or cleaning. Have it on your phone and listen on your headphones if
youre travelling on a train or bus or taxi. Just surround yourself with the
sounds that youre hoping to inhabit.

- Stealing the best bits

Look and listen out for speakers who embody the pronunciation and
intonation habits that youre hoping to inhabit. These might be friends
and colleagues, or people in the media, who you might be able to hear
regularly and steal some of what theyre doing really well. Its nothing
to do with becoming them, but simply having a reference to inspire and
guide you.

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 21 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard

 So... whats next?
- Expand your word banks and rehearse phrases

Build a word bank for each new vowel sound. Essentially expand the
word list with other words whose primary stress syllable rhythms with
the words in that subsection. Take time to reflect on the language you
use day to day, and expand those word banks to focusing your practice
on words and phrases that you can then use in daily speech. Build these
words into typical phrases and expressions that you use regularly, for
example, Ill be home at six, what time is the meeting? or do you want
to go for lunch?. Rehearsing these phrases might enable you to have
greater control of how you pronounce the vowels and consonants, and
which stresses and intonation you use, so you take the I hope out of
speaking, and can be specific and confident when you speak.

- Have a second take

After any conversation, meeting or presentation, youll be surprised at

how you will have identified some words and phrases that you werent
happy with in terms of pronunciation. Strike while the iron is hot as we
would say find a couple of minutes to note down some of those words
or phrases and immediately give them another go or a second take.
Get me specific about what could have been better, maybe check their
phonetic transcription in a reliable dictionary and play with them over
the following days and weeks.

Blog Updates and Free Goodies

Look out for the weekly blog updates, free goodies, useful links and new
material. Also head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages and join the
English Pronunciation Roadmap community, leave some feedback on the
Crash Course and let us know how we can help you.

https://www.facebook.com/EnglishPronunciationRoadmap

https://twitter.com/clearandfluent

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 22 Copyright 2015 Ashley Howard