Vowels Book v6

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 09: Vowel /ʌ/

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 57
pronounced with the /ʌ/ sound. Look up the meaning and/or

pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

Languages still a major barrier to global science, new research finds

Over a third of new conservation science documents published annually are in non-
English languages, despite assumption of English as scientific “lingua franca.”
Researchers find examples of important science missed at international level, and
practitioners struggling to access new knowledge, as a result of language barriers.
However, a new study suggests that over a third of new scientific reports are published
in languages other than English, which can result in these findings being

overlookedcontributing to biases in our understanding.

The researchers suggest efforts to translate should be evaluated in a similar way to other
outreach activities such as public engagement, particularly if the science covers issues
at a global scale or regions where English is not the mother tongue.

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Use as many words with
the /ʌ/ sound as possible.

1. What do you think about having a lingua franca for international communication?
2. What advantages / disadvantages could bilingualism pose on societies?
3. What type of investigation would you be interested in doing? Is there any field of

language that you are particularly interested in?

51

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 10: Diphthong /oʊ/

Unit 10: Diphthong /oʊ/

/oʊ/

A. Background Point of articulation: Glides from /o/ to /ʊ/

Name: Diphthong /oʊ/
Length: Long

Position in the syllable Track 58

Beginning Middle End
oak most hero
omen social narrow
own vogue so

Grapheme correspondence Track 59

o oa ow oe ou ew
echo oath borrow foe although sew
robust road mow tiptoe shoulder
solar soak tow woe soul

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 60
contain the sound /oʊ/.

1. Don't expose it to the rain.
2. Don't throw away your notes.
3. I don't know what motivated me to come here.
4. I hope I'm not imposing.
5. I may not be able to cope with those problems.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 10: Diphthong /oʊ/

6. I need to focus on work.
7. I think we need a whole new approach.
8. I was promoted three months ago.
9. There is no dress code.
10. These clothes are not appropriate for a cold winter day.

C. Listen to the following words. Circle the word pronounced Track 61
twice.

1. few foe
2. catch coach
3. tone ten
4. roast wrist
5. clock cloak
6. robe rub
7. boast boost
8. hooks hoax

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /goʊl/ _______________ 6. /ˈblaɪndˌfoʊld/ _______________
2. /ˈreɪdiˌoʊ/ _______________ 7. /poʊstˈpoʊn/ _______________
3. /ˈnoʊt̬ ɪs/ _______________ 8. /ˈhoʊmˌlænd/ _______________
4. /dɪˈnoʊt/ _______________ 9. /ˈskeɪpˌgoʊt/ _______________
5. /ˈɪngroʊn/ _______________ 10. /ˈgoʊst.raɪt/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following words from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. role _______________ 6. lamppost _______________
2. stoic _______________ 7. threshold _______________
3. loathe _______________ 8. crossroad _______________

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 10: Diphthong /oʊ/

4. mellow _______________ 9. egocentric _______________
5. disclose _______________ 10. touchstone _______________

F. Read the following text. Extract seven words that contain the Track 62
/oʊ/ sound.

Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with
large eyes, plenty of soft brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was
rather vain. Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt,
for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in
her way. She had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, gray eyes, which
appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. Her long, thick
hair was her one beauty, but it was usually bundled into a net, to be out of her way. Round
shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a flyaway look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable
appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a woman and didn't like it. Elizabeth,
or Beth, as everyone called her, was a rosy, smooth-haired, bright-eyed girl of thirteen,
with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression which was seldom disturbed.
Her father called her 'Little Miss Tranquility', and the name suited her excellently, for she
seemed to live in a happy world of her own, only venturing out to meet the few whom she
trusted and loved. Amy, though the youngest, was a most important person, in her own
opinion at least. A regular snow maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair curling on her
shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady mindful of her
manners. What the characters of the four sisters were we will leave to be found out.

Excerpt from Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________ 5. __________________ 6. __________________
7. __________________

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 63
pronounced with the /oʊ/ sound. Look up the meaning

and/or pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

Musical tastes offer a window into how you think

In a study published today in the journal PLOS ONE, a team of psychologists show that
your thinking style – whether you are an ‘empathizer’ who likes to focus on and respond
to the emotions of others, or a ‘systemizer’ who likes to analyse rules and patterns in the
world—is a predictor of the type of music you like.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 10: Diphthong /oʊ/

Music is a prominent feature of everyday life and nearly everywhere we go. It’s easy for
us to know what types of music we like and don’t like. When shuffling songs on an iPod,
it takes us only a few seconds to decide whether to listen or skip to the next track.
However, little is known about what determines our taste in music.

Researchers over the past decade have argued that musical preferences reflect explicit
characteristics such as age and personality. For example, people who are open to new
experiences tend to prefer music from the blues, jazz, classical, and folk genres, and
people who are extraverted and ‘agreeable’ tend to prefer music from the pop,
soundtrack, religious, soul, funk, electronic, and dance genres.

H. Think about other music genres. Can you think of song titles that have
words with the sounds studied so far? Get in groups of three and come
up with at least one example for each. Then discuss the situation
below.

1. /i/ ____________________________________________________________
2. /ɪ/ ____________________________________________________________
3. /eɪ/ ____________________________________________________________
4. /ɛ/ ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. /æ/ ____________________________________________________________
6. /ɑ/ ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
7. /u/ ____________________________________________________________
8. /ʊ/ ____________________________________________________________
9. /ʌ/
10. /oʊ/

Think about your favorite song. Defend why that song should be the top 1 in the world.

55

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 11: Vowel /ɔ/

Unit 11: Vowel /ɔ/

/ɔ/

A. Background Point of articulation:
Name: Open o
Length: Short Jaw: open-mid
Tongue: back
Lips: rounded

Position in the syllable Track 64

Beginning Middle End
always born claw
audience fault flaw
order story jigsaw

Grapheme correspondence Track 65

o a aw au oa ou
core war awful author boar court
norm ward crawl cause broad ought
sort warn draw audio roar source

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 66
contain the sound /ɔ/.

1. Australia is rich in natural resources.
2. Could you move forward so we can close the door?
3. He is an authority on criminal law.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 11: Vowel /ɔ/

4. I enforce the rules even though I don't agree with them all.
5. Order has been restored.
6. Our priorities are wrong.
7. Some newspapers distorted the news.
8. The warnings were ignored.
9. They're all normal.
10. We've altered course.

C. Listen to the following words pronounced with the /ɔ/ sound. Track 67
Write two possible homophones for each word pronounced.

1. _________________ _________________
2. _________________ _________________
3. _________________ _________________
4. _________________ _________________
5. _________________ _________________
6. _________________ _________________
7. _________________ _________________

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /ˈfɔrfɪt/ _______________ 6. /ˈnubɔrn/ _______________
2. /sɔs/ _______________ 7. /ˌriɪnˈfɔrs/ _______________
3. /ˈsɔroʊ/ _______________ 8. /ˈbloʊˌtɔrtʃ/ _______________
4. /tɔrˈneɪˌdoʊ/ _______________ 9. /ˈhɔrˌsʃu/ _______________
5. /ˈkɔrnˌkɑb/ _______________ 10. /ˈtʃɔkbɔrd/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following words from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. albeit _______________ 6. sawdust _______________
2. before _______________ 7. landlord _______________

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 11: Vowel /ɔ/

3. outlaw _______________ 8. anymore _______________
4. reward _______________ 9. shorthand _______________
5. discord _______________ 10. brainstorm _______________

F. Read the following text. Extract seven words that contain the Track 68
/ɔ/ sound.

There was once a very rich merchant, who had six children, three boys and three girls.
As he was himself a man of great sense, he spared no expense for their education, but
provided them with all sorts of masters for their improvement. The three daughters were
all handsome, but particularly the youngest: indeed she was so very beautiful that in her
childhood every one called her the Little Beauty, and being still the same when she was
grown up, nobody called her by any other name, which made her sisters very jealous of
her. This youngest daughter was not only more handsome than her sisters, but was also
better tempered. The two eldest were vain of being rich, and spoke with pride to those
they thought below them. They gave themselves a thousand airs, and would not visit
other merchants' daughters; nor would they indeed be seen with any but persons of
quality. They went every day to balls, plays, and public walks, and always made game of
their youngest sister for spending her time in reading, or other useful employments.

Excerpt from Beauty and the Beast, by Madame Gabrielle de Villeneuve

1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________ 5. __________________ 6. __________________
7. __________________

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 69
pronounced with the /ɔ/ sound. Look up the meaning and/or

pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

'Moral identity' key to charitable time giving

Significantly, the study found that charities can issue 'moral cues' that trigger such moral
identity and make people more likely to donate their time to good causes – a key practical

finding for the charitable sector. Defining 'moral identity' around a set of nine traits

including kindness, caring, and generosity, the study found that moral identity can be

activated by showing people images of 'moral exemplars' such as Gandhi and Mother
Teresa, and quotations focused on the same idea such as: “Wherever there is a human
being, there is a chance for kindness.”

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 11: Vowel /ɔ/

According to the study, a strong moral identity may reduce time aversion not despite
the higher cost of giving time, but rather because of it. Put another way, giving time more
strongly reinforces the moral self, compared to giving money, according to the
researchers, who call time aversion a 'socio-psychological malady.'

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Use as many words with
the /ɔ/ sound as possible.

1. Do you prefer to donate your time, money, or goods? Why?
2. What organizations have you / would you like to donate to? Why?
3. Are more organizations needed to help the elderly, animals, the environment, etc.?
4. What altruistic organization has yet to be created in your country?

59

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 12: Vowel /ə/

Unit 12: Vowel /ə/

/ə/

A. Background Point of articulation:
Name: Schwa
Length: Short (or reduced vowel10) Jaw: Mid
Tongue: Central
Lips: Unrounded

Position in the syllable Track 70

Beginning Middle End
about bonus aroma
oblivious mention idea
obtain support utopia

Note: The schwa sound is found in unstressed syllables only.

Grapheme correspondence Track 71

a e i o u
advise element family consult skilful
liberal different feasible obscure suggest
signal system raisin symbol supply

eo ou iou io ai y
dungeon callous anxious assertion certain anonymous
luncheon numerous cautious conclusion curtain
surgeon unanimous judicious suspicion villain

10 A superscript schwa /ə/ indicates that the sound is so weak that speakers often omit to pronounce it. When a
word contains a syllabic /n/, /m/, /l/, or /r/, there is usually an alternative pronunciation available. Your dictionary
may, for example, transcribe the word table as /ˈteɪ.bəl/, /ˈteɪ.bəl/, or /ˈteɪ.bl/ to represent this variation.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 12: Vowel /ə/

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 72
contain the sound /ə/. Because the schwa can occur several

times in one word, graphemes have also been underlined to
mark the sound /ə/.

1. He placed emphasis on the importance of education11.
2. I agree with your assessment.
3. May I suggest another strategy?
4. That concludes my opening statement.
5. That's a very specific question.
6. The commission took no action.
7. The strike affected the nation's economy.
8. These factories are polluting the environment.
9. This may not even be legal.
10. We adopted an alternative method.

C. Listen to the following words. Circle the letters that have the Track 73
/ə/ sound.

1. acumen
2. circumstantial
3. consonance
4. experiment
5. petition
6. posthumous
7. successful

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /ˈbaɪəs/ _______________ 6. /kənˈvin/ _______________
2. /ˈpɔrʃən/ _______________ 7. /kənˈvɪns/ _______________
3. /ˈɪntəgrəl/ _______________ 8. /əˈsɛmbəl/ _______________

11 The letter u can be pronounced /ʊ/ (lax u).
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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 12: Vowel /ə/

4. /kəmˈpaɪl/ _______________ 9. /ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃəl/ _______________
5. /ˈkruʃəli/ _______________ 10. /rɪˈlʌktəns/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following words from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. attain _______________ 6. appendix _______________
2. minimal _______________ 7. randomly _______________
3. creation _______________ 8. advaisable _______________
4. violation _______________ 9. invariable _______________
5. coherent _______________ 10. supplement _______________

F. Read the following text. Extract seven words that contain the Track 74
/ə/ sound.

As will be seen later on, Pygmalion needs, not a preface, but a sequel, which I have
supplied in its due place. The English have no respect for their language, and will not
teach their children to speak it. They spell it so abominably that no man can teach himself
what it sounds like. It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making
some other Englishman hate or despise him. German and Spanish are accessible to
foreigners: English is not accessible even to Englishmen. The reformer England needs
today is an energetic phonetic enthusiast: that is why I have made such a one the hero
of a popular play. There have been heroes of that kind crying in the wilderness for many
years past.

Excerpt from Preface to Pygmalion, by Bernard Shaw

1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________ 5. __________________ 6. __________________
7. __________________

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 12: Vowel /ə/

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 75
pronounced with the /ə/ sound. Look up the meaning and/or

pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

Opinion: Would gender differences exist if we treated all people the same from birth?

Joe Herbert, Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience, explores what we mean by 'gender
identity' and asks whether we should insist on an equal gender distribution across
occupations and activities.

All societies divide people into male or female. There is a biological truth behind this:
different sex chromosomes (XY, XX). But could many gender differences be down to
social conditioning? If we treated girls and boys the same from birth, what would the
consequences be? More equal opportunities? Or a complete breakdown of the
concepts of masculinity and femininity? These ideas partly depend on what we
understand by “gender identity.”

Gender identity is not a simple concept. It is usually defined as whether someone thinks
of themselves as male or female, though it’s more than that. Even this is not a simple,
binary division between all human beings. However, we do know that the hormones

the brain is exposed to in early pregnancy have powerful effects on gender identity.

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Use as many words with
the /ə/ sound as possible.

1. What are some common gender-based stereotypes in society?
2. Which of those stereotypes could have some ground bases and which ones are

biased?
3. What would be some practical benefits of “an equal gender distribution across

occupations and activities”?

63

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 13: Vowel /ɝ/

Unit 13: Vowel /ɝ/

/ɝ/

A. Background Point of articulation:

Name: Stressed Schwa + r, Right-hook Jaw: central
reverse epsilon Tongue: mid
Lips: unrounded
Length: Short

Quality: r-colored

Position in the syllable Track 76

Beginning Middle End
early currency err
urban first her
urgency girl sir

Grapheme correspondence Track 77

ir ur er ear our or
affirm concur alert earthbound adjourn network
birthrate furnace discern learn journal wordy
circumscribe refurbish refer search tournament world

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 78
contain the sound /ɝ/.

1. Earthquakes may occur at any moment.
2. Everyone is concerned and worried.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 13: Vowel /ɝ/

3. I can't do a year's worth of work in three weeks.
4. I want a third alternative.
5. I wanted to earn some money, so I worked part time three days a week.
6. It depends on the circumstances.
7. May I be of further service?
8. She hired him as an interpreter because she had heard that he was the best.
9. We're conducting a survey.
10. We're currently working on that problem.

C. Listen to the following words. Circle the words that have the Track 79
/ɝ/ sound.

1. curb 2. dirty 3. erratic 4. pear 5. pearl

6. tardy 7. term 8. tourism 9. warm 10. worm

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /vɝb/ _______________ 6. /ˈnɝvəs/ _______________
2. /ˈθɝsti/ _______________ 7. /ˈsɝkjəˌleɪt/ _______________
3. /ˈpɝsən/ _______________ 8. /ˈpæˌswɝd/ _______________
4. /ˈbɝdən/ _______________ 9. /dəˈtɝmən/ _______________
5. /ˈsɝdʒɚi/ _______________ 10. /ˈwɝkəˈhɑlɪk/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following sentences from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. verge _______________ 6. burst _______________
2. virtual _______________ 7. girlfriend _______________
3. herbal _______________ 8. submerge _______________
4. cursing _______________ 9. heard _______________
5. earnest _______________ 10. surcharge _______________

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 13: Vowel /ɝ/

F. Read the following text. Extract seven words that contain the Track 80
/ɝ/ sound.

The Crow and the Raven

A CROW was jealous of the Raven, because he was considered a bird of good omen and

always attracted the attention of men, who noted by his flight the good or evil course of

future events. Seeing some travelers approaching, the Crow flew up into a tree, and

perching herself on one of the branches, cawed as loudly as she could. The travelers

turned towards the sound and wondered what it foreboded, when one of them said to his
companion, “Let us proceed on our journey, my friend, for it is only the caw of a crow, and
her cry, you know, is no omen.”

Those who assume a character which does not belong to them, only make themselves
ridiculous.

The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass

THE LION, the Fox and the Ass entered into an agreement to assist each other in the
chase. Having secured a large booty, the Lion on their return from the forest asked the

Ass to allot his due portion to each of the three partners in the treaty. The Ass carefully
divided the spoil into three equal shares and modestly requested the two others to make

the first choice. The Lion, bursting out into a great rage, devoured the Ass. Then he
requested the Fox to do him the favor to make a division. The Fox accumulated all that
they had killed into one large heap and left to himself the smallest possible morsel. The
Lion said, “Who has taught you, my very excellent fellow, the art of division? You are
perfect to a fraction.” He replied, “I learned it from the Ass, by witnessing his fate.”

Happy is the man who learns from the misfortunes of others.
From Aesop’s Fables, by Aesop

1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________ 5. __________________ 6. __________________
7. __________________

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 13: Vowel /ɝ/

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 81
pronounced with the /ɝ/ sound. Look up the meaning and/or

pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

Global learning is needed to save carbon capture and storage from being abandoned

Carbon capture and storage, which is considered by certain experts as the only realistic
way to dramatically reduce carbon emissions in an affordable way, has fallen out of favor
with private and public sector funders. Corporations and governments worldwide,
including most recently the UK, are abandoning the same technology they championed
just a few years ago.

In a commentary published today in the inaugural issue of the journal Nature Energy, a

University of Cambridge researcher argues that now is not the time for governments to

drop carbon capture and storage (CCS). Like many new technologies, it is only possible
to learn what works and what doesn’t by building and testing demonstration projects at

scale, and that by giving up on CCS instead of working together to urgently develop a
global ‘portfolio’ of projects, countries are turning their backs on a key part of a low-

carbon future that should concern corporations and governments as well.

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Monitor your use of the
/ɝ/ sound.

1. What do you think “global learning” refers to in this section?
2. What can we as individuals and as country do to reduce carbon emissions?
3. Why do you think corporations and governments are abandoning CCS?

67

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 14: Vowel /ɚ/

Unit 14: Vowel /ɚ/

/ɚ/

A. Background Point of articulation:

Name: Schwa + r, Right-hook schwa Jaw: central
Tongue: mid
Length: Short (or reduced vowel) Lips: relaxed
Quality: r-colored

Position in the syllable Track 82

Beginning Middle End
The sound /ɚ/ does not effort gather
perform humor
exist at the beginning of understand venture

words in English.

Grapheme correspondence Track 83

ar er or ure
grammar consider editor exposure
popular perspective minor lecture
regular underlying monitor structure

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 84
contain the sound /ɚ/.

1. Gold is similar in color to brass.
2. I wonder why my computer crashed.
3. I've discovered a serious error.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 14: Vowel /ɚ/

4. Let's talk about solar energy.
5. No prior experience is required.
6. Perhaps that requires further explanation.
7. Reading is the kind of habit that once acquired is never lost.
8. Reservations are required.
9. This is standard procedure.
10. Will newspapers be able to survive?

C. Listen to the following words. Check if the word pronounced Track 85
has the /ɚ/ sound in the first or second. Choose NS if the word
has no /ɚ/ sound.

1. burglar 1st syllable 2nd syllable NS
2. cardboard 1st syllable 2nd syllable NS
3. fertility 1st syllable 2nd syllable NS
4. perturb 1st syllable 2nd syllable NS
5. frontier 1st syllable 2nd syllable NS
6. murmur 1st syllable 2nd syllable NS
7. terror 1st syllable 2nd syllable NS

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /ˈɛrɚ/ _______________ 6. /dɪˈskleɪmɚ/ _______________
2. /ˈtrɪgɚ/ _______________ 7. /kənˈsumɚ/ _______________
3. /ˈlɛktʃɚɚ/ _______________ 8. /ˈtʃæləndʒɚ/ _______________
4. /ˈglæmɚ/ _______________ 9. /ˈnuzˌpeɪpɚ/ _______________
5. /ˈɪnəˌveɪt̬ ɚ/ _______________ 10. /fəˈlɑsəfɚ/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following sentences from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. layer _______________ 6. persistent _______________

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 14: Vowel /ɚ/

2. initiator _______________ 7. successor _______________
3. surplus _______________ 8. counterfeit _______________
4. insecure _______________ 9. underneath _______________
5. distributor _______________ 10. intermediate _______________

F. Read the following text. Extract seven words that contain the Track 86
/ɚ/ sound.

The Emperor's New Suit

Many, many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he
spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well
dressed. He did not care for his soldiers, and the theatre did not amuse him; the only
thing, in fact, he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit of clothes. He
had a coat for every hour of the day; and as one would say of a king "He is in his cabinet,"
so one could say of him, "The emperor is in his dressing-room."

The great city where he resided was very gay; every day many strangers from all parts of
the globe arrived. One day two swindlers came to this city; they made people believe that
they were weavers, and declared they could manufacture the finest cloth to be imagined.
Their colours and patterns, they said, were not only exceptionally beautiful, but the clothes
made of their material possessed the wonderful quality of being invisible to any man who
was unfit for his office or unpardonably stupid.

Excerpt from The Emperor's New Suit, by Hans Christian Andersen

1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________ 5. __________________ 6. __________________
7. __________________

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 87
pronounced with the /ɚ/ sound. Look up the meaning and/or

pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

Does nature make you happy? Crowdsourcing app looks at relationship between the
outdoors and wellbeing

A new app will crowdsource data to help scientists understand the relationship between
biodiversity and wellbeing. The researchers hope that by crowdsourcing data, they will
be able to answer questions such as whether the type of green space – gardens, city
parks, countryside or nature reserves, for example – have the same impact on an

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 14: Vowel /ɚ/

individual’s wellbeing, and whether someone needs to be interested in nature to benefit
more from the natural environment. They believe their findings may have important
consequences for how policymakers promote biodiversity and how reserve managers
enable people to make the most of the happiness-improving potential of access to nature.

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Use as many words with
the /ɚ/ sound as possible.

1. How important is nature in your life?
2. Why do you think a relationship between nature and happiness exists?
3. What other benefits could crowdsourcing have?

71

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 15: Diphthong /aɪ/

Unit 15: Diphthong /aɪ/

/aɪ/

A. Background Point of articulation:
Name: Diphthong ai Glides from [ɑ] to [ɪ]
Length: Long

Position in the syllable Track 88

Beginning Middle End
iceberg height standby
idea lighthouse syllabi
ivy wildlife untie

Grapheme correspondence Track 89

i y ie ei ui igh ai
device apply allied meiosis disguise almighty aisle
downside comply dried poltergeist guide highlight bonsai
license plywood die seismic guile righteous samurai

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 90
contain the sound /aɪ/.

1. As far as I know, he is reliable.
2. He didn't say so, but he implied that I was lying.
3. I'm following the guidelines.
4. I'm occupied right now.

72

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 15: Diphthong /aɪ/

5. Items with a red price tag are on sale.
6. Please identify yourself.
7. She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.
8. She tried to persuade him not to decline the offer.
9. The news finally reached me last night.
10. We must try to protect the environment.

C. Listen to the following words. Circle the letter that represents Track 91
the word pronounced with /aɪ/.

1. a b c d
2. a b c d
3. a b c d
4. a b c d
5. a b c d
6. a b c d
7. a b c d

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /ˈbaɪəs/ _______________ 6. /prɪˈsaɪs/ _______________
2. /ˈfaɪˌnaɪt/ _______________ 7. /kəmˈpaɪl/ _______________
3. /ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ/ _______________ 8. /dɪˈzaɪnɚ/ _______________
4. /ˈsɪgnəˌfaɪ/ _______________ 9. /ˈpɛrəˌdaɪm/ _______________
5. /ˈpraɪvət/ _______________ 10. /ˈskaɪˌskreɪpɚ/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following words from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. alibi _______________ 6. climate _______________
2. prime _______________ 7. analyze _______________
3. satisfy _______________ 8. organize _______________
4. hybrid _______________ 9. internalize _______________

73

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 15: Diphthong /aɪ/
_______________
5. criteria _______________ 10. assignment

F. Read the following text. Extract seven words that contain the Track 92
/aɪ/ sound.

There was once a poor peasant who sat in the evening by the hearth and poked the fire,
and his wife sat and span. Then said he, "How sad it is that we have no children! With us
all is so quiet, and in other houses it is noisy and lively."

"Yes," replied the wife, and sighed, "even if we had only one, and it were quite small, and
only as big as a thumb, I should be quite satisfied, and we would still love it with all our
hearts." Now it so happened that their wish was granted and a child was given them, but
although it was perfect in all its limbs, it was no longer than a thumb. Then said they, "It
is as we wished it to be, and it shall be our dear child;" and because of its size, they called
it Thumbling. They did not let it want for food, but the child did not grow taller, but remained
as it had been at the first, nevertheless it looked sensibly out of its eyes, and soon showed
itself to be a wise and nimble creature, for everything it did turned out well.

Excerpt from Thumbling, by the Grimms’ Brothers

1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________ 5. __________________ 6. __________________
7. __________________

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 93
pronounced with the /aɪ/ sound. Look up the meaning and/or

pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

High ozone levels in tropical Pacific caused by fires burning in Africa and Asia

While efforts to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, including ozone, tend to focus on

industrial activities and the burning of fossil fuels, a new study suggests that future
regulations may require to address the burning of forests and vegetation. The study,
published in the journal Nature Communications, indicates that ‘biomass burning’ may
play a larger role in climate change than previously realised.

Based on observations from two aircraft missions, satellite data and a variety of models,

an international research team showed that fires burning in tropical Africa and Southeast

Asia caused pockets of high ozone and low water in the lower atmosphere above Guam
– a remote island in the Pacific Ocean 1,700 miles east of Taiwan.

74

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 15: Diphthong /aɪ/

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Use as many words with
the /aɪ/ sound as possible.

1. Are you concerned about climate change? Why or why not?
2. Have you heard any positive or negative news about the environment lately?
3. How can something done in a different place or time affect other people?

75

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 16: Diphthong /ɔɪ/

Unit 16: Diphthong /ɔɪ/

/ɔɪ/

A. Background Point of articulation:
Name: Diphthong oi Glides from [ɔ] to [ɪ]
Length: Long

Position in the syllable Track 94

Beginning Middle End
oil adjoin deploy
ointment android decoy
oyster boisterous employ

Grapheme correspondence Track 95

oi oy
foil annoy
loincloth coy
moist soy

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 96
contain the sound /ɔɪ/.

1. Her voice could hardly be heard above the noise.
2. I have the invoice.
3. It's probably just food poisoning.

76

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 16: Diphthong /ɔɪ/

4. She tried to persuade him to organize a boycott.
5. She was appointed chairperson.
6. The toy the boy was playing with is broken.
7. They agreed on a joint statement.
8. This is very good soil.
9. This noise is annoying.
10. You sound paranoid.

C. Listen to the following words. Circle the two letters in each Track 97
line that represent the words pronounced with /ɔɪ/.

1. a b c d
2. a b c d
3. a b c d
4. a b c d
5. a b c d
6. a b c d
7. a b c d

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /ˈsɝlɔɪn/ _______________ 6. /əˈpɔɪnt/ _______________
2. /rɪˈdʒɔɪs/ _______________ 7. /ˈdʒɔɪˌstɪk/ _______________
3. /ˈɪnvɔɪs/ _______________ 8. /ˈpɪnˌpɔɪnt/ _______________
4. /pɚˈlɔɪn/ _______________ 9. /ˈrambɔɪd/ _______________
5. /ˈtɝˌmɔɪl/ _______________ 10. /ˈhjumənɔɪd/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following words from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. decoy _______________ 6. boycott _______________
2. choice _______________ 7. asteroid _______________

77

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 16: Diphthong /ɔɪ/

3. joyride _______________ 8. paranoid _______________
4. tabloid _______________ 9. poignant _______________
5. cloister _______________ 10. counterpoint _______________

F. Read the following proverbs. Write the /ɔɪ/ symbol below any Track 98
group of letters pronounced /ɔɪ/.

1. A watched pot never boils.
2. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
3. If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well.
4. If you can't beat ˈem, join ˈem.
5. It's the empty can that makes the most noise.
6. One man's meat is another man's poison.
7. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
8. The squeaking wheel gets the oil.
9. There is no royal road to learning.
10. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 99
pronounced with the /ɔɪ/ sound. Look up the meaning and/or

pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

Opinion: How to build a mentally healthy workplace - step-by-step

Althought an estimated one in four people worldwide experience a mental health problem
at one point in their life, mental health has long been the Cinderella of healthcare: left to
scrape an existence while the bulk of funding and attention is deployed elsewhere. As
we mark World Mental Health Day, it is clear that policy makers are joining the public on
the realization that there is no health without mental health. This shift is desperately
needed. And companies can profit from it too!

Financial benefits: It can avoid unnecessary medical costs and internal boycotts,
increase productivity, decrease the number of sick days, disability costs, and exploit

78

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 16: Diphthong /ɔɪ/

employers drive to work. From the perspective of investors and company owners, it can
simply come down to a matter of better financial performance and enhanced reputation,
with the added benefit of a more joyful, more motivated and engaged workforce.

Profit driver: A healthy and happy joined workforce is more productive which is good for
business and so protecting the mental health of employees makes perfect business
sense

It is the “right thing” to do: There are clear benefits to the organization from employee
engagement, loyalty and in terms of wider organizational reputation.

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Use as many words with
the /ɔɪ/ sound as possible.

1. How important do you think it is to build a mentally healthy workplace? What other
benefits could it bring?

2. What measures could companies and institutions take to make employees more
mentally healthy?

3. What could employees do to be more mentally or physically healthy?

79

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 17: Diphthong /aʊ/

Unit 17: Diphthong /aʊ/

/aʊ/

A. Background Point of articulation:
Name: Diphthong au Glides from [ɑ] to [ʊ]
Length: Long

Position in the syllable Track 100

Beginning Middle End
ounce announce anyhow
outage frown brow
outstanding sour cow

Grapheme correspondence Track 101

ou ow ough
compound browse bough
encounter now drought
outlook owl plough

B. Listen and repeat the following sentences. The words in bold Track 102
contain the sound /aʊ/.

1. Allow us to do our job.
2. I never doubted the outcome.
3. I shouted as loud as I could.
4. I think you know how I feel about you.
5. Let me show you around town.

80

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 17: Diphthong /aʊ/

6. Now calm down.
7. The busses are especially crowded during rush hour.
8. This house has a solid foundation.
9. We found the boy sound asleep.
10. Without your help, I would have drowned.

C. Listen to the following sentences. Choose the diphthong Track 103
used in the last word of each sentence.

1. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
2. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
3. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
4. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
5. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
6. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
7. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
8. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
9. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/
10. /eɪ/ /aɪ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/ /oʊ/

D. Transcribe the following words from the IPA to the Roman alphabet.

1. /faʊl/ _______________ 6. /paʊnd/ _______________
2. /naʊn/ _______________ 7. /graʊnd/ _______________
3. /ˈtaʊɚ/ _______________ 8. /əˈmaʊnt/ _______________
4. /kaʊnt/ _______________ 9. /ˈklaʊnɪŋ/ _______________
5. /ˈpaʊɚ/ _______________ 10. /ˈkɑmpaʊnd/ _______________

E. Transcribe the following words from the Roman alphabet to the IPA.

1. flour _______________ 6. output _______________

81

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 17: Diphthong /aʊ/

2. towel _______________ 7. powder _______________
3. couch _______________ 8. bouncer _______________
4. crowd _______________ 9. showering _______________
5. crown _______________ 10. mouthwash _______________

F. Read the following text. Extract seven words that contain the Track 104
/aʊ/ sound.

You don’t know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures
of Tom Sawyer; but that ain’t no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he

told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth.

That is nothing. I never seen anybody but lied one time or another, without it was Aunt
Polly, or the widow, or maybe Mary. Aunt Polly—Tom’s Aunt Polly, she is—and Mary,

and the Widow Douglas is all told about in that book, which is mostly a true book, with

some stretchers, as I said before.

Now the way that the book winds up is this: Tom and me found the money that the
robbers hid in the cave, and it made us rich. We got six thousand dollars apiece—all
gold. It was an awful sight of money when it was piled up. Well, Judge Thatcher he took
it and put it out at interest, and it fetched us a dollar a day apiece all the year round—
more than a body could tell what to do with. The Widow Douglas she took me for her

son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time,
considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I
couldn’t stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again,
and was free and satisfied. But Tom Sawyer he hunted me up and said he was going to

start a band of robbers, and I might join if I would go back to the widow and be respectable.
So I went back.

Excerpt from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
4. __________________ 5. __________________ 6. __________________
7. __________________

82

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Unit 17: Diphthong /aʊ/

G. Read the following text to a partner. The words in bold are Track 105
pronounced with the /aʊ/ sound. Look up the meaning

and/or pronunciation of any word that you do not know.

Positive teacher-student relationships boost good behavior in teenagers for up to four
years

Using the multitude of data from interviews and surveys across the years, the research
team used an innovative statistical technique that enabled them to ‘score’ the children on

more than around 100 different characteristics or experiences that could potentially
account for good or bad behaviour – from background to past behaviour, parenting to

student and teacher genders.

They then matched students in pairs with highly similar scores in all respects except one:

how they felt about their teacher, and how the teacher felt about them. This allowed
researchers to emulate a ‘randomized-controlled trial’. The only difference found
between the students in each pair was that one had the ‘treatment’ of a positive
relationship with their teacher, and the other, the ‘control’, did not.

H. Discuss the following questions with a partner. Use as many words with
the /aʊ/ sound as possible.

1. How important has teacher-student or parent-children relationship been for you?
2. Is there any teacher/professor in particular that you remember? Why?
3. How do you think good behavior in class can be reached? Whose responsibility is it

(parents’, students’, professors’, institutions’)?

83

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Appendix

Pronunciation of Countries

AFRICA - /ˈæfrɪkə/

Algeria /ælˈdʒɪriə/ Liberia /laɪˈbɪriə/
Angola /æŋˈgoʊlə/ Libya /ˈlɪbiə/
Benin /ˈbinɪn/ Madagascar /ˌmædəˈgæskɚ/
Botswana /bɑtˈswɑnə/ Malawi /məˈlɑwi/
Burkina /bɚˈkinə/ Mali /ˈmɑli/
Burundi /bəˈrʌndi/ Mauritania /ˌmɔrɪˈteɪniə/
Cameroon /ˈkæməˌrun/ Mauritius /mɔˈrɪtiəs/
Cape Verde /keɪp/ /ˈvɝd/ Morocco /məˈrɑkoʊ/
Central African /ˈsɛntrəl/ /ˈæfrəkən/ Mozambique /ˌmoʊzæmˈbik/
Republic /riˈpʌblək/ Namibia /nəˈmɪbiə/
Chad /tʃæd/ Niger /ˈnaɪdʒɚ/
Comoros /kɔˈmɔˌroʊs/ Nigeria /naɪˈdʒɪriə/
Congo /ˈkɑŋgoʊ/ Rwanda /rəˈwɑndə/
Congo, Democratic /ˈkɑŋgoʊ/, Sao Tome and /saʊ/ /toʊm/ /ænd/
Republic of /ˌdɛməˈkrætɪk/ Principe /prinˈtʃipi/
j /riˈpʌblək/ /ʌv/ Senegal /ˌsɛnəˈgɔl/
Djibouti /dʒɪˈbuˌti/ Seychelles /ˈseɪʃɛlz/
Egypt /ˈidʒɪpt/ Sierra Leone /siˈɛrə/ /liˈoʊn/
Equatorial Guinea /ˌikwəˈtɔriəl/ /ˈgɪni/ Somalia /səˈmɑliə/
Eritrea /ˌɛrɪˈtriə/ South Africa /saʊθ/ /ˈæfrəkə/
Ethiopia /ˌiθiˈoʊpiə/ South Sudan /saʊθ/ /suˈdæn/
Gabon /gəˈbɑn/ Sudan /suˈdæn/
Gambia /ˈgæmbiə/ Swaziland /ˈswɑzɪlənd/
Ghana /ˈgænə/ Tanzania /tænzəˈniə/
Guinea /ˈgɪni/ Togo /ˈtoʊgoʊ/
Guinea-Bissau /ˈgɪni/ /bɪsˈaʊ/

84

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Ivory Coast /ˈaɪvɚi/ /koʊst/ Tunisia /ˌtuˈniʒə/
Kenya /ˈkɛnjə/ Uganda /juˈgændə/
Lesotho /lɛˈsoʊθoʊ/ Zambia /ˈzæmbiə/
Zimbabwe /zɪmˈbɑbweɪ/

ASIA - /ˈeɪʒə/

Afghanistan /æfˈgænəˌstæn/ Malaysia /məˈleɪʒə/
Bahrain /bɑˈreɪn/ Maldives /ˈmɔlˌdaɪvz/
Bangladesh /ˈbæŋləˌdɛʃ/ Mongolia /mɑŋˈgoʊliə/
Bhutan /ˌbuˈtæn/ Nepal /nəˈpɔl/
Brunei /bruˈnaɪ/ Oman /oʊˈmɑn/
Burma (Myanmar) /ˈbɝmə/ Pakistan /ˈpækɪˌstæn/
s (/ˈmjɑnˈmɑr/) Philippines /ˈfɪləˌpinz/
Cambodia /ˌkæmˈboʊdiə/ Qatar /ˌkʌˈtɑr/
China /ˈtʃaɪnə/ Russian Federation /ˈrʌʃən/
East Timor /ist/ /tiˈmɔr/ s /ˌfɛdəˈreɪʃən/
India /ˈɪndiə/ Saudi Arabia /ˈsɔdi/ /əˈreɪbiə/
Indonesia /ˌɪndoʊˈniʒə/ Singapore /ˈsɪŋəˌpɔr/
Iran /ɪˈrɑn/ Sri Lanka /ʃri/ /ˈlæŋkə/
Iraq /ɪˈrɑk/ Syria /ˈsɪriə/
Israel /ˈɪzriəl/ Tajikistan /ˌtɑˈdʒikɪˌstæn/
Japan /dʒəˈpæn/ Thailand /ˈtaɪˌlænd/
Jordan /ˈdʒɔrdən/ Turkey /ˈtɝki/
Kazakhstan /ˌkɑzɑkˈstɑn/ Turkmenistan /ˌtɝkˈmɛnɪˌstæn/
Korea, North /kɔˈriə/, /nɔrθ/ United Arab /juˈnaɪtəd/ /ˈærəb/
Korea, South /kɔˈriə/, /saʊθ/ Emirates /ˈɛmɚəts/
Kuwait /kuˈweɪt/ Uzbekistan /uzˈbɛkɪˌstæn/
Kyrgyzstan /ˈkɪrgɪˌstæn/ Vietnam /viˌɛtˈnɑm/
Laos /ˈlɑoʊs/ Yemen /ˈjɛmən/
Lebanon /ˈlɛbənən/

85

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

EUROPE - /ˈjʊrəp/ /ælˈbeɪniə/ Liechtenstein /ˈlɪktənˌstaɪn/
/ænˈdɔrə/ Lithuania /ˌlɪθəˈweɪniə/
Albania /ɑrˈminiə/ Luxembourg /ˈlʌksəmˌbɔrg/
Andorra /ˈɔstriə/ Macedonia /ˌmæsəˈdoʊniə/
Armenia /ˌɑzɚbaɪˈdʒɑn/ Malta /ˈmɔltə/
Austria /bɛˈlɑrəs/ Moldova /ˌmoʊlˈdoʊvə/
Azerbaijan /ˈbɛldʒəm/ Monaco /ˈmɑnəˌkoʊ/
Belarus /ˈbɑzniə/ /ænd/ Montenegro /ˌmɑntəˈneɪgroʊ/
Belgium /ˌhɛrtsəgoʊˈvinə/ Netherlands /ˈnɛðɚləndz/
Bosnia and /bəlˈgɛriə/ Norway /ˈnɔrˌweɪ/
Herzegovina /kroʊˈeɪʃə/ Poland /ˈpoʊlənd/
Bulgaria /ˈsaɪprəs/ Portugal /ˈpɔrtʃəgəl/
Croatia /tʃɛk/ /riˈpʌblək/ Romania /roʊˈmeɪniə/
Cyprus /ˈdɛnˌmɑrk/ San Marino /sæn/ /məˈrinoʊ/
Czech Republic /ɛˈstoʊniə/ Serbia /ˈsɝbiə/
Denmark /ˈfɪnˌlænd/ Slovakia /ˌsloʊˈvɑkiə/
Estonia Slovenia /ˌsloʊˈviniə/
Finland /fræns/ Spain /speɪn/
France /ˈdʒɔrdʒə/ Sweden /ˈswidən/
Georgia /ˈdʒɝməni/ Switzerland /ˈswɪtsɚlənd/
Germany Ukraine /juˈkreɪn/
Greece /gris/ United Kingdom /juˈnaɪtəd/
Hungary /ˈhʌŋgɚi/ s /ˈkɪŋdəm/
Iceland /ˈaɪslənd/ Vatican City /ˈvætɪkən/ /ˈsɪti/
Ireland /ˈaɪɚlənd/
Italy /ˈɪtəli/
Latvia /ˈlætviə/

AMERICA - /əˈmɛrəkə/

Antigua and /ænˈtigwə/ /ænd/ Guyana /ˌgaɪˈɑnə/
Barbuda /bɑrˈbudə/ Haiti /ˈheɪti/

86

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Argentina /ˌɑrdʒənˈtinə/ Honduras /hɑnˈdʊrəs/
Bahamas /bəˈhɑməz/ Jamaica
Barbados /bɑrˈbeɪdoʊs/ Mexico /dʒəˈmeɪkə/
Belize /bɛˈliz/ Nicaragua
Bolivia /bəˈlɪviə/ Panama /ˈmɛksəˌkoʊ/
Brazil /brəˈzɪl/ Paraguay
Canada /ˈkænədə/ Peru /ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə/
Chile /ˈtʃɪli/ Saint Kitts and
Colombia /kəˈlʌmbiə/ Nevis /ˈpænəˌmɑ/
Costa Rica /ˈkɔstə/ /ˈrikə/ Saint Lucia
Cuba /ˈkjubə/ Saint Vincent and /ˈpɛrəˌgweɪ/
Dominica /dəˈmɪnɪkə/ the Grenadines
Dominican /dəˈmɪnəkən/ s /pəˈru/
Republic /riˈpʌblək/ Suriname
Ecuador /ˈɛkwəˌdɔr/ Trinidad and /seɪnt/ /kɪts/ /ænd/
El Salvador /ɛl/ /ˈsælvəˌdɔr/ Tobago /ˈnɛvɪs/
Grenada /grɪˈneɪdə/ United States
Guatemala /ˌgwɑtəˈmɑlə/ Uruguay /seɪnt/ /ˈluʃə/
Venezuela
/seɪnt/ /ˈvɪnsənt/
/ænd/ /ðə/
/ˈgranədɪnz/

/ˈsɝɪnɑm/

/ˈtrɪnɪˌdæd/ /ænd/
/təˈbeɪgoʊ/

/juˈnaɪtəd/ /steɪts/

/ˈjɝəˌgweɪ/

/ˌvɛnɪˈzweɪlə/

OCEANIA - /ˌoʊˌʃiˈænjə/

Australia /ɔˈstreɪljə/ Papua New Guinea /ˈpæpjuə/ /nu/
Fiji /ˈfidʒi/ a /ˈgɪni/
Kiribati /ˌkɪˈrɪˈbɑti/ Samoa /səˈmoʊə/
Marshall Islands /ˈmɑrʃəl/ /ˈaɪləndz/ Solomon Islands /ˈsɑləmən/ /ˈaɪləndz/
Micronesia /ˌmaɪkroʊˈniʒə/ Tonga /ˈtɑngə/
Nauru /naˈuru/ Tuvalu /ˈtuvɑˌlu/
New Zealand /nu/ /ˈzilənd/ Vanuatu /vænuˈɑtu/
Palau /ˈpælaʊ/

87

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Some World Landmarks

Arc de Triomphe /ɑrk/ /di/ /triˈoʊmf/ Machu Picchu /matʃu/ /ˈpiktʃu/
Niagara Falls
Berlin Wall /bɚˈlɪn/ /wɔl/ Notre Dame /naɪˈægrə/ /fɔlz/
Pyramids of Giza
Big Ben /bɪg/ /bɛn/ s /ˈnoʊtrə/ /deɪm/
Stonehenge
Christ the /kraɪst/ /ðə/ Sydney Opera /ˈpɪrəmɪdz/ /ʌv/
Redeemer /rɪˈdimɚ/ House /ˈgɪzə/
Taj Mahal
Colosseum /ˌkɑləˈsiəm/ The Great Sphinx /ˈstoʊnˌhɛndʒ/
Wailing Wall
Eiffel Tower /ˈaɪfəl/ /ˈtaʊɚ/ /ˈsɪdni/ /ˈɑprə/
/haʊs/
Empire State /ˈɛmpaɪɚ/ /steɪt/
Building /ˈbɪldɪŋ/ /tɑʒ/ /məˈhɑl/

Golden Gate /ˈgoʊldən/ /geɪt/ /ðə/ /greɪt/ /sfɪŋks/
Bridge /brɪdʒ/
/ˈweɪlɪŋ/ /wɔl/
Great Wall of China /greɪt/ /wɔl/ /ʌv/
s /ˈtʃaɪnə/

Leaning Tower of /ˈlinɪŋ/ /ˈtaʊɚ/ /ʌv/
Pisa /ˈpisə/

Sample Words with Tripthongs

eɪ + ə = eɪə mayor, player
aɪ + ə = aɪə choir, fire
aʊ + ə = əuə lower, mower
ɔɪ + ə = ɔɪə loyal, royal
aʊ + ə = auə power, hour

Note: Some people do not really consider the idea of tripthongs in English as an
accurate one. The reason is that the three sounds do not seem to occur necessarily one
after the other. In most cases, not to say all, there is a syllabic division between the
diphthong and the schwa.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Free Variation Samples

It is quite debatable to argue what form has gained or will maintain popularity. This list
does not include what social or regional group favors in terms of pronunciation, and it is
far from being a comprehensive list of variations. Remember to always be open to
variation and to consult your dictionary or instructor when in doubt.

address (n) /ˈæˌdrɛs/ /əˈdrɛs/ /ˈælmənd/
adult /əˈdʌlt/ /ˈæˌdʌlt/
almond /ˈɑmənd/ /ˈɑlmənd/
amen /eɪˈmɛn/ /aˈmɛn/
automobile
banal /ˈɔtəmoʊˌbil/ /ˈɑtəmoʊˌbil/ /ɔtəmˈoʊbil/ /ɑtəmoʊˈbil/
Caribbean /bəˈnæl/
data /bəˈnɑl/ /bæˈnɑl/ /kærɪˈbiən/
dissect /ˈdɑtə/
either /kəˈrɪbiən/ /kɛrɪˈbiən/ /ˈdaɪsɛkt/
envelope
giga- /ˈdeɪtə/ /ˈdætə/
harassment
herb /daɪˈsɛkt/ /dɪˈsɛkt/
neither
new /ˈiðɚ/ /ˈaɪðɚ/
niche
often /ˈɛnvəˌloʊp/ /ˈɑnvəˌloʊp/
route
toward /ˈgɪgə/ /ˈgaɪgə/ /ˈdʒɪgə/
what /ˈhærəsmənt/
where /həˈræsmənt/ /ˈhɛrəsmənt/
why
when /ɝb/ /hɝb/

/ˈniðɚ/ /ˈnaɪðɚ/

/nu/ /nju/

/nɪtʃ/ /niʃ/

/ˈɔfən/ /ˈɔftən/ /ˈɑfən/
/twɔrd/
/rut/ /rsʊt/

/toʊˈɚd/ /təˈwɔrd/ /tɔrd/

/wʌt/ /hwʌt/

/wɛr/ /hwɛr/

/waɪ/ /hwaɪ/

/wɛn/ /hwɛn/

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Strong – Weak Forms /ənd/, /ən/
/ðət/
Articles Conjunctions
/kən/
the /ði/ /ðə/ and /ænd/ /kəd/
a /eɪ/ /ə/ that /ðæt/ /həv/, /əv
an /ən/ /həz/, /əz/
some /æn/ /səm/ Auxiliaries /həd/, /d/
/sʌm/ /də/
/ɪz/ /dəz/
Pronouns /hɪz/ /ɪm/ can /kæn/ /əm/
/hɪm/ /ɝ/ /hɚ/ could /kʊd/ /ɚ/
his /hɝ/ /jə/ have /wəz/
him /ɪ/ has /hæv/ /wɚ/
her /ju/ /ðəm/ had
you /əs/ do /hæz/
he /hi/ does
them /ðɛm/ /ðən/ am /hæd/
us /ʌs/ /ət/ are
/fɚ/ was /du/
Prepositions /frəm/ were /dʌz/
/əv/
/tə/ /æm/
/əz/ /ɑr/
/wʌz/
/wɝ/

than /ðæn/
at
for /æt/
from /fɔr/
of /frʌm/
to /ʌv/
as
/tu/

/æz/

Common Affixes

The following lists of affixes are a simple guide to some of the most common prefixes
and suffixes. Bear in mind that they can be pronounced differently depending on the
emphasis and the word in which they function. Refer to your dictionary or instructor to
corroborate the pronunciation of the affixes.

Common Prefixes

anti- /ˌænti/, /ˈæntɪ/, /ˈæntaɪ/ antibiotic, antidote
circum- /ˈsɝkəm/, /sɚkəm/ circumstance, circumnavigate
co- /koʊ/ co-worker, co-operation
de- /dɪ/ defrost, demotivate

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

dis- /dɪs/ disagree, disappear
em- /ɛm/, /ɪm/ embrace, embed
en- /ɛn/, /ɪn/ encode, enclose
epi- /ˈɛpə/ epicentre, epidermis
ex- /ɛks/, /ɪk/ ex-boyfriend, exterminate
extra- /ˌɛkstrə/, /ɪkˈstrɔ/ extracurricular, extraordinary
fore- /ˈfɔr/ forehead, foresee
homo- /ˈhoʊmoʊ/, /ˌhoʊmə/ homophone, homogenous
hyper- /ˌhaɪpɚ/ hyperactive, hyperventilate
im- /ɪm/ inside, insert
in- /ɪnfrə/ import, immigrant
infra- /ɪntrə/ infrastructure, infrared
inter- /ˌɪntəˈr/, /ˌɪntɚ/ interact, intermediate
intra- /ˌɪntrə/ intranet, intraocular
macro- /ˌmækroʊ/ macroeconomics, macromolecule
micro- /ˈmaɪkrə/ microscope, microwave
mis- /mɪs/ mistake, misunderstand
mono- /ˈmɑnə/ monotone, monolithic
non- /ˈnɑn/ nonsense, nonentity
omni- /ˈɑmnə/, /ɑmˈnɪ/ omnibus, omnipotent
para- /ˈpɛrə/, /ˌpærə/ parachute, paramedic
post- /poʊst/ post-mortem, postpone
pre- /ˌpri/ predetermine, pre-intermediate
re- /rɪ/, /ri/ return, rediscover
semi- /ˈsɛmi/, /ˈsɛmaɪ/ semicircle, semi-final
sub- /ˈsʌb/ subtitle, submarine
super- /ˌsupɚ/ superstar, supernatural
therm- /θɚm/, /ˈθɝm/, thermometer, thermostat,
trans- /ˈtræns/ transport, transnational
tri- /ˈtraɪ/, /ˈtrɪ/, /ˈtri/ triangle, tricycle
un- /ən/ unknown, unfriendly
uni- /ˌjunə/, /ˌjunɪ/ unilateral, universe

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Common Suffixes democracy, accuracy
denial, trial
Nouns /əsi/ nuisance, elegance
-acy /ɪəl/ ambience, tolerance
-al /əns/ freedom, stardom
-ance /əns/ reader, interpreter,
-ence /əm/ creator, inventor
-dom /ɚ/ Judaism, scepticism
-er /ɚ/ scientist, theorist
-or /ɪzəm/ extremity, validity
-ism /ɪst/ argument, agreement
-ist /əti/ highness, sickness
-ity /mənt/ friendship, internship
-ment /nəs/ passion, decision
-ness /ʃɪp/ position, mention
-ship /ʃən/, /ʒən/
-sion /ʃən/ mediate, collaborate
-tion sharpen, strengthen
justify, simplify
Verbs /eɪt/, /ɪt/ publicize, synthesize
-ate /ən/
-en /faɪ/ edible, fallible, incredible, audible
-ify /saɪz/ fiscal, thermal, herbal,
-ize picturesque, burlesque
handful, playful, hopeful, skilful
Adjectives physique, acoustic
musical, hypocritical,
-able, -ible /əl/ jealous, religious, ridiculous

-al /əl/

-esque /əsk/, /ɛsk/

-ful /fʊl/, /ˈpleɪfəl/

-ic /ɪk/

-ical /ɪkəl/

-ious, -ous /əs/

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

-ish /ɪʃ/ childish, selfish
-ive /ɪv/ informative, attentive
-less /ləs/ hopeless, homeless
-y beauty, jealousy
/i/

Adverb /li/ slowly, happily,
-ly /ɚd/, ɔrd toward, inward
-ward /ɚdz/, /ɔrdz/, /ɔʊrdz/ afterwards, backwards
-wards /waɪz/ likewise, clockwise
-wise

Homophone Samples

ad - add /æd/ mail - male /meɪl/
air - heir /ɛr/ main - mane /meɪn/
aisle - I'll - isle /aɪl/ peace - piece
all - awl /ɔl/ peak - peek /pis/
allowed - aloud /əˈlaʊd/ plain - plane
ate - eight /eɪt/ praise - prays - preys /pik/
aural - oral /ˈɔrəl/ principal - principle /pleɪn/
aye - eye - I /aɪ/ rain - reign - rein /preɪz/
bare - bear /bɛr/ read* - red /ˈprɪnsəpəl/
be - bee right - rite - write /reɪn/
blew - blue /bi/ sale - sail /rɛd/
brake - break scene - seen /raɪt/
buy - by - bye /blu/ sea - see /seɪl/
cent - scent - sent /breɪk/ sew - so
cereal - serial /baɪ/ shake - sheikh** /sin/
cite - sight - site /sɛnt/ sole - soul
dear - deer /ˈsɪriəl/ stake - steak /si/
die - dye /saɪt/ sweet - suite /soʊ/
fair - fare /dɪr/ tale - tail /ʃeɪk/
/daɪ/ /soʊl/
/fɛr/ /steɪk/

/swit/
/teɪl/

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

hair - hare /hɛr/ waist - waste /weɪst/
hear - here /hir/ wait - weight /weɪt/
him - hymn /hɪm/ weather - whether /ˈwɛðɚ/
knew - new /nu/, also /niu/ which - witch /wɪtʃ/
knight - night /naɪt/ wood - would /wʊd/
made - maid /meɪd/

*In past tense
**also /ʃik/

Some Common Heteronyms

Word IPA Meaning Sample Sentence
Bass /beɪs/ He plays the bass.
The lowest range of musical
notes or a person that sings in
that range. Also a four-string,
musical instrument similar to a
guitar.

/bæs/ A type of fish (scientifically This black bass ceviche
known as Micropterus recipe is great for our
salmoides) party.

Bow /baʊ/ To lower one's head as when After the concert, she

greeting someone. Also the front bowed to the audience

of a ship. three times.

/boʊ/ A knot used as decoration in Robin Hood was famous
gifts. Also a string and wood for his use of the bow.
weapon used to shoot arrows.

Close /kloʊz/ To shut Please close the door.
/kloʊs/ Near
Don’t stand so close to
me.

Content /ˈkɑːn.tɛnt/ The parts, objects, or articles The table of contents in
included in a box, book, etc. this book is very clear.

/kənˈtɛnt/ Satisfied, pleased with We had to content
something ourselves with listening to

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Contest /kənˈtɛst/ To argue, litigate, or oppose the concert from a
distance.
/ˈkɑːn.tɛst/ A match, competition, or game
of skill The company will contest
any claims made against
Contract /ˈkɑːn.trækt/ An agreement their policies.

/kənˈtrækt/ To shrink something. Also to The contest will take
agree on a project. place Sunday at the local
stadium.
Desert /ˈdɛz.ɚt/ Arid region usually covered in
/dɪˈzɝːt/ sand or ice The Teachers Union
signed a new contract.
To leave or abandon someone
In 17th, 18th, and 19th
Digest /ˈdaɪ.dʒɛst/ A collection of published centuries, people used to
material contract am not, are not,
and is not as ain’t.
/daɪˈdʒɛst/ To absorb nutrients
The Atacama Desert is
Do /doʊ/ A musical note located in Chile and Peru.
/duː/ To accomplish
A bird The ground troops
Dove /dʌv/ Jumped off, past tense of dive deserted their allies.
/doʊv/
The monthly digest of the
university is now available
online.

To digest food better,
some people recommend
taking a nap after eating.

She rehearsed the piece
in do minor.

What do you do for a
living?

The dove flew above the
building.

The swimmer gracefully
dove into the pool.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Excuse /ɪkˈskjuːs/ A reason or explanation There's no excuse for
/ɪkˈskjuːz/ what he did.

House /haʊs/ To let someone off Please excuse me for the
/haʊz/ rest of the meeting.

A building where one lives They bought a nice house
in the suburbs.

To provide some with a building The local museum houses
where to live important historical
documents.

Lead /lɛd/ A metallic element represented Paint that contains lead is

as Pb in chemistry toxic.

/liːd/ To guide Bosses issue orders, but
true leaders lead.

Minute /ˈmɪn.ɪt/ 60 seconds I will call you back in a
minute.

/maɪˈnuːt/ Tiny The lawyer examined the
document in minute detail.

Permit /ˈpɝː.mɪt/ A document giving permission You should apply for a
(both pronunciations are correct work permit.
here)

/pɚˈmɪt/ To allow an event to occur, to let Smoking on the premises
Polish /ˈpoʊ.lɪʃ/
someone do something is not permitted.
/ˈpɑː.lɪʃ/
From Poland I learned Polish when I
was a kid.

To rub, with a piece of cloth and You should polish your
special cream, something as to shoes once a week.
make it shine.

Present /ˈprɛz.ənt/ A gift, the time being (now) Her mom gave him a nice
/prɪˈzɛnt/ present for his birthday.

To give a talk or deliver a You should be ready to
presentation present any time.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

Produce /ˈprɑː.duːs/ Usually fresh vegetables for I buy my produce at the
consumption Farmer’s Market.

/prəˈduːs/ Bring forth, make, or do Costa Rica produces
something more than 98% of its
energy from clean
sources.

Record /ˈrɛk.ɚd/ A list containing information Your transcript is a record
about something or someone of your grades at the
university.

/rɪˈkɔːrd/ To write down All presentations will be
recorded.

Refuse /ˈrɛf.juːs/ Garbage Refuse dumps should be
away from populated
areas.

/rɪˈfjuːz/ To deny doing something The coach refused to
comment on the matter.

Resume /ˈrɛz.ə.meɪ/ A document where you describe To apply for a job, you
your personal information, should prepare a well-
experience, and degrees. Also written resume.
résumé.

/rɪˈzuːm/ To restart Congress will resume the
discussion after the break.

Subject /ˈsʌb.dʒɛkt/ A topic or theme What is your favorite
subject in school?

/səbˈdʒɛkt/ To force upon someone. The whole country was
subjected to martial law.

Tear /tɪr/ Fluid coming from the eye to Don’t shed any more
express different emotions. crocodile tears!

/tɛr/ To rip or destroy something. Old paper tears very

Also used as a noun. easily.

Wind /wɪnd/ The blowing air Kites fly well with
moderate wind.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

/waɪnd/ To coil up (as in rewind). Wind-up toys are still very
Wound /wuːnd/ To injure. Also used as a noun popular.
Coiled up
/waʊnd/ The nurse cleaned and
dressed the wound
immediately.

She wounded the handle,
but the window wouldn’t
move.

Some words ending in the suffix –ate may be pronounced /eɪt/ or /ət/ depending on the
word class or part of speech they belong to. Verbs are always pronounced with the /eɪt/
ending whereas nouns and adjectives are always pronounced with the /ət/ ending. The

syllable that receives the emphasis sometimes changes too.

Word IPA Meaning Sample Sentence
Coordinate
/koʊˈɔːr.dən.eɪt/ To make people, things, or The cheerleaders must
events follow a desired coordinate all stunts
order perfectly.

/koʊˈɔːr.dən.ət/ The people, things, or Pay attention to
events that follow a desired coordinate
order conjunctions in writing.

Delegate /ˈdɛl.ə.ɡeɪt/ To transfer the responsibility The chairperson

of doing something to delegated some of her

someone else responsibilities.

/ˈdɛl.ə.ɡət/ A member of a group Two delegates from
chosen to represent the the embassy will be
whole group arriving tomorrow.

Duplicate /ˈduː.plə.keɪt/ To make an exact copy of Please duplicate all
something else documents before the
meeting.

/ˈduː.plə.kət/ An exact copy of something I ordered some
else duplicate keys.

Elaborate /iˈlæb.ə.reɪt/ To add more information or The defendant should

explain something more elaborate more on his

detail arguments.

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Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

/iˈlæb.ɚ.ət/ Very detailed Their project was very
elaborate and well
presented.

Estimate /ˈɛs.tə.meɪt/ To calculate the price, size, We should estimate all

etc. of something costs before

production.

/ˈɛs.tə.mət/ A guess or calculation of the Just give me an

price, size, etc. of estimate number of

something people.

Graduate /ˈɡrædʒ.u.eɪt/ To complete one’s studies My students graduated
usually with a formal with honors.
ceremony

/ˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/ A person who finished their All graduates want to

studies. start working as soon

as possible.

Moderate /ˈmɑː.də.reɪt/ To manage a debate or Ms. Jiménez will
discussion moderate the debate.

/ˈmɑː.dɚ.ət/ Mid-point, not leaning to any The candidate has

extreme of something moderate opinions.

Separate /ˈsɛp.ə.reɪt/ To make things or people The referee separated
move apart from each other the martial artists.

/ˈsɛp.ɚ.ət/ Different or independent Keep dogs and cats
from separate until they
tolerate each other.

Subordinate /səˈbɔːr.dən.eɪt/ To place a person or thing The welfare of the
in an inferior position individual is
compared to someone or subordinated to the
something. welfare of the majority.

/səˈbɔːr.dən.ət/ A person or thing whose Subordinate clauses
are also called
role is inferior to someone dependent clauses.
or something else’s role.

This rule also applies to words that do not have both verb and noun or adjective
meaning. For example, indicate, interrogate, and hesitate are pronounced /ˈɪn.də.keɪt/,
/ɪnˈtɛr.ə.ɡeɪt/, and /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/ respectfully because all of them are verbs. They do not

99

Sound Pronunciation: Vowels Appendix

have a noun or adjective variation. In turn, words such as electorate, fortunate, and
passionate will be pronounced /iˈlɛk.tɚ.ət/, /ˈfɔːr.tʃən.ət/, and /ˈpæʃ.ən.ət/. None of these

words can be used as a verb. These words, therefore, are not heteronyms, but they

share the same pronunciation rule.

Loanword Samples

à deux /æˈdɜ/
a posteriori /eɪ/ /pɑstɪriɔraɪ/
a priori /eɪ/ /priɔraɪ/ - /ɑ/ /priɔri/
ad hoc /æd/ /hɑk/ - /æd/ /hoʊk/
al dente /ˌæl/ /ˈdɛnteɪ/ - /ɑl/ /ˈdɛnteɪ/
apartheid /əˈpɑrˌtaɪt/ - /əˈpɑrˌteɪt/
arpeggio /ɑrˈpɛdʒioʊ/ - /ɑrˈpɛdʒoʊ/
ballet /bæˈleɪ/
beaux arts /boʊˈzɑr/
bona fide /ˈboʊnə/ /faɪdi/ - /ˈboʊnə/ /faɪdeɪ/
bouquet /buˈkeɪ/ - /boʊˈkeɪ/
cafè /kæˈfeɪ/ - /kəˈfeɪ/
carpe diem /karpi/ /diɛm/ - /karpeɪ /diɛm/
carte blanche /kɑrt/ /blænʃ/ - /kɑrt/ /blæntʃ/
chop suey /tʃɑp/ /ˈsui/
coup d’état /kudeɪˈtɑt/
crepe /kreɪp/
croissant /ˌkwɑˈsɑnt/ - /ˌkrwɑˈsɑnt/,
de facto /deɪ/ /ˈfæktoʊ/
debut /deɪˈbju/
déjà vu /di/é/dʒeɪ/à /vu/
dengue /dɛnŋgi/ - /dɛngeɪ/
deus ex machina /deɪəs/ /ɛks/ /mɑkɪnə/ - /diəs/
dramatis personae /drɑmatɪs /pɚˈsoʊneɪ/ - /dræmatɪs /pɚˈsoʊni/
en masse /ɑn/ /mæs/
encore /ˈɑnˌkɔr/
entrée /ˈɑntreɪ/

100