Sang Kancil, The Clever Mouse-deer

Learn
phonetics with

a Malay
folklore!

This book introduces the
pronunciation of vowel
symbols of the International
Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

Long vowels: Short vowels:

ɔ: u: eɒ
ɜ: i: æə
ʌɪ
ɑ:
ʊ

IPA Long Single Vowels i:

feet squeeze

beach

speak jury

Long, long ago, deep in the
forest in the Malay

Peninsula, there lived a tiny
mouse-deer named Sang
Kancil. Despite his size, he
was spunky and clever, and
all the other animals
respected him.

IPA Long Single Vowels u:

moon chew
soup
group
boot

Sang Kancil loved to eat
tropical fruits ~ Rambutan,
Durian, Mangosteen, and
his favorite one of all was

the Jambu Air.

IPA Long Single Vowels ɔ:

door yawn

morning

four call

On one hot afternoon, Sang
Kancil was foraging for

fruits in the forest when he
felt thirsty, and so he went
down to the river to drink.
When he reached there, he
saw a tree on the opposite
side, full of ripe and juicy

water apples.

IPA Long Single Vowels ɑ:

car class

star

fast bath

"Yay, jambu air!" Sang
Kancil squealed with
delight. "But how do I get
across? The river is wide
and deep, and I can't swim.
I will surely drown!" he

pondered aloud.

IPA Long Single Vowels ɜ:

world burn

herd

nurse girl

A crocodile who was taking
a nap nearby, awoke when

he heard Sang Kancil's
voice. "Sang Kancil! Why
are you making so much
noise?! I am trying to get

some sleep!" said the
crocodile.

IPA Short Single Vowels ɪ

ship chip
knit

sick sit

In his excitement at seeing
the fruit tree, Sang Kancil
did not notice the sleeping
crocodile. He startled at
first but quickly recovered,
and decided to trick the

crocodile.

IPA Short Single Vowels ɒ

watch sausage

strong
hot dog

"Ah, there you are Sang
Buaya! I have called you
many times. You must be
deaf!" Sang Kancil bravely

replied.
"Well, I am here now! What
do you want from me?!" The

crocodile was obviously
annoyed with the little

mouse-deer.

IPA Short Single Vowels æ

cat apple
sad

bag lamb

"Oh, but I don't want
anything from you, Sang
Buaya. I am here on the
Sultan's orders. His Majesty
has ordered me to count the
number of crocodiles in this
river. There will be a big
reward for each of you if
you help me." Sang Kancil

said earnestly to the
crocodile.