Vowel Sounds

Goals

To understand phonetics.

To help in pronunciation.

 What’s In It For Me (WIIFM)?

To be understood clearly.

Improve your verbal communication.
Comprehend common expressions.
 Introduction

Vowel Sounds are an important part of speech and are integral as consonant sounds.
In order to have perfect pronunciation, we must pronounce both consonant and
vowel sounds correctly. Just as consonant sounds bring logic and reasoning to the
English language, vowel sounds bring emotions and feelings to the language. While
articulating words, vowel sounds should be open and rhythmic and consonant
sounds should be crisp and precise.

A vowel sound is one in which we let the breath pass freely, uninterrupted from the
vocal chords and out of the mouth. A vowel carries most of the sound volume and
musical pitch of the word. One can sustain a vowel sound much longer than other
sounds, which are normally all grouped together as consonants.

Virtually all words contain vowel sounds, since it’s extremely difficult to
pronounce any useful speech sounds without vibration of the vocal folds
(which define vowel sounds). Vowel sounds link consonant sounds
together giving us a meaningful word.
 Introduction Contd….

Vowel Sounds are often generalized (transference of the native language

sounds to English) thereby causing pronunciation errors. Example, ‘fit’ for
‘feet’ or ‘feet’ for ‘fit’. These errors change the meaning of the word being
spoken.
 
Vowel sounds carry expression and give weight to a word. These sounds,
if nice and open, can add resonance to the voice.
 
In English, vowel sounds can be divided into:
Short vowel sounds: 6
Long vowel sounds: 5
Diphthongs: 7
 Short Vowel Sounds

There are 6 short Vowel sounds :

/I/ -i pit sink wish mince minute clip pill it

/u/ -o put foot pull book could wood full look
/ æ / - ae apple can an than and hand fat mat
/  / - uh hut shut mother enough under bus fun done
/  / - schwa about allow among element the avoid verify apply
I e / - eh egg /1/el /m/em /n/en /x/eks engineer end enter
 Long Vowel Sounds

There are 5 long Vowel sounds :

/ i: / - ee feel feet keep knee fever meter teeth knee

I U:I - OO food fool blue school moon too two spoon

/:/ - oh door four know more boat no show roar

/a:/ - aa march artist dark sharp calm Father hot caught

/3:r/ - bird curd girl shirt purse Nerd curt dirt

 Diphthongs

There are 7 vowel sounds :

/ei/ - ay gate a h j k shape tape mate

/ai/ - I why i dry light ice shy hide pry
/i/ boy coin noise oil ploy point joint moist
/au/ - ow how about bound loud noun flower hour our
/ou/ - for border Origin order        
aw August law automatic awful pause crawl    
ie beer hear clear dear near tear fear steer
 Vowel Sounds

1. i
In production of ‘i’, raise the tongue high and to the front of the relaxed mouth. Open the mouth
only slightly. Make a voiced sound (high position).

Example: it, give, quick, interest

2. o
In production of ‘o’, the lips are pushed out and slightly rounded. The tongue is midway. A short
voiced sound is made.

Example: book, woman, full, crook

3. ae
In production of ‘ae’, the tongue is relaxed, flat, and low behind the upper teeth. The bottom jaw
drops and the sound is voiced (low position).

Example: as, add, fat, dad

 Vowel Sounds Contd..

4. uh
In production of ‘uh’, the mouth is opened slightly and the tongue is relaxed. The sound is voiced.

Example: us, stuck, ton, mother

5. uh (Schwa)
In production of ‘uh’, the lips are relaxed and open slightly, and the tongue is in mid-position. The
sound is then voiced.

Example: demon, moment, occur, above

6. eh
In production of ‘eh’, the relaxed tongue is in the middle of the mouth. The jaw and face are also
relaxed. Open the mouth and drop the lower jaw slightly making a voiced sound (mid-position)

Example: set, energy, bet, men

 Vowel Sounds Contd..

7. ee
In production of ‘ee’, the tongue is high, leaving only a tiny space with the mouth
almost shut. The teeth are close together with a tense chin and mouth. The lips form a
smile and the sound is voiced.
Example: eat, week, even, east
8. oo
In production of ‘oo’, the lips are rounded with the tongue midway in the mouth.
Example: unit, true, group, through

9. oh
In production of ‘oh’, the lips are rounded and the tongue is placed low in the mouth.
The tongue is raised toward the roof of the mouth and a voiced ‘oh’ sound is made.
Example: old, show, cold, dough
 Vowel Sounds Contd..

10. aa
In production of ‘aa’, the tongue is low in the mouth. Open jaw wide and make a voiced sound.

Example: art, March, restart, pass, large

11. ay
In production of ‘ay’, the tongue is tense and in a middle position with the lips slightly parted in a tiny
smile. The tongue tip touches the front bottom teeth.

Example: ate, say, paper, holiday

12. I
In production of ‘I’, the tongue is low in the mouth, and then slightly touches the bottom front teeth
with the tip. Lower the jaw and open lips wide. Raise jaw and make a voiced sound.

Example: eye, reply, sky, island

 Vowel Sounds Contd..

13. ow
In production of ‘ow’, the tongue is low and against the bottom teeth. The mouth is wide open,
and then closed, making a puckered shape. A voiced sound is then made.
Example: out, cow, announce, allow

14. aw
In production of ‘aw’, the tongue is tense and low away from the mouth. The lips are tense. The
bottom jaw drops as a voiced sound is made.
Example: August, law, automatic, awful

15. ie
In production of ‘ie’, the tongue is high leaving only a tiny space with the mouth almost shut. The
teeth are close together with a tense chin and mouth. The lips form a smile and the sound is
voiced. The lips are then relaxed and open slightly and tongue is in mid-position.
Example: beer, hear, clear, dear