R-controlled vowels (continued)

1. How to pronounce the ‘ar sound' /ɑr/

The 'ar sound' /ɑr/ begins with the tongue in the position of a 'short o' /ɑ/ sound. The tip and center of
the tongue are set low, inside the bottom teeth. The top of the tongue is nearly even with the top of the
bottom teeth.

Common 'ar' /ɑr/ spellings

1. ar

a. arm /ɑrm/
b. start /stɑrt/
c. car /kɑr/

Practice pronouncing 'ar' /ɑr/

Beginning sound

are
arm
art
argue
architect
article (no pronunciation of the “e” at the end, /ˈɑːtɪkəl/ )
argument
arbitrary
artificial
Middle Sound

charge
dark
farm
guard (in this case, “u” is not exactly heard)
heart
alarm (the second “A” is a bit longer)
garden
market
partner
department

End Sound

bar
far
star
bizarre (“I” has to be heard “ee”)
guitar

2. How to pronounce the 'or sound' /ɔr/

The 'or sound' /ɔr/ begins with lips rounded. The tongue is pushed back and held middle-low in the
mouth, similar to the beginning of a 'long o' /oʊ/ sound. To transition to the /r/ portion of the sound,
the lips relax and the body of the tongue moves upward and forward. The mid-section of the tongue
raises so the sides of the tongue touch the middle teeth. The air travels over the body of the tongue to
create the /r/ portion of the sound. 

Common 'or' /ɔr/ spellings

1. or

a. corn /kɔrn/
b. north /nɔrθ/
c. short /ʃɔrt/

2. ore

a. more /mɔr/ (a little longer -ore)

b. store /stɔr/ (a little longer -ore)
c. before /bə 'fɔr/

3. oar

a. board /bɔrd/
b. roar /rɔr/
c. soar /sɔr/

4. (w+)ar
 a. warm /wɔrm/
b. warning /wɔrn ɪŋ/
c. award /ə 'wɔrd/

'or sound' non-phonetic words

Non-phonetic words are not pronounced according to their spelling. Their pronunciations
should be memorized.

1. four (all three are pronounced with the -ore sound)

2. floor
3. door

Practice pronouncing ‘or’ /ɔr/

Beginning sound

or/oar
orange
organic
organize
ordinary
orientation

Middle Sound
force
north
short
afford
corner
forest
normal (again, “a” is not exactly pronounced, so we stress the “l” more)
support
important
majority

End Sound

door
floor
more
score
store
before
explore
ignore
restore

3. How to pronounce 'air sound' /ɛr/

The 'air sound' /ɛr/ begins with the tongue rounded slightly upward in the middle of the
mouth. The sides of the tongue may lightly touch the bottom teeth during the formation of the
beginning of this sound.

To transition to the /r/ portion of the sound, the body of the tongue moves upward and
forward. The mid-section of the tongue raises so the sides of the tongue touch the mid-side
teeth. The air travels over the body of the tongue to create the /r/ portion of the sound.

Common 'air' /ɛr/ spellings

1. -air

a. chair /ʧɛr/
b. pair /pɛr/
c. stair /stɛr/

2. -are

a. dare /dɛr/
b. rare /rɛr/
c. scare /scɛr/

'air sound' non-phonetic words

Non-phonetic words are not pronounced according to their spelling. Their pronunciations
should be memorized.

1. there, their, they're = all three are the same!

2. where
3. stereo
4. terrible (again, “e” at the end isn’t pronounced – it’s softened by l)

Practice pronouncing 'air' /ɛr/

Beginning sound

air/heir (to the throne; when a king dies, he needs to have an “heir”, the prince)
airplane (AmE) / aeroplane (BrE spelling)
area

Middle Sound

berry/bury = pronounced the same!

careful
marry
parent
rarely
vary (v. to differ)
very
necessary (NE-cessar-y)
secretary
variable

End Sound

care
chair
scare
square
wear
aware
compare
prepare
EXTRA PRACTICE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNRzkwxRKBg&list=PL5x7fabAclyDfMO_zSB6mKLwzlm-
MpUko&index=99