Student Folder Foundation Course

SONUS
PERFECTING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION
FOUNDATIONS
OF ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION
STUDENT BOOKLET
SONUS
THE PLEDGE /ðə pleʤ/
Student:
Hello, my name is [….] and I /hə'lɔʊ, maɪ neɪm ɪz [….] ænd aɪ
would like to learn to speak wʊd laɪk tʊ lərn tʊ spi:k
better English. 'betər ('bedər) 'ɪŋglɪʃ/
Teacher:
Hello […], thank you for wishing to /hə'lɔʊ […], θæŋk ju: fɔr 'wɪʃɪŋ tʊ
learn. Are you ready to spend time lərn. ɑr ju: 'redɪ tʊ spend taɪm
and energy on practice? ænd 'enərʤɪ ɑn 'præktɪs?/
Student:
Yes, I will organize my schedule /jes, aɪ wɪl 'ɔrgənaɪz maɪ 'skeʤʊl
every day to make time for 'evrɪ deɪ tʊ meɪk taɪm fɔr
practice using both the Student 'præktɪs 'ju:zɪŋ bɔʊθ ðə 'stu:dənt
Folder and the downloaded 'fɔʊldər ænd ðə 'daʊnlɔʊdɪd
audio file package. I promise to 'ɑ:dɪɔʊ faɪl 'pækɪʤ. aɪ 'prɑmɪs tʊ
work diligently throughout the wərk 'dɪlɪʤəntlɪ θrʊ'aʊt ðə
course, no excuses. I also kɔrs, nɔʊ ɪks'kju:sɪz. aɪ 'ɑlsɔʊ
understand that I need to ʌndərs'tænd ðæt aɪ ni:d tʊ
attend every class if I want to ə'tend 'evrɪ klæs ɪf aɪ wɑnt tʊ
reach my goals. ri:ʧ maɪ gɔʊlz/
Teacher:
I will do my best to support you /aɪ wɪl du: maɪ best tʊ sə'pɔrt ju:
in your journey and I’m sure ɪn jɔr 'ʤərnɪ ænd aɪm ʃʊr
your fellow students will also jɔr 'felɔʊ 'stu:dənts wɪl 'ɑlsɔʊ
help you a great deal. help ju: ə greɪt di:l/
Student:
Thank you. I’m ready to face the /θæŋk ju: aɪm 'redɪ tʊ feɪs ðə
challenges and with your and the 'ʧælənʤɪz ænd wɪð jɔr ænd ðə
group’s support, I will speak much grʊps sə'pɔrt, aɪ wɪl spi:k mʌʧ
better English. 'betər ('bedər) 'ɪŋglɪʃ/
SONUS - INTENSIVE ENGLISH ARTICULATION PROGRAMS

SONUS THE PHONEMIC CHART
OF AMERICAN ENGLISH
VOWELS
i: u: e
e
: a a
1
SONUS
4
SONUS
UNIT ONE
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS
SIMPLE VOWEL SOUNDS - SHORT
Short vowel sounds:
/e/ /ӕ/ /ʌ/ /ɑ/

bet bat but bot
hat hut hot
net Nat nut not
cat cut cot
red rad Rudd rod
den Dan done don
pen pan pun
said sad sod
get gut got
hell hull hall
ma'am mum mom
cap cup cop
sack suck sock
ram rum ROM
met mat mutt
men man
dead dad
The schwa /ə/:

/ə/ /ɑ/ /ɔ/
hurt heart
word ward
bird bard bored
work walk /ɑ:/
shirt short
5
UNIT ONE
SONUS
PRACTICE SENTENCES
SIMPLE VOWEL SOUNDS - SHORT
Practice the /ɑ/, /ʌ/, /ɔ/, /ə/, /e/ and /ӕ/ sounds:
I want to walk to work.

ɑ ɑ: ə
My heart hurts.
SO
ɑ ə
This is a bad bed, bud.

ӕ e ʌ
Put that hot hat in the hut.

NU
ɑ ӕ ʌ
Park the car but not too far from the bar.
ɑ ɑ ɑ ɑ ɑ ɑ
S
The girls are all wearing long shirts and short skirts.
ə ə ɑ ɑ ɑ ə ɔ ə
6
SONUS UNIT ONE
PERFECTING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION THE COMPLETE CIRCLE OF SIMPLE VOWEL SOUNDS
WIDE LIPS ROUNDED
CLOSED CLOSED
i: u:
J J
A e A
W W
:
OPEN OPEN
WIDE LIPS ROUNDED
7
SONUS UNIT ONE
PERFECTING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION LIP POSITIONS
SIMPLE VOWELS
i: ɪ ʊ u:
e ə ɔ
ӕ ʌ ɑ ɑ:
8
SONUS
UNIT TWO
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS AND TONGUE TWISTERS
LONG VS. SHORT VOWEL SOUNDS
Long vowels vs. short vowels:
/i:/ L leave reach green eat peek week sheep feet beat
/ɪ/ SH live rich grin it pick wick ship fit bit
/i:/ L beach seat cheap seek least each feel sleep steal
/ɪ/ SH bitch sit chip sick list itch fill slip still
/ɑ:/ L caught bought nought walk

/ɑ/ SH cot bot not wok
/u:/ L pool fool Luke two

/ʊ/ SH pull full look to
I wish to reach my dream: get rich,

leave the city and live by the beach.
Tim’s team didn’t pitch well, so the other team could easily hit
and beat them.
As he leaped to escape the heat he hit his lips.
Fill this sheet: list at least three feelings.
I’m sick of seeking peaches at the pitch.

Pick a peach, peel it and eat it.
Bart bought the fish that Tom caught in a cot.
Luke pulled two full pools to the fool.
Exercise: Draw the symbols of the vowel sounds of the bold and the underlined letters.
9
SONUS
UNIT THREE
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS
GLIDING VOWEL SOUNDS
The /eɪ/ sound:

Remember: jaw and tongue move up on the /ɪ/ sound.
/eɪ/ bait pain mate main laid Dade I make age date
/e/ bet pen met men led dead edge debt
/ӕ/ bat pan mat man lad dad iMac
/eɪ/ hate plane late taste waste based take bake wait
/e/ let test west best wet
/ӕ/ hat plan tack back
The /aɪ/ sound:

Remember: jaw and tongue move up on the /ɪ/ sound.
/aɪ/ mime rhyme bite fine side pine dime time flight
/ʌ/ Mum rum but fun pun dumb
/ɑ/ Mom ROM bot sod Tom
/ӕ/ ma’am ram bat fan sad pan dam flat
The /ɔʊ/ sound:

Remember: jaw moves up and lips rounded at front on the /ʊ/ sound.
/ɔʊ/ boat note coat goat robe cope soak cold
/ʌ/ but nut cut gut rub cup suck culled
/ɑ/ bot not cot got rob cop sock called
/ɑ:/ bought nought caught
/ɔʊ/ woke hole smoke stole pole bowl hope road/

rode
/ʌ/ hull
/ɑ/ wok hall smock stall Paul ball hop rod
/ɑ:/ walk
bold: short sound

underlined: long sound and /ӕ/
bold and underlined: gliding sound
10
SONUS
UNIT THREE
TONGUE TWISTERS
GLIDING VOWEL SOUNDS
I bought a boat but it had a hole in the hull.
Paul hit the goat in the gut with a pole.
The road was flooded so my socks were soaked.
I hope you’re not going to hop around in that robe.
We’ll dine when we’re done.
You can’t take back the hat they sell at sales.
Congrats on your great grades, now you’re ready

to be a grad at your dad’s main factory, but don’t
make any mistakes!
I plan to take a plane because the tram is late and

the train is plain dreadful.
bold: short sound

underlined: long sound and /ӕ/
bold and underlined: gliding sound
Exercise: Draw the symbols of the vowel sounds of the bold and the underlined letters.
11
SONUS UNIT THREE
PERFECTING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION SPELLING RULES I
VOWEL SOUNDS
/ɪ/ /i:/
- “I” + consonant (NO + E!) – dish, bill, pitch – “EE” (always!) – speed, sweet, meeting, feel, tree
- consonant + “Y” (end of word, if > 1 syllable) – – “EA” – peach, team, meat
happy, angry, thirsty, easy, pretty (slightly longer)
– “E” – refund, medium, serious, immediately (if “E” is
- “-AGE” (if > 1 syllable) – village, message stressed)
- “-ED” (if verb ends in “t/d”) – started, wanted,
– "E" + consonant + "E": Pete, mere, these, here
decided, interested
– Irregular: people, magazine, key, niece, receipt, ski
- Irregular: pretty, women, busy, build
/ʊ/ /u:/
- “OO” – cook, book, look, good – “OO” – pool, food, fool, mood
- Irregular – full, pull, butcher, would, could, should, – “-EW/-EU” – few /fju:/, threw, grew, interview, neuron
woman
– “U” +consonant +“E” – mule, amuse, mute ("U" in this
case is usually pronounced as /ju:/: /mju:l/, /mju:t/
– “UE” – blue, sue, value /velju:/
– Irregular: suit, juice, shoe, move, soup, music /mju:zɪk/,
through
12
SONUS UNIT THREE
SPELLING RULES II
VOWEL SOUNDS
/ɑ/ /ɑ:/
- “A” + R (NO +E!) – car, garden, charge, start – “OUGHt/AUGHt” – bought, thought, caught, taught
- “A” + L (NO +E!) – call, bald, stall – “AW” and “AU” – raw, paw, law, draw, aunt, audio,
audience
- “O” + consonant (NO +E!) – hot, pot, off, on
– Irregular: talk /tɑ:k/, walk /wɑ:k/
- Irregular: want, watch
/ӕ/
- “A” + consonant (NO +E!) – cat, fantastic, fan,
crash, cast, path, glass
- Irregular: have
/e/ /eɪ/
- “E” + consonant (NO +E!) – text, lend, spend - “A” + consonant (NO R!) + ”E” – save , gate , take
- “A” + RE – care , fare , dare - “AI” (NO +R!) – rail, plain, main, pain
- “AI” + R - fair, hair, pair , air - “AY/EY” – say, way, whey, they, grey
- “EA” – already, healthy, instead, read (past), bread, - “EIGH/AIGH” – straight, eight, weight
dead
- Irregular: break, steak, great
- Irregular: friend, many, said, says, their
13
SONUS UNIT THREE
SPELLING RULES III
VOWEL SOUNDS
/ʌ/ /aɪ/ /aʊ/

- “U” +consonant (NO "R" and NO +E!) - “I” + consonant + ”E” – fine, bike, - “OU” – hour, lounge, proud, ground
nut, bun, but mime
- Irregular: down, town
- Irregular: money, some, come, - “Y” – shy, cycle, style
blood, son, enough, tough, done
- “IGH” – flight, might, frightened
- Irregular: buy, eyes, height, sign
/ɔ/ /ɔɪ/ /ɔʊ/

- “O” + R – shore, tore, fore, fort, torn - “OI/OY” (NO +R!) – boil, coin, enjoy, - “O” + consonant (NO +R!) + ”E” –
employ rope, broke, stone
- Irregular: door, floor
- “OA” – roast, coach, boat
- “-OW/OWE” (end of word) – low,
tow, bow, owe
- Irregular: although, shoulders
14
SONUS UNIT THREE
PERFECTING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION PRONUNCIATION RULES FOR SOME VOWEL LETTERS
“o“ “a“ “ ai “ “ ea “ “i” “u“

+RE / R+consonant +consonant (no+E) +consonant (no+E) +consonant (no+ E)
/ɔ/ /ӕ/ /i:/ /ɪ/ /ʌ/

tore, shore, port, lord
fan, crash, cast, cat meat, team, peach dish, bill, pitch nut, bun, but
+consonant+E +consonant
/eɪ/ /eɪ/ /eɪ/
save, gate, take rail, plain, main break, steak, great
+consonant (no+E) +R/L (no+E) +consonant+E
/ɑ/ /ɑ/ /aɪ/
hot, pot, off, on car, garden, charge fine, bike, mime
call, bald, stall
+ R (end of word) + RE +R + R (+ consonant) + R (+ consonant)
/ə/ /e/ /e/ /e/ /ə/ /ə/
labor, neighbor, color care, fare, dare fair, hair, pair, air ready, healthy, head sir, girl, bird, firm fur, hurt, burn, curry
+consonant+E +consonant+E
/ɔʊ/ /(j)u:/
rope, broke, stone mule, amuse, pure
15
SONUS
UNIT THREE
AMERICAN VS BRITISH PRONUNCIATION
VOWEL SOUNDS
AMERICAN ENGLISH
i: ɪ ʊ u: eɪ
feet fit pull pool bay
e ə ɔ ɔɪ ɔʊ
men about short boy no
ӕ ʌ ɑ ɑ: aɪ aʊ
bat but not bought buy now
BRITISH ENGLISH
i: ɪ ʊ u: ɪə eɪ
feet fit pull pool here bay
e ə ɜ: ɔ: ʊə ɔɪ əʊ
men about word short tour boy no
ӕ ʌ ɑ: ɒ eə aɪ aʊ
bat but part not wear buy now
GREEN: same sounds used by both American and British English
BLUE: used in both American and in British English but slightly differently
RED: used only in British English
16
SONUS
UNIT FOUR
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS
THE / s / ʃ / z / tʃ / dʒ / SOUNDS
s ʃ z tʃ dʒ
what’s wash was watch
seat sheet cheat
sip ship zip chip
sore sure / shore chore
sane Shane Zane chain Jane
sin shin chin gin
sue shoe zoo chew Jew
mass mash match Madge
lass lash latch ledge /e/
hats hash has hatch hedge /e/
sake shake Jake
sell shell gel
so show Cho Joe
ass ash as etch /e/ edge /e/
seep sheep cheap Jeep
cats cash catch cage /eɪ/
sherry cherry Jerry

/s/ and /z/ - tongue flat /s/ and /ʃ/ and /tʃ/ - no vibration
/ʃ/ and /tʃ/and /dʒ/ - tongue curled /z/ and /dʒ/ - vibration
17
SONUS UNIT FOUR
TONGUE TWISTERS
THE / s / ʃ / tʃ / z / dʒ / ʒ / SOUNDS
She took selfies with selfish shellfish.
What’s that she was washing as you were watching?
Sane Shane and insane Jane had the

same chain so they didn’t change.
Jerry drank sherry with cherry juice.
For God’s sake Jake, stop shaking!
She left her shoe in the zoo.
I know it’s a sin but I spilled the gin onto my chin.
Madge watched the match eating sausages and mash.
They sell gel in shells.
He has a little hatch on his hats.
I’m sure you’re sore from doing all those chores.
Charlie sips champagne while Susan washes sheets.
Sally chops up chips and cheese to sauté with some fish.
Shelly says she’ll see you soon.
Say this sharply, say this sweetly, say this shortly,

say this softly, say this sixteen times in succession.
Silver slivers shimmer in the sunshine.

This is the best house in this city because
it has a fantastic sound system.
Exercise: Draw the symbols of the sounds (/s/ʃ/z/tʃ/dȝ/ȝ/) of the underlined letters.
18
SONUS UNIT FOUR
PERFECTING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION SPELLING RULES I
/s/ /z/
• “S” at the beginning of words – step, son, sign • “Z” – zoo, zebra, lazy
• “S” before an unvoiced consonant – asphalt, • “S” before a voiced consonant /v, b, d, g,
mister, taste l, r, m, n/ if “s” is not the first sound) – Asda,
Osbourne, pessimism
• “-S” after an unvoiced consonant (/f/p/t/k/θ/
h/) – likes, pops, cuffs, cats, Smith's • “-S” after a voiced consonant (v, b, d, δ, g, l, r,
• “SS” (no +ION!) – miss, boss, missile, possible m, n, ŋ) – loves, cabs, beds, bells, nuns, eggs,
breathes, mums, sings, hears
• “CE” / “CI” / “CY” – nice, city, twice, Lucy
• “SCI” and “SCE” – scene, science • “-S” after vowels at the end of words – babies,
ladies
• “-OUS” (at the end of words) – famous,
dangerous • “-SE” (at the end of words, usually verbs) –
phase, rose, lose, rise
• “X” (pronounced as /ks/) at the end of words,
before an unvoiced consonant, and before an • “X” (pronounced as /gz/) before a stressed
unstressed vowel – fix, mix, Oxf ord, next , ext ra, vowel - exa m, exa ct, exi st
exit, taxi, flexible
• Irregular: promise, course, worse, house • Irregular: dessert, busy, result, resident, resign
19
SONUS UNIT FOUR
SPELLING RULES II
/ʃ/ /ʒ/
• “SH” – shower, short, wash, selfish (ALWAYS!) • “SI” + ON (after vowel or R) – televi sion,
deci sion, revi sion, version (almost always)
• “SS” +ION – mission, commission
• “TI” + ON / OUS / vowel – nation, ration, • “SU” + RE (after vowel if unstressed) – treasure,
ambitious, spatial (almost always) pleasure, leisure
• “CI” + OUS / AL / ABLE – precious, special , • “SU” + A (after vowel) – casual, visual, usual
spacious, sociable
• Irregular (usually at end of French "import"
• Irregular – sugar, sure, chef, moustache, words: garage/gə’rɑ:ʒ/, massage/mə’sɑ:ʒ/
machine, Chicago /ʃɪkɑ:gɔʊ/ luxury /’lʌgʒərɪ/
/tʃ/ /dʒ/
• “J” – jump, jeans, just (always)
• “TCH” (always) – match, pitch, kitchen, catch
• “CH” – change, cheat, chess, teach, touch • “G”or “GG” + E / I / Y – generous, manager,
magic, gym, suggest
• “TU” + RE – culture, furniture, picture
• “DGE” – edge, fridge, judge
• “TU” + vowel (except for "I") – situation, statue
• "-DU" (after vowel): education, schedule,
• Irregular – question /kwestʃən/, congratulate graduation, procedure, individual
20
SONUS
UNIT FIVE
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS
VOICED VS. UNVOICED CONSONANTS
VOICED switch in throat: ON b v d ð dʒ z ʒ g

UNVOICED switch in throat: OFF p f t θ tʃ s ʃ k
Remember:
1. voiced: with vibration -> less air power 2. Throat switch ON: vibration
unvoiced: no vibration -> more air power Throat switch OFF: no vibration
3. “-s” / “-es” edings in plural nouns 4. “-d” / “-ed” endings of the past tense in
and 3rd person verbs: regular verbs:
after a vowel -> /z/ after a vowel or /v/b/ð/dʒ/z/ʒ/g/ -> /d/
after /v/b/d/g/ð/m/n/ŋ/l/r/ -> /z/
after /f/p/tʃ/s/ʃ/k/ -> /t/
after /f/p/t/θ/ k/ -> /s/
/v/ have van vary view vast serve leave save

/f/ half fan fairy few fast surf leaf safe
/b/ bit bat beach bump bath cab robe

/p/ pit pat peach pump path cap rope
/d/ dip down dry drip side stayed said bed

/t/ tip town try trip cite state set bet
/g/ bug sag bag tug Doug tag grow gut

/k/ buck sack back tuck duck tack crow cut
/z/ prize plays eyes rise knees raise phase lose

/s/ price place ice rice niece race face loose
/dʒ/ age gin Jew badge joke Jane jazz Jerry

/tʃ/ ‘H’ chin chew batch choke chain Chazz cherry
(letter)
/ð/ teethe /i:/ bathe /eɪ/ breathe /i:/

/θ/ teeth /i:/ bath /ӕ/ breath /e/
21
SONUS
UNIT SIX
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS I
FRICATIVE VS. PLOSIVE CONSONANTS
Fricatives you CAN say them looong f v θ ð ʃ ʒ s z

Stops (plosives) you CANNOT say them long p b t d tʃ dʒ k g
Remember:
1. Stop (plosive) sounds: Let the air out quite strongly at the beginning of words.
2. The /f/ sound can be spelled “gh” at the end of words, e.g. “enough” or “rough”,
but not always, e.g. “through” /θru:/
3. The “ph” spelling is always pronounced /f/.
4. /f/= lower lip + upper teeth -> BITE your lip! Put finger on upper lip if necessary.
5. G + O/U/A/consonant/end of word = /g/, e.g. go, gate, gun /gʌn/, glad, egg
6. G + E/I/Y = /dʒ/, e.g. “gin” /dʒɪn/, “gem” /dʒem/, “gym” /dʒɪm/
/f/ Jeff rough calf /kӕf/

/b/ jab /ӕ/ rub cab
/f/ off /ɑ/ feel Frank full cough fill gulf fan
/p/ up /ʌ/ peel prank pull cop pill gulp pan
/v/ rove curve marvel van serve /v/ strive

/b/ robe curb marble ban Serb /p/ stripe
/s/ bus miss /ɪ/ yes base ace cuss guess

/t/ but meet /i:/ yet bait eight cut get
/k/ buck meek /i:/ - bake ache - -
/s/ hiss puss sis works /z/ fees is

/t/ hit put sit worked /t/ feet it
/k/ hick puck /ʌ/ sick work - - -
22
SONUS
UNIT SIX
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS II
/z/ buzz has says plays knees as

/d/ bud had said played need add
/g/ bug hag - plague - -
/ʒ/ Asian Persian /pərʒən/ pleasure leisure /leʒər/ lesion /li:ʒən/
/dʒ/ agin’ purgin’ pledger ledger legion
/ʃ/ wash shore sheep
/tʃ/ watch chore cheap
REMEMBER with the /θ/ and the /ð/ sounds:
1. Push tongue up and forward to touch upper teeth.
2. Tongue curls from down up, not from up down. (Don't touch tongue to roof!)
3. Press tip of tongue against teeth only softly to let the air escape.
4. Put two fingers horizontally on upper and lower lips to disable them, if necessary.
/ð/ though this leather another there those they breathe
/d/ dough diss ladder an udder dare dose day breed
/θ/ three theme thin thank both death fourth faith
debt
/t/ tree team tin tank boat fort fate
/det/
23
SONUS
UNIT SIX
TONGUE TWISTERS
The golf clubs are safe for the flight

if they are the right shape.
They pulled four pranks on poor Frank.
It’s enough if you bring it up.
Jeff got a jab in the calf in the cab.
Yes, I miss her but no, I cannot meet her yet.
It hardly worked but I put a puck on it
and now it is perfect.
Bud said he had played with a bug.
You need to add a bit of buzz to this party.
They bought both boats that day.
Thankfully, the thinkers are seeing
to the problem themselves.
Thirteen thin and thoughtless men were seeking
some thistles /θɪslz/ in the field.
His faith sealed his fate.
Thanks for the thin tin tanks.
The three trees were the border
while the fourth was the fort.
Do they dare stay there?
24
SONUS
UNIT SEVEN
PRACTICE PROGRESSIONS / MINIMAL PAIRS
THE /L/ SOUND
From first to final position /L/:

low -> pillow -> pill
low -> follow –> fall
Ling -> willing -> will
From medial to final position /L/:
Billy -> bill

sailor -> sail/sale)
grilling -> grill
million -> mill
dollar -> doll
people like -> people
little light -> little
single life -> single
finally -> final
table leg -> table
/L/ ill kill fill thrill chill Jill nil still grill
/u:/
ewe /ju:/ cue few threw chew Jew new stew grew
/ju:/
1. Curl tongue and press it up to touch the "roof" of mouth.

2. NO round lips, NOT /u:/! SMILE! Tongue makes the sound, not lips.
3. Disable lips with fingers if necessary.
25
SONUS
UNIT EIGHT
PRACTICE PROGRESSIONS / MINIMAL PAIRS
THE /R/ SOUND
First position /R/:

row, wrong, write, ring, rest, raw
Second position /R/:
raw –> draw, right –> bright, rest –> crest, row –> throw,
ring –> bring, row –> grow, route –> fruit, rock –> frock, rust –> trust,
rubble –> trouble, ray -> tray, rash -> trash, rack -> track, red ->
tread, room -> broom
Penultimate position /R/:

her -> hurt, score -> scored, beer -> beers, car -> Carl,
boar -> board
Final position /R/:
scoring –> score, teacher-room -> teacher
rink -> herrrink -> her ink, rice -> herrrrrice -> her ice,
reel -> herrrrreel -> her eel, rose -> herrrrrrO’s –> her O’s
Multiple position /R/:
write -> writer
rare -> rarer
/R/ brawl Carl heart Bart /ɑ/ brought part

- ball call hot bought /ɑ:/ bought pot
/R/ tree dream broom drew brook
- tee deem boom do book
/R/ bright great drown broil
- bite gate down boil
/R/ pro /ɔʊ/ chores /ɔr/ boring /ɔr/ four /ɔr/
- Poe /ɔʊ/ chose /ɔʊ/ bowing /ɔʊ/ foe /ɔʊ/
/R/ crows tower bar car far
/L/ close towel ball call fall
1. Curl and push tongue back but DON'T touch the "roof" of mouth.
2. Remember: "rau" in Southern Vietnamese has the same /r/.
3. Close the jaw, especially after an /ɑ/ or /ɔ/ sound (e.g. "bar" or
"shore").
26
SONUS
UNIT SEVEN & EIGHT
TONGUE TWISTERS
THE /L/ SOUND & THE /R/ SOUND
The /L/ sound:
Jill is ill and she is full of pills.
Chill and stand still for a little while.
Little people kill few ewes.
Thrill the final table with a cool grill.
I will settle for the middle table,

as I feel a little less awful there.
Simple people always battle for title and

they will cause trouble for all.
The /R/ sound:
Around the ragged rock the ragged rascal ran.
Hers is a true horror story.

Turn right then run straight towards the purple river.
Rolling on the roaring river the rowing raft rolled over.

I require four rather rare parts for her car.
27
SONUS
UNIT NINE
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS
FINAL CONSONANTS
/t/ /d/ /k/ /v/ /θ/ /s/ /n/ /z/ /m/ /l/
/feɪ…/
faTE faDE faKE faVE faiTH faCE feiGN phaSE faME faiL
/t/ /nd/ /r/ /v/ /l/ /n/

/faɪ…/
fighT fiND fiRE fiVE fiLE fiNE
HO- RO- LA- LI- MA- MI- TA- TI- W(H)A- W(H)I-
hole robe lakes liar mail mile tale tile whale while
home rope lane likes male mine tail tire wakes wire
hope role laid live makes might taze tide wave wine
hose rove lays line main mime Tate ties wade wide
hoax rode late lied maze Mike tame tight ways wise
hone road lame lies mate mice take time wait white
rote lake light maim tape type wake wife
Rome lace life make takes wipe
roam lime mace
rose like made
lice maid
28
SONUS
UNIT NINE
TONGUE TWISTERS
FINAL CONSONANTS
Soldiers: I find five, in a file and looking

fine as fire, ready to fight for Fife.
It’s a fair fate: Fame is only a phase,

if your faith is fake, you will fade and fail
as the fave face.
Nine nice knights knifed the Nile

at night with knives.
Why is it wise to wipe your wide wife

while she is drinking white wine?
29
SONUS
UNIT NINE
WORD ENDINGS WITH EXTRA SYLLABLE
FINAL CONSONANTS
1. Regular verbs ending in /t/ or /d/ sound

+
"-d" or "-ed" (past simple) = /word + ɪd/ (extra syllable)
Examples:
"want" /wɑnt/ "wanted" /wɑntɪd/
"wait" /weɪt/ "waited" /weɪtɪd/
"demand" /dɪmænd/ "demanded" /dɪmændɪd/
"need" /ni:d/ "needed" /ni:dɪd/
2. Verbs and nouns ending in /s/ʃ/z/tʃ/dȝ/ȝ/ sounds

+
"-s" or "-es" = /word + ɪz/ (extra syllable)
Examples:
"miss" /mɪs/ "misses" /mɪsɪz/
"push" /pʊʃ/ "pushes" /pʊʃɪz/
"rise" /raɪz/ "rises" /raɪzɪz/
"watch" /wɑtʃ/ "watches" /wɑtʃɪz/
"orange" /ɑrɪndȝ/ "oranges" /ɑrɪndȝɪz/
"massage" /məsɑ:ȝ/ "massages" /məsɑ:ȝɪz/
This teacher teaches her classes very well: she never

misses a class, she encourages her students and
pushes them to work hard.
First I was excited then the more I waited the more

frustrated I became.
He needed the exercises so he completed them

although he hated them when he started.
30
SONUS
UNIT TEN
MINIMAL PAIR WORDS
CONSONANT CLUSTERS
The /n/ sound
/ӕn/ land hand sand band

/ӕ/ lad had sad bad
/aʊn/ round bound down /ɔʊn/ owned

/aʊ/ rowed bowed Dow /ɔʊ/ owed
/en/ friend bend bent

/e/ Fred bed bet
/ɑn/ blond pond
/ɑ/ blood pod
Combinations of the consonants /s/, /k/ and /t/

S K K-S S-K S-K-S S-K-T K-S-T K-S-I-Z
ass axe ask asks asked axed axes
mass Mac max mask masks masked maxed maxes
tack tax task tasks tasked taxed taxes
deck decks desk desks
duck ducks dusk dusks dusked
Rick Rick’s risk risks risked
sis sick six 6’s
lacks
laxed laxes
lass lack lax
relaxed relaxes
relax
neck necks next
31
SONUS
UNIT TEN
WORD BUILDING
CONSONANT CLUSTERS
Word building with t/r/tr/st/str/cr/dr/pr/spr/cl:
tree treaT StreeT StreeTS
lip Clip ClippED
rye riPE TriPE STriPE STriPES
tick Stick StickS
ray Tray STray
tack Stack StackS
rip Trip STrip STripS STrippED
rap Trap STrap STrapS
ash Rash CRash CRashED
eight / ate Rate TRait STRaight STRaitS
itch Witch SWitch SWitchED
awe /ɑ:/ Raw DRaw DRawS
ray Pray SPray SPrayED
32
SONUS
UNIT TEN
TONGUE TWISTERS
CONSONANT CLUSTERS
Max, in a mask, asks for an axe.
Ducks usually duck at dusk.
On the trip she tripped and ripped the strip.
Nice trees are a treat on any street.
Don’t expect a pact, your neck is next.
After she crashed, the witch switched the itch to a rash.
This lad owned a lot of land around the pond but owed
money to the bank and had to pay it back.
The task is to relax taxes.
Lunch was ripe rye with stripes of tripe.
33

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SONUS

PERFECTING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION

SONUS - INTENSIVE ENGLISH ARTICULATION PROGRAMS

Short vowel sounds:

/e/ /ӕ/ /ʌ/ /ɑ/

The schwa /ə/:

I want to walk to work.

This is a bad bed, bud.

Put that hot hat in the hut.

WIDE LIPS ROUNDED

WIDE LIPS ROUNDED

Long vowels vs. short vowels:

/ɪ/ SH live rich grin it pick wick ship fit bit

/ɑ:/ L caught bought nought walk

/u:/ L pool fool Luke two

I wish to reach my dream: get rich,

As he leaped to escape the heat he hit his lips.

Fill this sheet: list at least three feelings.

I’m sick of seeking peaches at the pitch.

The /eɪ/ sound:

The /aɪ/ sound:

The /ɔʊ/ sound:

/ɔʊ/ woke hole smoke stole pole bowl hope road/

bold: short sound

I bought a boat but it had a hole in the hull.

Paul hit the goat in the gut with a pole.

The road was flooded so my socks were soaked.

I hope you’re not going to hop around in that robe.

We’ll dine when we’re done.

You can’t take back the hat they sell at sales.

Congrats on your great grades, now you’re ready

I plan to take a plane because the tram is late and

bold: short sound

/ʌ/ /aɪ/ /aʊ/

/ɔ/ /ɔɪ/ /ɔʊ/

“o“ “a“ “ ai “ “ ea “ “i” “u“

/ɔ/ /ӕ/ /i:/ /ɪ/ /ʌ/

GREEN: same sounds used by both American and British English

RED: used only in British English

seat sheet cheat

sip ship zip chip

sore sure / shore chore

sane Shane Zane chain Jane

sin shin chin gin

sue shoe zoo chew Jew

mass mash match Madge

lass lash latch ledge /e/

hats hash has hatch hedge /e/

sake shake Jake

sell shell gel

so show Cho Joe

ass ash as etch /e/ edge /e/

seep sheep cheap Jeep

cats cash catch cage /eɪ/

sherry cherry Jerry

She took selfies with selfish shellfish.

What’s that she was washing as you were watching?

Sane Shane and insane Jane had the

Jerry drank sherry with cherry juice.

For God’s sake Jake, stop shaking!

She left her shoe in the zoo.

I know it’s a sin but I spilled the gin onto my chin.

Madge watched the match eating sausages and mash.

They sell gel in shells.