Vowel drills

[i]

Definition. [i] is front-retracted, close (broad variant), unrounded, short.

Articulation. The tongue is in the front part of the mouth but slightly retracted. The part of the tongue nearer to centre than to front is raised to a half-close position. The side rims of the tongue make a light contact with the upper teeth. The tongue is lax. The lips are loosely spread. The mouth is slightly in.

This vowel may occur in all positions in the word, eg interval, minute, city, bit, bid, singing.

Allophones. The vowel [i] is longer in the open syllable when it is free. It is shorter in the closed syllable with a weak voiced consonant at the end. It is checked and much shorter in the stressed closed syllable ending in a strong voiceless consonant, cf river – pig – sit.

In unstressed syllables it is increasingly common to use [ə ] instead of [i] in such endings as - ity, - itive when another syllable with the vowel [i] follows, eg reality, positive.

In certain words a variation between [i] and [ə ] is heard, eg possible, begin.

The vowel [i] is most likely replaced by [ə ] when there is no potential opposition. In such pairs as accept – except, effect – affect, dancers – dances there is a tendency to retain the vowel [i].

Recommendations. Take a mirror and check the position of the lips. The mouth should be only slightly open. The lips are spread but they should not cove the teeth. Keep the tip of the tongue against the lower teeth. To make the stressed vowel [i] checked it is advisable to cut it off by the following strong voiceless consonant.

Possible Mistakes. 1. Russian students of English can easily replace the English vowel [i] by the Russian [и]. In this case the tip of the tongue should be slightly retracted from the lower teeth. The front of the tongue should be lowered and the vowel must not be too ling.

2. If this vowel is replaced by the Russian [ы] the tongue must be slightly advanced. Move the tip of the

tongue closer to the lower teeth. The front, not the central part of the tongue, should be raised, but not so high as for the Russian vowel [и].

In both cases the tongue and the lips should be relaxed.

3. Sometimes the vowel [i] is not checked and short enough in closed stressed syllables ending in a voiceless consonant. This mistake is especially common in such syllables which would be open in Russian. For instance, the syllabic division of the word bitter in English is bit-ter, according to Russian pronunciation habits it would be bi-tter. To make the English [i] checked and short enough it is necessary to observe correct syllable division and cut the vowel off by the following consonant.

[i]

This is a silly film. (71)

The little inn is in this village. (72)

Six silly sisters sell silk to six sickly senior citizens. (73)

She sits in the pit having one of the cheapest seats. (74)

The owner of the Inside Inn was outside his Inside Inn,

with his inside outside his Inside Inn. (75)

It’s a pity that Miss Kitty

Doesn’t live in our city. (76)

[e]

Definition, [e] is front, mid (narrow vari­ant), unrounded, short.

Articulation. The tongue is in the front part of the mouth. The front of the tongue is raised to the hard pal­ate but not so high as for [i]. The side rims of the tongue make a light contact with the upper teeth. The tongue may be more tense than in the case of [i]. The lips are loosely spread. The mouth is slightly open but a bit more than for [I ]

This vowel may occur in various positions with the exception of the open syllables, e.g. many, head, left.

Possible Mistakes. 1. Russian students of English can easily replace the English vowel [e] by the Russian vowel [a]. In this case raise the front of the tongue higher and slightly advance it.

2. Sometimes the English [e] is not checked and short enough in stressed closed syllables ending in a strong voiceless conso­nant. This mistake is especially common in such syllables which would be open in Russian. For instance, the syllable division of the word better is bet-ter. According to Russian pronunciation habits it would be be-tter. To make the English [e] checked and short enough it is necessary to observe correct syllabic division and cut the vowel off by the following consonant.

[e]

Ted was in bed. Fred felt unwell. (77)

So the best breath stands the breath test best. (78)

Ted meant to spend the night in a tent. (79)

I am not a pheasant plucker,

I'm a pheasant plucker's son

But I'll be plucking pheasants

When the pheasant plucker's gone. (80)

[æ ]

Definition. [æ ] is front, open (broad variant), unrounded.

Articulation. The mouth is more open than for [e]. The tongue is in the front part of the mouth. The front of the tongue is rather low in the mouth. The side rims of the tongue make a very slight contact with the back upper teeth. The tongue is more tense than in the case of [e].

This vowel occurs only in closed syllables, eg Sam, lad, pack, ladder.

Possible Mistakes. Russian students of the English can easily replace the English vowel [æ ] by the Russian vowel [э ]. In this case the mouth should be opened wider, the front of the tongue should be kept as low as possible.

[æ ]

Handsome is as handsome does. (81)

Harry and pat are standing hand in hand. (82)

That fat man in the tram

Sat on my black hat.

He is a bad man

That’s a fact. (83)

I can’t can a can without a can; can you can a can without a can? (84)

Fancy Nancy didn’t fancy doing fancy work.

But Fancy Nancy’s fancy aunty did fancy

Fancy Nancy doing fancy work! (85)

How much caramel can a canny cannibal cram into a camel,
if a canny cannibal can cram caramel into a camel? (86)

If you, Andy, have two candies,

Give one candy to Sandy, Andy.

If you, Sandy, have two candies

Give one candy to Andy, Sandy. (87)

[a: ]

Definition. [a: ] is back, open (broad variant), unrounded, long.

Articulation. The mouth is open. The tongue is in the back part of the mouth. The back of the tongue is only slightly raised. No contact is made between the rims of the tongue and the upper teeth. The lips are neutral.

This vowel may occur in all positions in the word, eg arm, large, far, artistic.

Possible Mistakes. 1. Russian students of English can easily replace the English vowel [a: ] by the Russian vowel [a]. In this case the whole body of the tongue should be retracted. If the mouth is open and the back of the tongue is low enough you can easily see the soft palate in the mirror which is not possible in the case of the Russian vowel [a].

2. If the vowel [a: ] is not checked and short enough in stressed closed syllables with a strong voiceless consonant at the end it is advisable to cut it off by the following consonant.

[a: ]

Aunt Martha lives near Marble Arch, which isn’t far. (88)

After the party we started to argue. His father isn’t hard-hearted. (89)

I shan’t sing at the garden party,

At my aunt’s farm tomorrow afternoon. (90)

[Λ ]

Definition. [Λ ] is central, mid (broad variation), unrounded, short.

Articulation. The tongue is in the central part of the mouth. The front of the tongue is raisedto the backof the hard palate just above the fully open position. No contact is made between the tongue and the upper teeth. The tongue is lax. The jaws are considerable separated. The lips are neutrally open. The vowel is short.

Possible Mistakes. 1. If the English vowel [Λ ] is replaced by the Russian [a] the tongue must be slightly retracted and the central part of the tongue should be raised higher.

2. Sometimes the English [Λ ] is not checked and short enough in stressed closed syllables ending in a voiceless consonant. This mistake is especially common in such syllables which would be open in Russian. For instance, the syllable division of the word butter in English is but-ter. According to Russian pronunciation habits it would be bu-tter. To make the English [Λ ] checked and short enough it is necessary to observe correct syllable division and cut the vowel off by the following consonant.

[٨ ]

I like bread-and-butter with honey. (91)

Double bubble gum bubbles double! (92)

Mumbling bumblings. Bumbling mumblings. (93)

When your work’s done, come out in the sun and have some fun. (94)

Some love onions for lunch or supper,

but when one has stuffed oneself with onions,

one isn’t much loved, is one? (95)

Benny Butler bought bitter butter in a brass bell but broke it. (96)

A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk. (97)

Mrs. Puggy Wuggy

Mrs. Puggy Wuggy has a square cut punt
Not a punt cut square
Just a square cut punt
It's round in the stern and blunt in the front
Mrs. Puggy Wuggy has a square cut punt. (98)

[o]

Definition. [o] is back, open (broad variant), rounded, short.

Articulation. This vowel is articulated with the mouth wide open and slight open lip-rounding. The body of the tongue is even more retracted than in the case of the vowel [a: ]. The back of the tongue is only slightly raised. No contact is made between the rims of the tongue and the upper teeth.

It may occur only in closed syllables, eg opera, stock, lodge, impossible.

Possible Mistakes. 1. Russian students of English can easily replace the English [o] by the Russian [o]. In this case the tip of the tongue should be withdrawn from the lower teeth. The whole body of the tongue should be kept low in the back part of the mouth. The back of the tongue is only slightly raised.

2. Sometimes the English [o] is not checked and short enough in stressed closed syllables ending in a voiceless consonant. This mistake is especially common in such syllables which would be open in Russian. For instance the syllable division of the word potter in English is pot-ter. According to Russian pronunciation habits it would be po-tter. To make the English [o] checked and short enough it is necessary to observe correct syllable division and cut the vowel off by the following strong voiceless consonant.

[o]

A little pot is soon hot. (1)

John is strong. Olive is not. (2)

Tom’s got a lot of spots on his shirt. (3)

She stops at the shops where I shop,

and if she shops at the shops where I shop

I won’t stop at the shop where she shops! (4)