Vowels and Speech MusicVowels and Speech Music

Vowels in weak or unstressed Vowels in weak or unstressed syllables are short and low in pitch syllables are short and low in pitch and often are the schwa /ə/.and often are the schwa /ə/.

/ə//ə/Suc cessSuc cess

How to say /ə/How to say /ə/

Let your whole face, lips, and tongue Let your whole face, lips, and tongue relax.relax.

Open your mouth just a little and let Open your mouth just a little and let your tongue rest gently behind your your tongue rest gently behind your lower teeth.lower teeth.

Say a quick “uh”. Say a quick “uh”. Make it lower in pitch and quieter Make it lower in pitch and quieter

than the stressed syllable.than the stressed syllable.UhUh

Partner Practice p. 101Partner Practice p. 101

PEN PEN Hap p/ə/nHap p/ə/nClear VowelsClear Vowels Reduced Reduced

Vowel Vowel /ə/ /ə/ ManMan WOmanWOman

Reducing Structure WordsReducing Structure Words

Structure WordsStructure WordsYourYour

Sentences w/ReductionsSentences w/Reductions /ə/ /ə/ What’s your favorite story?What’s your favorite story?Practice p. 102Practice p. 102Listening for reductions p. 103Listening for reductions p. 103

Your SceneYour Scene

Where are the reductions in your Where are the reductions in your scene?scene?

Look for structure words:Look for structure words:youryour ofofyouyou atatandand to, theto, theare, thanare, than from, tofrom, toanan oror

Can or Can’t?Can or Can’t?

Can’t is a negative and is stressed.Can’t is a negative and is stressed.

Practice p. 104-105.Practice p. 104-105.

Partner Practice p. 107Partner Practice p. 107

Partner PracticePartner Practice

P.107P.107

Do you have an idea? Do you have an idea? Yes, I think we should cash the Yes, I think we should cash the

check.check.

Do you have an I.D.?Do you have an I.D.?Yes, I have my driver’s license.Yes, I have my driver’s license.

Overview of American English Overview of American English VowelsVowels

1 2 3 4 5 61 2 3 4 5 6SEE IT SAY YES a FAT BIRDSEE IT SAY YES a FAT BIRD

7 8 9 10 7 8 9 10 at a BUS STOP TWO at a BUS STOP TWO

BOOKSBOOKS

More VowelsMore Vowels

11 12 13 14 1511 12 13 14 15SHOW the BOSS HI COWBOYSHOW the BOSS HI COWBOY

Long VowelsLong Vowels

Long vowels sound longer because Long vowels sound longer because the tongue glides from one place to the tongue glides from one place to another and then tightens as you say another and then tightens as you say them.them.

Long VowelsLong Vowels

ey CHANGE the DATE to the EIGHTH. 3ey CHANGE the DATE to the EIGHTH. 3 iy LEAVE the KEYS on the SEAT. 1iy LEAVE the KEYS on the SEAT. 1ay MIKE WOULD LIKE SOME RICE. 13ay MIKE WOULD LIKE SOME RICE. 13ow He TOLD me an OLD JOKE. 11ow He TOLD me an OLD JOKE. 11uw The NEW SHOES are HUGE. 9uw The NEW SHOES are HUGE. 9aw I FOUND the TOWN in an HOUR. aw I FOUND the TOWN in an HOUR.

1414ככy The BOY enJOYS his TOY. 15y The BOY enJOYS his TOY. 15

Long VowelsLong Vowels

For pronunciation tips see Appendix For pronunciation tips see Appendix B p. A-12-A-14B p. A-12-A-14

Scene WorkScene Work

Find any schwa sounds in your Find any schwa sounds in your dialog.dialog.

Practice saying the words with them.Practice saying the words with them.

Find any reductions from p. 102-103 Find any reductions from p. 102-103 in your dialog.in your dialog.

Practice saying them.Practice saying them.

Scene WorkScene Work

Find can or can’t.Find can or can’t.Practice saying them.Practice saying them.

Find all the long vowels in your Find all the long vowels in your dialog.dialog.

Practice saying the words that Practice saying the words that contain the long vowels.contain the long vowels.

Short VowelsShort Vowels

Short vowels do not have two parts.Short vowels do not have two parts.The tongue stays in one place and The tongue stays in one place and

does not glide.does not glide.

/I/ GIVE him a SIP of MILK./I/ GIVE him a SIP of MILK./ɛ/ The GUESTS LEFT at Seven./ɛ/ The GUESTS LEFT at Seven./æ/ I was MAD at the MAN in the /æ/ I was MAD at the MAN in the

CAB.CAB.

More Short VowelsMore Short Vowels

/əʳ/ SIR, can you LEARN the WORK?/əʳ/ SIR, can you LEARN the WORK?

/ʌ/ Can you COME for LUNCH on SUnday?/ʌ/ Can you COME for LUNCH on SUnday?

/ɑ/ My FAther GOT the JOB./ɑ/ My FAther GOT the JOB.

/ʊ/ LOOK! I TOOK a COOKie!/ʊ/ LOOK! I TOOK a COOKie!

/ɔ/ I BOUght some COFfee at the MALL./ɔ/ I BOUght some COFfee at the MALL.

How do I say these short How do I say these short vowels?vowels?P. 112P. 112

/ɛ/ Men/ɛ/ Men ten red pensten red pens Mouth barely open.Mouth barely open. My friend is ready.My friend is ready. Lips slightly spread.Lips slightly spread. I sent the letter.I sent the letter. Tongue pushed forward.Tongue pushed forward.

/æ/ Man/æ/ Man an attractive planan attractive plan Mouth open.Mouth open. A fantastic actorA fantastic actor Lips slightly smiling.Lips slightly smiling. A romantic manA romantic man Tongue flat and central.Tongue flat and central.

How do I say these short How do I say these short vowels?vowels?

/ʊ/ look /ʊ/ look a good cooka good cook Mouth barely open.Mouth barely open. I took a look.I took a look.Lips slightly rounded.Lips slightly rounded.Tongue pulled back.Tongue pulled back.

/ɑ/ shot lock the box stop the clock/ɑ/ shot lock the box stop the clockLower the jaw and back of the tongue Lower the jaw and back of the tongue

more for /ɑ/ than any other vowel.more for /ɑ/ than any other vowel.

PracticePracticep. 113p. 113

Listen to see if you hear /ʌ/ or /ɑ/.Listen to see if you hear /ʌ/ or /ɑ/.

Say either sentence A or B and see if Say either sentence A or B and see if your partner can choose the correct your partner can choose the correct answer.answer.

SpellingSpelling

Many common words spelled with Many common words spelled with “O” in the stressed syllable are “O” in the stressed syllable are pronounced /ɑ/.pronounced /ɑ/.

POssiblePOssible POvertyPOvertyOPpositeOPposite PsyCHOlogyPsyCHOlogyFOLlowFOLlow aTOMicaTOMicTOPicTOPic microSCOpicmicroSCOpic

More SpellingMore Spelling

Long vowels are often spelled with Long vowels are often spelled with two letters. The vowel sounds like two letters. The vowel sounds like the first letter in these words. the first letter in these words.

main seat bean pie toe boatmain seat bean pie toe boatVowels in words with a final “e” Vowels in words with a final “e”

sound like the name of the vowel.sound like the name of the vowel. lake Pete fine lone mutelake Pete fine lone muteShort vowels are often spelled with Short vowels are often spelled with

one letter. hat pin ten potone letter. hat pin ten pot

Not all unstressed vowels are Not all unstressed vowels are schwas.schwas.

An unstressed clear vowel will be An unstressed clear vowel will be quieter and lower in pitch.quieter and lower in pitch.

COMmon COMmentCOMmon COMmentMANageMANage MANdate MANdateBAconBAcon BAKing BAKing

Schwa or Clear Vowel??Schwa or Clear Vowel??

Listen and mark each as schwa or Listen and mark each as schwa or clear vowel. P. 115clear vowel. P. 115

-ATE Endings-ATE Endings

The –ate ending in verbs is a clear The –ate ending in verbs is a clear long vowel.long vowel.

The –ate ending in look-alike nouns The –ate ending in look-alike nouns and adjectives is the schwa sound.and adjectives is the schwa sound.

Duplicate (verb) duplicate (noun) Duplicate (verb) duplicate (noun) (adj.)(adj.)

P. 115P. 115

Scene WorkScene Work

Mark the short vowel sounds in your Mark the short vowel sounds in your scene. Practice saying the words.scene. Practice saying the words.

Mark the unstressed syllables in the Mark the unstressed syllables in the words from your scens for the schwa words from your scens for the schwa sound or clear vowels. Practice sound or clear vowels. Practice saying the words.saying the words.

Mark any –ate ending words in your Mark any –ate ending words in your scene. Are they verbs, nouns, or scene. Are they verbs, nouns, or adjectives? Practice saying them.adjectives? Practice saying them.