Pronunciation – Vowel 2 “e & ə”

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Vowel ” e & ə”

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STEP 1 How to pronounce a short “e” sound

The short e sound is a relatively relaxed vowel sound. The middle of the tongue rounds slightly upward and the sides of the tongue may lightly touch the top and bottom side teeth. The lips and jaw are loose and relaxed.

(Source: http://www.pronuncian.com)

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STEP 2 Introduction to Schwa”ə” sound

The reduced vowel sound called schwa is the most common vowel sound in spoken English. Schwa is a quick, relaxed, neutral vowel pronunciation very close to a short u. The purpose of schwa is to allow unstressed syllables to be said more quickly so the main beats of spoken words are easier to place on the stressed syllables.

Schwa does not have an exact and standard pronunciation. Due to the near-identical pronunciation of schwa and short u, many dictionaries merge the transcription of the two sounds and strictly use /ə/. Separate symbols are retained here to indicate whether a vowel sound falls on a stressed or unstressed syllable.

Schwa occurs in two different circumstances:

1. in an unstressed syllable of a multi-syllable word
2. as a reduced vowel sound in a function word

(Source: http://www.pronuncian.com)

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STEP 3 Practice

Short “e” sound words

1. Men

2. Pen

3. Red

4. Say

5. Get

6. Sell

7. Well

8. Neck

9. Tell

10. Friend

Short “ə” sound words

1. Banana

2. Animal

3. About

4. Item

5. Travel

6. Family

7. Father

8. System

9. Was

10. Experiment

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STEP 5 Practice Materials for Vowel Contrast

/e/ – /i/

1. Bell – Bill

2. Set – Sit

3. Left – Lift

4. When – Win

5. Pen – Pin

/ə/ – /ʌ/

1. Honor – Honey

2. Monitor – Money

3. Bottom – Button

4. Comma – Company

5. Monument – Monday

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STEP 6 Followup Practice

• Followup Practice 1

• Followup Practice 2

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