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English Back Vowels. ENG 115 Prof. K. Horowitz. Objectives Introduction What Are the Back Vowels? Try Your Luck! Practice Exercises Useful Links. Index. Objectives.
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English Back Vowels ENG 115 Prof. K. Horowitz
Objectives Introduction What Are the Back Vowels? Try Your Luck! Practice Exercises Useful Links Index
Objectives • This module is designed to familiarize second language students with the five English vowel sounds that are produced in the back of the mouth.
Introduction • “Back” vowels are those that are produced in the back of your mouth, using the plain and back of the tongue. Three of the five back vowels are just the same as they are in Spanish, but the remaining two can prove to be quite difficult for second language learners.
What Are the Back Vowels? • In English, we have five back vowel sounds. They get their name from the fact that you produce them in the back of the mouth. • [u] is pronounced just like the Spanish “u.” • EX: Boo t, mu dar • [Ʊ] looks like a horseshoe. It is shorter in pronunciation and sounds like “uj.” • EX: Wou ld, pu ll
[o] is the same as in Spanish. EX: No, mo ver [Ɔ] is called “open o” and is pronounced “aw.” Ex: Talk, ma ll, law [a] is pronounced “ah.” It is the only back vowel that doesn’t require you to round your lips like a kiss. EX: bo mb, sto p
Try Your Luck! • Ready to try some examples? Try this one on for size. • bought [Ɔ] [a] [Ʊ]
Let’s do one more together. What is the back vowel sound in this word? • Spoon [o] [u] [Ʊ]
Practice Exercises • Correctly identify the back vowel sound in each of the following words. • A. B. • 1. taught 1.through • 2. robe 2. blue • 3. sauce 3. would • 4. auction 4. rock • 5. doze 5. book • 6. dog 6. mow • 7. sew 7. pony • 8. thaw 8. block • 9. fruit 9. sugar • 10. comb 10. warm
Useful Links • Here are some sites on the Internet that can help you with these exercises, as well as those done in class. • University of Iowa: A site with an excellent area devoted to vowel and consonant sounds. Click on "launch English library." • Easton’s American English Pronunciation: A great site with plenty of information about vowel and consonant pronunciation, as well as some great practice exercises.
Tim’s ESL Site: Raritan Valley Community College Phonetic practice page. • Fonetiks.org: The online language library. • American English Vowels: Michigan State University site with exercises.
