American vs. British English - Vowel Sounds - Pronunciation differences

Summary

In this video, the differences between American and British English vowel sounds are explored with the help of Minoo from AngloLink. The video highlights distinctions such as the OH diphthong, the AH vowel (as in 'father'), the AA vowel followed by nasal consonants, and the UR vowel. American English tends to have more relaxed articulation with some additional vowel sounds, while British English often features more rounded vowels and omits certain consonants, like the 'R' in words such as 'world' and 'girl'. The video offers a clear comparison, providing valuable insights for learners of both dialects.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video compares American and British English vowel sounds, focusing on key pronunciation differences.
• 😀 Collaboration with MinooAngloLink, a British English YouTube channel, highlights the contrast between the two accents.
• 😀 The 'OH' diphthong in American English contrasts with the schwa + 'UH' sound in British English.
• 😀 The jaw drop for the 'OH' diphthong is more pronounced in American English compared to British English.
• 😀 The AH vowel in American English is characterized by more jaw drop and relaxed lips compared to British English, where there is more lip rounding.
• 😀 In American English, the AA vowel followed by nasal consonants like [n] or [m] adds an extra 'uh' sound, which is absent in British English.
• 😀 The AA vowel changes to a more 'AY' sound when followed by the [ŋ] consonant, like in 'thanks'.
• 😀 The UR vowel in words like 'girl', 'world', and 'hurt' is pronounced with an 'R' sound in American English, but not in British English.
• 😀 The video provides several examples to demonstrate the different pronunciations of words like 'hot', 'honest', 'can', and 'ham'.
• 😀 The video concludes with a call to action to watch a follow-up video on consonant pronunciation differences between American and British English.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video focuses on the differences in vowel pronunciation between American English and British English.

What is the 'OH' diphthong, and how is it pronounced differently in American and British English?

In American English, the 'OH' diphthong is pronounced with a more pronounced jaw drop, as in 'know'. In British English, the sound uses a schwa and 'UH' sound with less jaw drop, as in 'know'.

How does the AH vowel sound differ between American and British English?

In American English, the AH vowel is pronounced with a relaxed lip position and a greater jaw drop, as in 'hot' or 'mom'. In British English, the AH vowel involves more lip rounding and less jaw drop, as in 'hot'.

What are some example words with the AH vowel in both American and British English?

Examples include 'hot', 'honest', and 'mom'. In American English, these words have a more relaxed lip position and greater jaw drop, while in British English, the lips round more, and there is less jaw drop.

What happens when the AA vowel is followed by a nasal consonant in American English?

When the AA vowel is followed by a nasal consonant like [n] or [m], American English adds an extra 'uh' sound, as in 'can' or 'ham'.

How does the AA vowel change when followed by the NG consonant in American English?

When followed by the NG sound, as in 'thanks', the AA vowel in American English becomes more like the 'AY' diphthong, making the pronunciation 'thanks' sound different from the pure AA vowel.

What is the pronunciation difference in the UR vowel between American and British English?

In American English, the UR vowel is pronounced with an 'R' sound in words like 'girl', 'world', and 'first'. In British English, the 'R' sound is not pronounced, making the vowel sound different.

What example words demonstrate the UR vowel in American English?

Words like 'girl', 'world', 'first', 'hurt', 'person', and 'worst' all use the UR vowel in American English, where the 'R' is pronounced.

What is the significance of jaw drop in American English pronunciation?

Jaw drop plays a significant role in American English pronunciation, particularly for vowel sounds like the OH and AH vowels, where the jaw is dropped more compared to British English.

How do the video presenters demonstrate the vowel differences?

The video presenters, Rachel and Minoo, demonstrate the vowel differences by pronouncing example words and sentences in both American and British English, highlighting differences in jaw drop, lip rounding, and vowel shifts.