American English Vowels | IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) vowel chart FREE DOWNLOAD

Summary

In this educational video, Hadar from Accent's Way uses a vowel chart and her magic marker to teach American English vowels. She explains the positions of the tongue and jaw for different vowel sounds, distinguishes between tense and relaxed vowels, and covers both pure vowels and diphthongs. She also emphasizes the importance of practicing these sounds to improve pronunciation and clarity.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The video is a lesson on American English vowels, focusing on pronunciation and challenges for non-native speakers.
• 📊 The vowel chart is a diagram representing the position of the tongue and jaw for different vowel sounds.
• 👅 Front vowels are produced with the tongue rolling forward, while back vowels require the tongue to pull back.
• 🔍 The horizontal axis of the vowel chart shows the tongue's placement (front or back), and the vertical axis shows the jaw's position (closed or open).
• 🔊 The 'i' sound is a high, tense vowel as in 'see', while the relaxed ɪ sound is lower, as in 'fish'.
• 🌐 The 'æ' sound in 'cat' is distinct from the 'a' in 'father', emphasizing the importance of tongue and jaw positioning.
• 🔄 Diphthongs are vowels that change during pronunciation, combining two sounds within the same syllable, such as 'eɪ' in 'day'.
• 🔊 The 'schwa' sound is the most neutral vowel in American English, positioned in the middle of the vowel chart, and is often unstressed.
• 👄 The 'ɜ' sound is associated with the 'r' sound, found in words like 'stir' and 'girl', and is neutral with the back of the tongue slightly raised.
• 🔀 The tense 'u' sound as in 'you' is distinct from the relaxed ʊ sound as in 'book', with the former being more rounded and tense.
• 📚 Understanding and practicing these vowel sounds can improve pronunciation clarity and help non-native speakers distinguish between similar words.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lesson provided by Hadar in the Accent's Way video?

The main focus of the lesson is to teach the pronunciation of American English vowels, including their positions on the vowel chart, the differences between tense and relaxed vowel sounds, and the challenges non-native speakers might face.

How does Hadar describe the vowel chart in the video?

Hadar describes the vowel chart as a diagram of the mouth, with the horizontal axis representing the tongue's position in relation to the front or back of the mouth, and the vertical axis representing the jaw's position and the space between the tongue and the upper palate.

What is the difference between front vowels and back vowels according to the video?

Front vowels are produced with the tongue rolling forward, while back vowels are produced with the tongue pulled back.

How does Hadar explain the difference between the tense 'i' sound and the relaxed 'ɪ' sound in American English?

The tense 'i' sound, as in 'see', 'we', and 'she', is high and tense with the lips pulled to the sides. The relaxed 'ɪ' sound, as in 'fish', 'ship', and 'rich', is lower on the chart, indicating the tongue is a bit lower and the sound is more relaxed.

What are diphthongs and how does Hadar describe them in the video?

Diphthongs are vowels that change during pronunciation or can be thought of as two vowels within the same syllable. Hadar describes them as changing vowels and emphasizes their importance in distinguishing between words in American English.

What is the 'schwa' sound and where is it positioned on the vowel chart?

The 'schwa' sound is the most neutral vowel sound in American English, positioned in the middle of the vowel chart, representing the resting position of the tongue at the bottom of the mouth with the jaw not too tense or open.

How does Hadar differentiate between the 'ɔ' sound in 'daughter' and the 'a' sound in 'father'?

Hadar explains that the 'ɔ' sound is more open and typically found on the East Coast, while the 'a' sound in 'father' is a back open vowel sound, found in some West Coast dialects where the 'ɔ' sound is merged with the 'a' sound.

What is the purpose of practicing vowel sounds in words, phrases, and sentences according to Hadar?

Practicing vowel sounds in words, phrases, and sentences helps to develop muscle memory, so that speakers won't have to consciously think about pronunciation every time they speak, thus improving clarity and accuracy.

Why does Hadar suggest checking the vowel chart of one's native language against the American English vowel chart?

Comparing the vowel charts can help identify which American English vowels do not exist in one's native language, allowing the speaker to focus on those specific sounds to improve their pronunciation.

How can viewers find more resources to improve their American English pronunciation according to Hadar?

Viewers can visit Hadar's website, theaccentsway.com, or her YouTube Channel 'Accent'sWay English with Hadar', where they will find hundreds of videos on American English pronunciation, intonation, and motivational content.