Reference and Introduction to Phonetic Symbols
As you probably know, phonetic symbols are a great help when it
comes to learning to pronounce English words correctly. Any
time you open a dictionary, you can find the correct
pronunciation of words you don't know by looking at the
phonetic pronunciation that follows the word. Unfortunately,
learning the phonetic alphabet is not always the easiest thing to
do.
This week's feature includes a phonetic chart with the majority of
basic sounds in English. In English, as you certainly know, many
words can have the same pronunciation but be written differently
with different meanings. For example "to, two, and too" which all
have the phonetic transcription /tu/. Sometimes, words can be
written similarly but have different pronunciations as in the
"ough" combinations thought, though, bough, and through.
Another factor in pronunciation is the how the word is stressed.
Understanding the phonetic alphabet can greatly simplify the
learning process, especially for students who do not have the
opportunity to work with a teacher.
Following the chart is an example of a text that has been
transcribed in to phonetics. Notice how the text, as it would be
spoken, differs from how each word might be transcribed
individually. This is principally due to two factors; allision and
unstressed syllables. I will discuss these two factors in an
upcoming feature. For now, becoming familiar with the phonetic
alphabet is plenty…
This text is the following:
There is a police message for motorists in the Barnet area of
London. A lorry has shed its load at the Apex Corner roundabout
on the A1. You are asked to avoid the area as much as possible.
South-bound traffic will be diverted for the next two hours. That
is the end of the message.
As you can see, the phonetic alphabet seems like another
language entirely, however, with patience, it can serve you well in
improving your pronunciation.
Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have a
different pronunciation and meaning.
close
Close your eyes and count to ten. (verb) (z)
Please keep close to the path, it's easy to get lost. (adjective
/adverb) (s)
Can I speak to you for a minute, Mr Trent? (adjective/adverb)
We've got a small house with a minute garden (adjective)
She noticed a tear in the corner of his eye. (ier)
To open the packet, tear along the dotted line. (e)
There used to be a farm here, years ago. (verb) st
The building was used as a warehouse (verb) zd
Wind speeds reached 102mph last night. (noun) ( I )
You have to wind the handle to the left (verb) (ai )
He wound the rope around his arm (verb) (au)
In the fight, one young man received a knife wound. (noun) (u:)
Homophones are words that sound the same but have a different
meaning and spelling. eg
U:
Swaj
blew blue
berth birth
flew flu flue
curb kerb
( i: )
A hut
some
sum
be bee
heal he'll heel
threw
through
fir fur
sun
son
heard herd
meat meet
peace piece
to too two
scene seen
steal
steel
weak
e
berry bury
Ei
brake break
bread bred stake steak
air heir
male mail
bare bear
sale sail
fair fare
tale tail
pear pair pare
rain rein reign
stare stair
wait weight
ware wear
way weigh
au
allowed
aloud
Ou am swaj o br
know no
ai
aisle
I'll isle
buy by coarse course
bye
morning mourning
eye I
warn worn
hi
high
hire
higher
write
right
n
knew
new
loan lone
foul fowl
pole poll
road rode
role roll
sew so
st
guessed
guest
week
( o: )
board bored
s
ascent assent
base bass
knight
night
knot
not
cell sell
cent scent sent
cereal serial
leased
least
passed
past
VOWELS
PHONETIC SYMBOL
WORD
Green
Sit
Desk
Hat
Hot
Saw
Good
Food
Sun
Word
Day
Nose
Five
Mouth
Boy
HAVE STUDENTS ORGANIZE BY SOUND THE FOLLWING
WORDS
Three
This
Leg
Back
Father
Clock
Draw
Put
Two
Come
First
Under
Name
Go
High
Down
Noise
Near
Where
Fewer
CONSONANTS
PHONETIC SYMBOL
WORD
PHONETIC SYMBOL
Pen
Bag
Ten
Desk
Cap
Get
WORD
Top
Rub
Wet
Head
Back
Bag
Face
Very
Thin
These
Knife
Five
Mouth
Mother
Six
Nose
Shoe
Pleasure
Hat
Face
His
Fish
Measure
Head
Chair
Jump
Teach
John
Window
Yes
We
You
Mouth
Nose
Sing
Come
Nine
English
Leg
Right
Well
Very