English Vowel Phonemes

There are 48 phonemes in English, of which 20 are vowels and 28 are consonants. Vowels can be divided into vowels (12) and diphthongs (8). 12 vowels can be divided into:

I. Front vowels [i:][i][e][?]

The so-called front vowels are pronounced using the front part of the tongue, which means that the front part of the tongue should be raised toward the hard palate, the tip of the tongue should be pressed against the lower teeth, and the shape of the mouth should be flattened, not closed and rounded.

(1) The front part of the tongue is raised the highest when [i:] is pronounced, and the dental bed is nearly fully closed.

(2) When [i] is pronounced, the front of the tongue is slightly lower than [i:], and the teeth are slightly more open. The distance between the upper and lower teeth can accommodate about a pinky finger tip.

(3) When [e] is pronounced, the front of the tongue is again a little lower than [i], and the teeth are opened a little wider. The distance between the upper and lower teeth is approximately equal to the tip of one index finger.

(4) The fourth front vowel [?] is pronounced with the front part of the tongue lowest and the teeth open wider. The front of the tongue is the lowest and the teeth bed is the widest. The distance between the upper and lower teeth is approximately equal to one index finger plus the middle finger.

(2) The back vowels [ɑ:] [? [? :] [u] [u:]

Back vowels are pronounced using the back of the tongue, which means that the back of the tongue is raised toward the soft palate. The tip of the tongue can be pronounced without resting against the lower teeth.

Except for the back vowel [ɑ:], which is pronounced with a neutral lip, the other four sounds are pronounced with a rounded lip, and the mouth is rounded. For individual sounds such as [u] [u:] the lips should also protrude forward. Next, pay attention to the tongue position of back vowels. Of the five back vowels, [ɑ:] has the lowest tongue position and the largest opening. [?] has a slightly higher tongue position than [ɑ:] and a slightly smaller opening than [ɑ:]. [? :] has a slightly higher tongue position than [?] is a little higher again, and the opening is a little smaller than [?] and a little less open than [? The tongue position of [u] is a little higher than [? :] is a little higher again, and the opening is a little smaller. [u:] has the highest tongue position and the smallest opening.

Three, the mid vowels [? :] [?] [?]

The so-called mid vowels are pronounced using the middle of the tongue, which means that the middle of the tongue should be slightly raised, the tip of the tongue can be lightly against the lower teeth, and the shape of the mouth is flat or medium often.

[? :] has the highest tongue position, [?] s tongue position is the lowest, [?] s tongue position is in between, slightly lower than [? :]] is slightly lower than [?] and [?] slightly higher.

Oral Shapes and Pronunciation

1. / /

A front vowel, the letter i or y is pronounced in a stressed closed vowel. It is a short vowel, so pronounce this sound short and light.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / i / traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation: the tip of the tongue against the lower teeth, the front of the tongue raised, the sides of the tongue against the sides of the upper teeth, and the shape of the mouth flattened.

Pronunciation exercises:

it big city give sick ill little sit bit fifth rich pity

We shoule try to put the principle into practice.

The little kid will fix his little ship.

The little boy will fix his little ship.

We shoule try to put the principle into practice.

The little ship.

The kid will fix his little ship.

2. /i:/

Front vowels, which are the sounds of the letters ea, ee, ie, or ei, are pronounced in words. This sound is a long vowel, so be sure to note it to get the full sound.

Pronunciation symbols: /i/ American /i:/ British /i:/ traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation tips: pronounce with the tip of the tongue against the lower teeth, with the front of the tongue as high as possible, and with the tongue positioned higher than the /i/: the shape of the mouth is flat.

Pronunciation exercises:

bee feet keep key team meet be these evening

complete see tree need been cheese sea leaf reason

east meat read piece belief field yield receive

Do you see the key on the seat?

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

3. /e/

This sound is a front vowel, which is the sound that the letter e or ea makes when it is pronounced in a word. It is a short vowel sound. It is a short vowel.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American /e/ British /e/ Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation key: pronounced with the tip of the tongue against the lower teeth, the front of the tongue slightly raised, and the tongue position lower than /i:/; the lip shape is medium-regular, and the opening is larger than /i:/.

Pronunciation exercises:

get best text help egg send set bed went head breath

dead any many

let''s get together when the weather is better.

I will never forget the splendid time we spent together.

4. / /

This sound is a front vowel, which is the pronunciation of the letter a in a stressed closed syllable. / / is a short vowel.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation tips: the tip of the tongue is pressed against the lower teeth when pronouncing the sound; the front of the tongue is slightly elevated, and the tongue is positioned lower than in /e/; the lips are stretched out flat in a flattened shape.

Pronunciation exercises:

fat have cat back hat at sad hand rash manly apple

action active bad stand atom absent angry glad flag

happy family man mad

It is very bad of you to talk back to your dad.

That black man has taken my jacket.

5. / /

This sound is a back vowel, which is the pronunciation of the letter combination ar, and also the pronunciation of the letter a in front of the letters ss, st, th, etc.

This sound is a back vowel. th, and other letters. / / is a long vowel.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation: Pronounce the word with the mouth wide open, the tongue lowered and retracted, the back of the tongue slightly bulging, and the tip of the tongue not resting against the lower teeth. The lips are slightly rounded.

Pronunciation exercises:

heart arm farm card fast car dark pass hard far star park bar

half father master laugh glass smart article argument last

It will do a lot of work.

Barbara and charles are dancing in a large garden.

6. / /

This sound is a short vowel, which is how the letter o is pronounced in stressed closed-syllable words.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation key: pronounce the word with the mouth wide open, the tongue body lowered and retracted as far as possible, and the lips slightly rounded.

Pronunciation exercises:

dog what honest lot got job shop soft song top hot box pot

lock watch cost stop clock long wrong bottle orange doctor coffee

She is eating a hot dog in a door way.

Bob has a lofty job and a lot of hobbies.

7. / /

This sound is a back vowel, which is the pronunciation of the letters o, or, al, oar, ou or oor in a word. It is a long vowel.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation key: The back of the tongue is raised higher than / / i.e. American / / American / / when pronouncing the word, and the lips are tucked in rounded and smaller, and protruded forward.

Pronunciation exercises:

horse saw corn course salt tall fall wall walk call awful thought

walking raw short draw talk storm fort morning all autumn

She thought she ought to take a walk before four o''clock.

When the storm is coming, the ship has to call at a port.

When the storm is coming, the ship has to call at a port.

8. / /

The sound is a back vowel, which is the pronunciation of the English letters u, oo, or ou in words. /u/ is a short vowel. Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British /u/ Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation key: The back of the tongue is raised, the tongue is retracted, and the tip of the tongue leaves the lower teeth when pronouncing the sound.

The lips are rounded and slightly protruding.

Pronunciation exercises:

could cook book look put good full foot would room broom

push sugar woman football pudding goodbye

The cook took some sugar and put it in the soup.

The cook took some sugar and put it in the soup.

He understood what the woman wanted.

9. / /

This sound is a back vowel, which is the pronunciation of the letter oo or ou in a word. It is a long vowel.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation tips: pronounce the word with the back of the tongue raised as far as possible, and with the tongue position higher than /u/ which is the American pronunciation / / British pronunciation / /. The lips are rounded and protruding. The shape of the mouth is slightly smaller than /u// // /.

Pronunciation exercises:

food moon loose noon too soon rule boot fool school soup cool

lose shoes goose whose shoot pool foolish

I am not in the mood to argue with you.

I am not in the mood to argue with you.

The news is too good to be true.

10. / /

The sound is a back vowel, which is how the letters o and u are pronounced in words. / / is a short vowel sound.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation key: the tip of the tongue and both sides of the tongue lightly touch the lower teeth when pronouncing the sound, the back of the tongue is slightly lifted against the front part of the tongue, and the lips are slightly flattened with a wider opening, similar to / /.

Pronunciation exercises:

must does ugly come cup bus gun hut sung duck lung luck

cut stuck musk some honey money won mouth once couple

shut up

Several provinces in the south of China are suffering from floods.

I am not accustomed to making a speech in public.

11. /

Several provinces in the south of China are suffering from floods. /

Pronounced as a mid vowel, it is the sound of the letter combinations er, ir, or and ur in a word. / / is a long vowel.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation tips: Pronounce the word with the middle of the tongue slightly higher than when pronouncing the / / sound. The lips are flattened.

Pronunciation exercises:

nurse turn shirt hurt burn girl bird nurse work firm

were world dirty skirt thirsty worst person serve early

church first

The early bird catches the worm.

I would like to have a word with you when you finish your work at hand.

12. / /

The sound is a mid vowel that is The letters a, e, o, u, er, or and ur are pronounced in words. / / is pronounced as a short vowel.

Pronunciation symbols: / / American / / British / / Traditional International Phonetic Alphabet

Pronunciation key: pronounce the word with the body of the tongue flat, the middle of the tongue slightly bulging, and the lips flattened.

Pronunciation exercises:

better worker welcome ago about asleep above again butter

picture among mother brother doctor teacher never danger

sugar order

I am afraid that the color is unsuitable for my mother.

Readers are supposed to keep silent in the library.

There is a lot of work to be done in the library.