Eva Easton

How many ways do we pronounce written single o?
You will find out little by little each week.

1.  /a/
2.  /ow/

 

The sound /ow/ begins with /o/ and
ends with the mouth in the shape of a /w/.

First, let’s compare 1 written o = /a/.
But, add another written letter = /ow/.

cop /kap/ … cope /kowp/
hop /hap/ … hold /howld/
rob /rab/ … road /rowd/
shop /ʃap/ … show /ʃow/

Is your mouth in the shape of a /w/ at the end of /ow/?

 

In this lesson, we concentrate on 6 common words we use every day.
These 6 words have 1 written o but are not pronounced /a/.

go … no … so
/gow/ … /now/ … /sow/

don’t … won’t … comb
/downt|/ … /wownt|/ … /kowm/

Be sure to end with your mouth in the shape of a /w/.

 

go … going
/gow/ … /go-wɪŋ/

Let’s go.  I’m going for a walk.
/lɛts-ˈgow/ … /ˈaym-go–wɪŋ-fə-rə-ˈwɔk/

 

no … won’t
/now/ … /wownt|/

Will you be at the game?  No, I won’t.
/wɪl-yə-bi-yæ-ðə-ˈgeym/ … /no–way-ˈwownt|/

 

go … so
/gow/ … /sow/

I’m going to the movies.
/aym-go–wɪŋ-tə-ðə-ˈmuw-viyz/

So is my friend.
/so–wɪz-may-ˈfrɛnd/

 

don’t … comb
/downt|/ … /kowm/

I don’t want a red comb.
/ay-ˈdownt|-wan-də-rɛd-kowm/

Is your mouth in the shape of a /w/ at the end of /ow/?

 

Now it’s your turn.
You can watch this video for regular pattern /ow/ words.
It’s easy because you already know them.

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“Row, row, row your boat” by Charles Kelly [link]

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How many ways do we pronounce written single o?
You will find out little by little each week.

1.  /a/

 

We begin with written o = /a/.
This is a distinct mark of American English pronunciation.

This sound is important, so let’s practice it.
A doctor says, “Open your mouth and say…ahhh.”
Say it for a long time…ahhhhhhh.

The majority of 1-syllable words with only 1 written o = /a/.

 

mom
/mam/

This is my mom.
/ˈðɪ-sɪz-may-ˈmam/

 

got … clock … lot
/gat/ … /klak/ … /lat/

I got a new alarm clock.
/ay-ˈga–də-nu-wə-ˈla-ɚm-klak/

It makes a lot of noise.
/ɪt-ˈmeyk-sə-ˈla–də-noyz/

 

hot
/hat/

It’s hot today.
/ɪts-ˈhat-tə-ˈday/

 

job
/d͡ʒab/

He has a tough job.
/hiy-hæ-zæ-ˈtʌf-d͡ʒab/

not
/nat/

Is it ready?  Not yet.
/ɪ-zɪt-ˈrɛ-diy-nat-yɛt/

 

knot
/nat/
(silent k)

The end of the rope is tied in a knot.
/ð-ˈən-də-ðə-ˈrowp-ɪz-ˈtay-dɪ-nə-ˈnat/

 

lock
/lak/

The gate has a lock and a chain.
/ðə-geyt|-hæ-zə-ˈla–kæn-də-t͡ʃeyn/

 

bomb
/bam/
(silent b at the end)

That’s a big bomb.
/ðæ-t͡sə-ˈbɪg-bam/

 

shop … lot … socks
/ʃap/ … /lat/ … /saks/

This shop sells a lot of socks.
/ˈðɪs-shap-sɛl-zə-ˈla–də-saks/

 

box
/baks/

What’s in the box?
/ˈwə-t͡sɪn-ðə-ˈbaks/

 

top
/tap/

That’s top secret.
/ðæt͡s-ˈtap-ˈsiy-krɪt/

 

on
/an/

The birds are sitting on a tree branch.
/ðə-ˈbɚd-za-ɚ-ˈsɪ-dɪ̈ŋ-ˈa–nə-ˈtriy-brænt͡ʃ/

 

fox … on
/faks/ … /an/

The fox is sleeping on a tree stump.
/ðə-ˈfak–sɪz-ˈsliy-pɪŋ-ˈa–nə-ˈtriy-stʌmp/

 

stop
/stap/

We always stop at the stop sign.
/wiy-ˈəl-weyz-ˈsta–pæ-ðə-ˈstap-sayn/

lock … unlock
/lak/ … /ən-ˈlak/

Let’s unlock the secrets of American English pronunciation.
/ˈlɛt͡s-ən’lak-ðə-ˈsiy-krɪt͡s-əv-əˈmɛ-rɪ-kɪn-ˈɪŋ-glɪʃ-prə-nən-si-ˈyey-ʃən/

 

There is a lot of linking in these sentences.
If you want information about linking, you can check here. [link]

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