Eva Easton

Authentic American Pronunciation

Vowel Sound /a/

compare /ʌ, a/

Now it’s your turn.
Which word has vowel sound /a/?

1. Are you ready to sing your song?
2. Don't worry.  Just stay calm and things will be fine.
3. My dog doesn't bark during the night.
4. Let's stop and ask for directions.  I think we're lost.
5. I sent my brother a birthday card.
6. Who is the smartest person in the group?
7. She promised she would be home by 11.
8. I hear someone knocking at the door.  Let me go get it.
9. It's really hot today!  Let's go swimming.
10. The roses come from my own garden.
11. The clock says 8:30.  Time to go to work.
12. I dropped my key on the floor.

How many ways do we pronounce written single o?

1.  /a/
2.  /ow/ [part 1]…[part 2]…[practice /a, ow/]
3.  /aw/  [part 1]…[part 2]…[practice /a, ow, aw/]
4.  /ɔ/
5.  /ʌ/
6.  /ʊ/
7.  /ɚ/
8.  /ə/ schwa
9.  silent o

 

 

Vowel Sound: say says said

Now it’s your turn.
Which word do you hear?
say  – says – said

1. How do you _________ that word in English?
2. Let's see.  Here's what the pronunciation dictionary _________.
3. Everyone _________ my English is very good.
4. Everyone _________ my English was really good.
5. But my teacher _________ I should study more.
6. But my teacher _________ I should study more.
7. My teacher _________ I should read a lot more.
8. You ought to listen to what she_________.
9. That's easier _________than done.  I don't like to read.
10. You're right.  I'll do what the teacher _________.  I'll try to read more.
11. Do you remember in “Star Wars” what Yoda _________?  “Do…or do not.  There is no try.”
12. So, what do you _________we get together this weekend and study.

T: stop /t|/ + /ṇ/

Poor written T…changing all the time

Now it’s your turn.
Which word has stop /tǀ/ + /ṇ/?

1. The store is completely out of white cotton t-shirts in that size.
2. Again...you're forgotten to feed the turtle.
3. Have you gotten my letter yet?
4. We're not frightened of beetles, are you?
5. He's never eaten spaghetti and meatballs.
6. She has written another letter to her brother.
7. The water in this water fountain isn't cold.
8. They started to climb the mountain early in the morning.
9. Manhattan is the most well-known part of New York City.
10. This office has a lot of problems they have to straighten out.
11. We ought to look for a much bigger carton to pack these things in.
12. They wanted to go to Great Britain.


1.  real t
2.  stop t = /t|/ 
3.  stop /t|/ + /ṇ/
4.  flap t = /d/
5.  t = /ʃ/
6.  t = /t͡ʃ/
7.  silent t

 

going to =>gonna

 

And now it’s your turn.
What do you hear?
“going” or “gonna“?

1. I'm leaving.  I'm _________ go to work.
2. I'm not _________ go to work tomorrow.
3. Why aren't you _________ to work tomorrow?
4. Why aren't you _________ go to work tomorrow?
5. Where are you _________ tomorrow?
6. Where are you _________ go tomorrow?
7. How long are you _________ be gone?
8. When are you _________ back to work?
9. I'm not exactly sure when I'm _________ back to work.
10. I'm probably _________ back to work on Wednesday.
11. I'm probably _________ go back to work on Wednesday.
12. And you...what are you going to do?

“It Happened One Night” 1934

want to = wanna


And now it’s your turn.
What do you hear?
“want a” or “want to”

1. I _________ find a new job.
2. I _________ find a job with a future.
3. I _________ job where I can start right away.
4. I _________ find a job soon because I need the money.
5. I _________ be able to pay all my bills on time.
6. I don't _________ have to worry about paying my bills.
7. I don't _________ part-time job.
8. I _________ full-time job.
9. I _________ job where I can travel.
10. I _________ be able to travel and get paid for it.
11. And I _________ get a job in a big city.
12. It's time to stop talking and get going.  I _________ get my resume and application up-to-date and send them off before the end of the day.

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