Reading of Unstressed Vowels

 

Vowels in unstressed syllables in disyllabic and polysyllabic words usually denote the neutral sound [ə] and short [ı].

1. The letters ‘ e ’, ‘ i ’, ‘ y ’ denote the sound [ı]: rock e t, band i t, funn y.

2. The letters ‘ a ’, ‘ o ’, ‘ u ’ denote the sound [ə]: Pol a nd, bott o m, cact u s.

BUT - a ge [ı] (message), - a te [ə/ı] (delicate), - i ble [ı/ə] (terrible).

3. The letter combinations ‘ vowel + the letter ‘r ” give the neutral [ə]: doll ar, dinn er, doct or, nat ur e.

4. In the letter combination ‘ vowel + vowel + consonant’ (-ial, -ion, -our, -ous etc.) we pronounce the neutral [ə]: init ial, divis ion, lab our, gener ous.

5. In the letter combinations ‘ vowel + consonant + consonant
(+ consonant/vowel) ’ (-able, -ance, -ent etc.) we pronounce [ə]: cap able, attend ance, stud ent.

6. In the letter combinations ‘ consonant + vowel + consonant (+ vowel) ’ we can pronounce:

a) the neutral [ə]: free dom;

b) the neutral [ə] or short [ı]: care less;

c) the neutral [ə] or short [υ]: aw ful.

7. The letters ‘ o ’ and ‘ u ’ in an open syllable and after a stressed syllable have their primary long meanings: samb o [əυ], cost u me [ju:].

8. An unstressed vowel is not pronounced, as a rule, in the following cases:

               a) e+ l\n (at the end of a word): seven [^\sevn];

                             b) i+l (at the end of a word): pupil [^\pju:pl];

                        c) o+n (at the end of a word): lesson [^\lesn]

 

Ex. 6.1 Read the riddles. Try to guess the right answer. Transcribe the underlined words, explain the rules.

1) A man looks at the photo and says: “Brothers and sisters I have none, but this man’s father is my father’s son.” What relation is the man in the photograph to the man who is looking at it?

2) There is a question to which you never answer “yes”. What question is it?

3) What is it that looks like a ball,

But stands still and does not fall

off its thin and graceful leg?

Children like to turn it round,

Lakes and rivers are there found.

Countries, states and their towns

You can see on it all round.

 

Ex. 6.2 (  , track 6)

A) Listen to the poem. Circle the words which rhyme.

Mr. Porter loves his pasta.  

No one else can eat it faster.  

Mr. Porter’s sister Rita,

Buys the pasta by the metre.

Mr. Porter’s older daughter,

Boils it all in tubs of water.

 

B)Learn the rhyme.

 

The Time-table of Lazy-bones Grundy

 

Lazy-bones Grundy

Must do sums for Monday.

“And today it is Thursday”,

Says lazy-bones Grundy,

“So I’ll do it on Wednesday,

If not – then on Thursday,

Or even on Friday”,

Says lazy-bones Grundy.

Not very soon comes Friday

And Saturday comes,

But lazy-bones Grundy

Has no time for sums.

“Never mind”, says Grundy,

“I’ll do it on Sunday.”

So this time-table

Of lazy-bones Grundy.

 

Ex. 6.3 Transcribe the following words and divide them into three columns: [ju:], [əυ], [ə]

Tribune, monotony, statue, samba, cactus, attribute, customs, gratitude, ambulance, monogram, common, also, tempo, recognize.

Ex. 6.4 Pay attention to the full quality of the unstressed vowels and explain the rule:

a) mambo, canto, tempo, dingo, banjo, fresco, motto, tango, salvo, stucco, Plato, photo, solo, memo, credo, veto, Pluto, silo;

b) commune, costume, capsule, formula, circular, occupant.

Ex. 6.5

a) Listen. In each sentence or phrase there are two vowels which are not [ə]. Circle them (  , track 7)

Example: an a pple and a ban a na

1. from Canada to China

2. The parrot was asleep.

3. The cinema was open.

4. the photographer’s assistant

5. a question and an answer

6. a woman and her husband

7. a pasta salad

b) Write the words in the correct part of the table. Then listen and check (  , track 8)

Orange woman return collect market begin visit asleep Salad teaches needed letter sofa peaches quarter women

Vowel in weak syllable = [ə]	Vowel in weak syllable = [І]
woman	orange

 

Ex. 6.6 Compare the reading of the vowels in stressed and unstressed position. Read the following words:

land – Holland land – Poland land – Iceland

Man – Frenchman Man – Dutchman Man – Scotchman

Us – cactus Bus – campus Tom – bottom  Sum – possum Rack – barrack Lot – ballot Bad – ballad Mock – hammock Lock –  hillock

 

Ex. 6.7 Pronounce the following words and comment on the reading of unstressed vowels:

Error, terror, horror, chirrup, barrack, mirror;

Ballot, gallop, cactus, census;

Grammar, beggar, collar, cellar, dollar, poplar;

Volga, delta, extra, villa, Sylva, Edna, character, manager;

Baggage, bandage, courage, garbage, message, accurate, adequate, affectionate, approximate, delicate;

Amber, banner, summer, supper, dinner, number, member, butter, pepper, shelter, winter;

Academy, generous, achievement, ailment, golden, deepen, different, patience, fluency, bravery;

Positive, possible, ineligible, invisibility;

Doctor, proctor, tractor, factor, actor.