Mastering the American English Sounds

Course Summary – Mastering the American English Sounds

  Introduction

  When we speak, we produce sounds. These sounds are not random; they require the

  cooperation of several speech organs, such as the tongue, lips, teeth, nose,

  throat, and vocal cords. All these organs work together to produce the sounds

  that make up speech.

  Types of Sounds in English

  English sounds are divided into two main types based on how air flows out of

  the mouth during pronunciation.

  1. Consonant Sounds

  The airflow is partially blocked during articulation. Consonants are divided into:

  • Voiced: the vocal cords vibrate (e.g. /b/, /d/, /g/)

  • Unvoiced: no vibration of the vocal cords (e.g. /p/, /t/, /k/)

  2. Vowel Sounds

  The air passes freely without obstruction. All vowels are voiced,

  as the vocal cords always vibrate. They vary depending on:

  • the shape of the mouth (open or closed)

  • tongue position (front – central – back)

  • tongue height (high – mid – low)

  Places of Articulation

  These are the points in the mouth where parts touch or come close during speech.

  There are seven main positions:

  • Lips together: /p/, /b/, /m/

  • Teeth on lips: /f/, /v/

  • Tongue between teeth: /θ/, /ð/

  • Tongue behind top teeth: /t/, /d/, /n/

  • Tongue lifted up: /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/

  • Tongue pulled back: /r/, /j/

  • Back of the throat: /k/, /g/, /ŋ/

  Manner of Articulation

  This describes how air passes through the mouth or nose to form sounds. There

  are five main types:

  • Stop sounds: air is stopped then suddenly released – /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/

  • Nasal sounds: air flows through the nose – /m/, /n/, /ŋ/

  • Fricative sounds: air passes through a narrow channel causing friction – /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/

  • Affricate sounds: start as a stop and end as a fricative – /tʃ/, /dʒ/

  • Approximant sounds: tongue approaches the point of articulation without blocking air – /r/, /l/, /w/, /j/

  Vowels

  Vowels are produced without any obstruction of airflow and are all

  voiced. They vary based on:

  • tongue height: high / mid / low

  • tongue position: front / central / back

  • lip shape: rounded or unrounded

  Types of vowels

  • Short vowels

  • Long vowels

  • R-controlled vowels

  • The Schwa /ə/ (neutral vowel in unstressed syllables)

  • Diphthongs (double vowel sounds) – e.g. /ow/, /oi/

  Differences Between English and Arabic Sounds

  • English has sounds not found in Arabic, such as /p/, /v/, /ŋ/, /θ/, /ð/, /ʒ/,

  and the American /r/.

  • Arabic speakers may replace these with similar native sounds.

  • English also has more vowel sounds, making pronunciation richer and more precise.

  The Schwa Sound (/ə/)

  • The most frequent sound in English.

  • Occurs in unstressed syllables.

  • Examples: about /əˈbaʊt/, banana /bəˈnænə/, support /səˈpɔːrt/

  • It is a very simple, relaxed sound; the mouth stays neutral.

  • Any vowel can take the schwa sound in an unstressed syllable.

  General Summary

  When pronouncing any English sound, four main factors determine it:

  • Place of articulation

  • Manner of articulation

  • Whether it is voiced or unvoiced

  • Mouth and tongue position (for vowels)