This video is a true jewel! I had never seen such a thorough explanation of how the vowels sounds are performed. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
OMG! I think I'm going to cry. I've been struggling with English for about 15 years. Most videos on TH-cam are helpful but this video is the holy grail. For the first time in my life I feel like I get it!!! Thank you thank you thank you.
Proud cot-caught distinguisher here lol I like the distinction for the sole fact that it sounds more pleasing to me, almost warmer than just /a/. Naught, ought, and wrought are so much fun to say!
I have a question, to pronounce the "t and D consonants in american englisj, with use the tip of our tongue or we use the blade of our tongue?? Thanks 🎉❤
Hello Ramzy, We have been putting a lot of effort into developing our app. However, here are some resources that we are sure you will find helpful. To improve your English pronunciation, check out this article: blog.fluent-forever.com/learn-english/. For Swedish and Danish, you can check this other article: blog.fluent-forever.com/learn-everything-else/
Thank you! Regarding that extra vowel that some Americans don't use, I always think of the word call being pronounced by a valley girl and by a British posh lady haha
Very interesting video. There is a typo; though, at 4:59. You say bed, show picture of bed and transcribe it correctly, but the spelling should be bed not bet.
This is pretty good, but there are a few mistakes. You write the /t/ with aspiration at the ends of words like "about" [ə'baʊt], transcribing it as /ə'baʊtʰ/, which is very misleading, because it most casual American's conversation, that [t] phoneme is not aspirated like it is usually at the beginning of words, but the [t] sound is unreleased at the ends of words, meaning you bring your tongue up to the ridge behind your teeth in the /t/ position and stop the airflow, but do not release the airflow, making a /t̚/ sound. So, the word "about", in a very phonetic transcription would be /ə'baʊt̚/. You do not to transcribe in such great phonetic detail though, you only have to give a phonemic transcription, writing all the sounds that have a meaningful difference between them in the language, used to differentiate words. You could write a phonemic transcription simply as [ə'baʊt], which does not show that the [t] sound is unreleased, because that is not a meaningful difference or in many native speakers minds a noticeable difference between the /tʰ/ in "top" /tʰɑp/ and the /t/ in "stop" /stɑp/ and the /t̚/ in "sit" /sɪt̚/, all being different phonetic realizations of the same underlying [t] sound mentally. And, although it does not happen in all dialects of American English, so you could argue it is not a feature of "General American", whatever the heck that is, there are other dialectal realizations of this same underlying phonemic [t] sound, for example, the flap t or d /ɾ/ in between vowels as in "water" /'wɑɾɚ/ or in "better" /'bɛɾɚ/. In dialects that have this "flap t" or "flap d" sound, this is also the realization of the [d] sound between vowels, and since the flap /ɾ/ is voiced, many English speakers associate the flap with the [d] sound most, so it is also used in words like "medal" /mɛɾ(ə)ɫ/ and "meddle" /mɛɾ(ə)ɫ/. Another common realization of the [t] sound is the glottal stop /before a syllabic [n], or /(ə)n/, as in "mountain" /maʊn.ʔ(ə)n/ or "button" /bʌ.ʔ(ə)n/. So the underlying phonetic realizations of the [t] phoneme are as follows: /tʰ/, /t/, /t̚/, /ɾ/, and /ʔ/, and the realizations of the [d] sound are /d/ and /ɾ/ between vowels, where the distinction between the [t] and [d] sounds is lost.
Yeah, final plosives have been pretty challenging to deal with, in part because it's not like Korean, where ALL final plosives are ALWAYS stopped; we sometimes aspirate them and we sometimes stop them. I decided to discuss both options, and in the trainer, generally I leave final [t] and [p] without an aspiration mark, and final [k] always aspirated. I felt it'd be confusing to introduce yet another symbol for stopped consonants in this context. Thanks for the comment and clarification!
I am starting to think that before we are taught any language ar school we should have 1 year subject of learning IPA. I really like IPA in dictionaries, however I must admit I have pretty hard time with some characters that sound similar and no one ever told me the real difference. Also I wish I had some books written in IPA especially for English where the way how you write things and how you pronounce them is totally disconnected these days (especially when it comes to vowels).
We're afraid that we can't recommend an app for typing IPA symbols however there are many Google Chrome extensions that may be of use to you. There are also websites such as www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/ipa.htm that may help too!
Learning the distinction between ɑ (cot) and ɔ (caught) is important if you want to be able to communicate with English speakers outside of the US. If you only want to learn/speak American English, you can probably just learn ɑ as it says in the video. But in Australia or other English speaking countries, these are often heard and spoken as two completely different vowels.
Dude, people in other English-speaking countries watch American movies all the time and have no trouble understanding an accent with the cot-caught merger. In fact, Scottish accents generally have the merger, so it's not just an American thing.
Hello Bety, You can adjust the playback speed of the video a little bit to make it easier for you, and you also have the option to add subtitles in Spanish. Use these two settings, and it will be easier for you to benefit from the video.
Single:
i (0:43) , (1:19) , (1:27) , (1:48) , (2:35) minor references
a (not alone, but used in diphthongs) (0:50) , (1:21) , (5:28), (11:58)
u (0:56) , (1:27) , (1:48) , (8:53) minor references
ɪ (2:37) , (4:29) , (11:29)
i (3:12) , (4:26)
ɛ (3:29) , (3:59) , (4:46) , (12:34)
æ (3:49) , (4:02) , (5:05)
e (not alone, but used in diphthongs) (4:13) , (12:34)
ʌ (4:51) , (11:04)
ɑ (5:10) , (5:57) , (11:58)
ɔ (Only in certain GA dialects) (6:18)
u (7:47) , (12:53)
ʊ (8:48) , (11:27)
ə (10:56)
o (not alone, but used in diphthongs) (12:53)
R-colored vowels:
ɝ (9:14) , (10:00)
ɚ (10:08)
aɪɚ (13:22)
oɚ (13:30)
Diphthongs:
ʊu (8:34) , (9:01)
aʊ (11:24) , (11:47)
oʊ (11:24) , (12:44)
aɪ (11:25) , (11:49)
oɪ (11:25) , (12:46)
eɪ (11:25) , (12:31)
Review starts (13:47)
Thanks for taking the time to do this
You are my new personal hero, Thanks!
Thank you so much
Thank you 🙂
Thank you
This video is a true jewel! I had never seen such a thorough explanation of how the vowels sounds are performed. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
We're really glad it helped!
I really love the way you explain it. I'm from Brazil, I speak Portuguese, and it has been a big challenge prounciating the American English vowels.
OMG! I think I'm going to cry.
I've been struggling with English for about 15 years. Most videos on TH-cam are helpful but this video is the holy grail. For the first time in my life I feel like I get it!!! Thank you thank you thank you.
Why not work with an accent coach?
Tbh if you just searched English language on wiki you would have easily found it. Guess you didn't try hard enough
@@fastlearner292stop.
Thank you very much, I almost cried you gave me what I needed.
Proud cot-caught distinguisher here lol I like the distinction for the sole fact that it sounds more pleasing to me, almost warmer than just /a/. Naught, ought, and wrought are so much fun to say!
As a man from New Jersey, you’ve made the right decision. The merger sounds awful.
Thanks a lot. This is helping me, even though I understand English my pronunciation hasn't improved in ages.
The explanation is wonderful and beautiful. Greetings to you, Mister
😍
Will you have a video about how to make the t and d consonants and cluster consonants like pr, dr, tr, kr, gr and st,? Thnks in advance
I have a question, to pronounce the "t and D consonants in american englisj, with use the tip of our tongue or we use the blade of our tongue?? Thanks 🎉❤
Thanks a lot! It's a really well-done job!
Thank you so much Jessica, that's much appreciated! 😊
I love you!!! i dindn't find the graphics for the pronuntiation, but you give me it, is for my homework ... thanks a lot!!!!
Very good explanation, thank you sir
We are glad to hear it's been helpful!
Hello, long time no, new videos, i hope a new video for american accent and Swedish and danish. Thank you so much.
Hello Ramzy,
We have been putting a lot of effort into developing our app. However, here are some resources that we are sure you will find helpful. To improve your English pronunciation, check out this article: blog.fluent-forever.com/learn-english/.
For Swedish and Danish, you can check this other article: blog.fluent-forever.com/learn-everything-else/
Thank you! Regarding that extra vowel that some Americans don't use, I always think of the word call being pronounced by a valley girl and by a British posh lady haha
Thank you, Meester, for the clarification
great practice .
We're glad you think so. 😊
Excellent video 🎉❤
Gald you liked it!
So, broad transcriptions say that boy is pronounced like /bɔɪ/ but it should be /boɪ/, right?
great video.
Very interesting video. There is a typo; though, at 4:59. You say bed, show picture of bed and transcribe it correctly, but the spelling should be bed not bet.
متشكرين على الترجمة مستر
In words like all, tall, more or board isn't the o sound even in dialects with the merger?
Hi Nicolas, could you explain a little bit more what you mean? We're not too sure what you're referring to!
/c/ and /o/ are identics?
I think you are a genius
This is pretty good, but there are a few mistakes. You write the /t/ with aspiration at the ends of words like "about" [ə'baʊt], transcribing it as /ə'baʊtʰ/, which is very misleading, because it most casual American's conversation, that [t] phoneme is not aspirated like it is usually at the beginning of words, but the [t] sound is unreleased at the ends of words, meaning you bring your tongue up to the ridge behind your teeth in the /t/ position and stop the airflow, but do not release the airflow, making a /t̚/ sound. So, the word "about", in a very phonetic transcription would be /ə'baʊt̚/. You do not to transcribe in such great phonetic detail though, you only have to give a phonemic transcription, writing all the sounds that have a meaningful difference between them in the language, used to differentiate words. You could write a phonemic transcription simply as [ə'baʊt], which does not show that the [t] sound is unreleased, because that is not a meaningful difference or in many native speakers minds a noticeable difference between the /tʰ/ in "top" /tʰɑp/ and the /t/ in "stop" /stɑp/ and the /t̚/ in "sit" /sɪt̚/, all being different phonetic realizations of the same underlying [t] sound mentally. And, although it does not happen in all dialects of American English, so you could argue it is not a feature of "General American", whatever the heck that is, there are other dialectal realizations of this same underlying phonemic [t] sound, for example, the flap t or d /ɾ/ in between vowels as in "water" /'wɑɾɚ/ or in "better" /'bɛɾɚ/. In dialects that have this "flap t" or "flap d" sound, this is also the realization of the [d] sound between vowels, and since the flap /ɾ/ is voiced, many English speakers associate the flap with the [d] sound most, so it is also used in words like "medal" /mɛɾ(ə)ɫ/ and "meddle" /mɛɾ(ə)ɫ/. Another common realization of the [t] sound is the glottal stop /before a syllabic [n], or /(ə)n/, as in "mountain" /maʊn.ʔ(ə)n/ or "button" /bʌ.ʔ(ə)n/. So the underlying phonetic realizations of the [t] phoneme are as follows: /tʰ/, /t/, /t̚/, /ɾ/, and /ʔ/, and the realizations of the [d] sound are /d/ and /ɾ/ between vowels, where the distinction between the [t] and [d] sounds is lost.
Yeah, final plosives have been pretty challenging to deal with, in part because it's not like Korean, where ALL final plosives are ALWAYS stopped; we sometimes aspirate them and we sometimes stop them. I decided to discuss both options, and in the trainer, generally I leave final [t] and [p] without an aspiration mark, and final [k] always aspirated. I felt it'd be confusing to introduce yet another symbol for stopped consonants in this context. Thanks for the comment and clarification!
wonderful
hello TJ
anyone know how to get those images with the mouth position for each sound?
I am starting to think that before we are taught any language ar school we should have 1 year subject of learning IPA. I really like IPA in dictionaries, however I must admit I have pretty hard time with some characters that sound similar and no one ever told me the real difference. Also I wish I had some books written in IPA especially for English where the way how you write things and how you pronounce them is totally disconnected these days (especially when it comes to vowels).
Hi how are you my teacher ? I have some spellings problems please help me what must I do?
Wonderful
What app do you use to type with IPA symbols?
We're afraid that we can't recommend an app for typing IPA symbols however there are many Google Chrome extensions that may be of use to you. There are also websites such as www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/ipa.htm that may help too!
Learning the distinction between ɑ (cot) and ɔ (caught) is important if you want to be able to communicate with English speakers outside of the US. If you only want to learn/speak American English, you can probably just learn ɑ as it says in the video. But in Australia or other English speaking countries, these are often heard and spoken as two completely different vowels.
codebeard
Did you not read the title
Dude, people in other English-speaking countries watch American movies all the time and have no trouble understanding an accent with the cot-caught merger. In fact, Scottish accents generally have the merger, so it's not just an American thing.
Bookmarks
7:47
Really having difficulties with learning this.. unfortunately.
When you say cot 5:18 , it sounds like you are saying caught
ThePassingVoid
Clean your ears
You should've watched literally 30 seconds more after that point where he describes how a lot of people pronounce those two words the same.
æ (3:52)
Muy buen video pero habla muy rápido para los que estamos desde 0
Hello Bety,
You can adjust the playback speed of the video a little bit to make it easier for you, and you also have the option to add subtitles in Spanish. Use these two settings, and it will be easier for you to benefit from the video.
what do cot-caught mergering people say for the word "dog"? Do you just call it a "dahg"? so weird. I'm very glad I'm firmly in blue dot territory.
Yep. It's just "dahg", not "dawg" like people on the east coast say it.
@@confusedowl297 but in words like tall or board isn't the o sound?
Vowels is freakin' hard for me. 😭
Explicas muy rápido y confundes talvez si lo hicieras un poco más explícito sería formidable vocal por Vocal
Siempre puedes detener el video y regresar.... Gabe explica muy bien, quizás no estás acostumbrado a escuchar a un americano hablando rápido?
Thanks Good lesson. But you speak too fast man. We are English learners, it's a little bit hard to follow you