Fonética e Fonologia do Inglês

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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e 
da Fonologia 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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Conteúdo Programático desta aula 
 Relação entre pronúncia e escrita em 
inglês; 
 Dialetos e acentos da Língua Inglesa; 
 Diferença entre fonética e fonologia, 
letra e fonema. 
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The poem is a demonstration of the seemingly chaotic 
relationship between spelling and pronunciation in English. 
 
Let’s just take the ending “OUGH” as an example: 
 
"UFF" tough, enough 
"OFF" cough 
"AW" bough, slough 
"OW" though, dough 
"OO" through 
“UP” hiccough 
 
See how many different sounds there are depending on the 
word. 
 
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When the English tongue we speak 
Why is break not rhymed with weak? 
 
Won’t you tell me why it’s true 
We say sew, but also few? 
 
And the maker of a verse 
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse? 
 
Beard is not the same as heard 
Cord is different from word, 
 
Cow is cow, low is low, 
Shoe is never rhymed with foe. 
 
Think of hose /z/ and dose /s/and lose /z/ 
And think of goose /s/ and yet of choose /z/ 
 
 
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Think of comb and tomb and bomb 
Doll and roll and home and some 
 
And since pay is rhymed with say, 
Why not paid with said, I pray? 
 
Think of blood and food and good 
Mould is not pronounced like could 
 
Why is done, but gone and lone, 
Is there any reason known? 
 
To sum it up, it seems to me 
That sounds and letters don’t agree. 
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What kind of English pronunciations are we going to 
study? Well, mostly the standard one. 
 
Which one is the Standard English? 
 
Received Pronunciation (também conhecido como 
R.P., inglês Oxford ou Inglês da BBC) é o nome dado 
ao sotaque padrão da língua inglesa utilizado no 
Reino Unido. Estudantes estrangeiros de inglês 
britânico aprendem essa modalidade de inglês nas 
escolas. Dicionários de língua inglesa produzidos no 
Reino Unido também adotam o Received 
Pronunciation como sotaque padrão. Ainda que não 
haja nada intrínseco no Received Pronunciation que 
o faça superior a outras variedades de inglês, fatores 
sociolinguísticos lhe dão um prestígio especial na 
Inglaterra e no País de Gales. 
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Vale dizer que há também uma forma de inglês 
americano considerada padrão. Essa forma 
“padrão” é conhecida como Standard American 
English (SAE) ou General American. Trata-se de 
uma forma do inglês americano falado e 
escrito sem as influências e interferências do 
inglês falado em cada região. De modo geral, é 
o inglês usado por jornalistas (CNN, ABC, New 
York Times, etc.), órgãos governamentais (o 
Presidente Obama o usa em seus discursos), 
escolas e faculdades (Havard, Yale, etc.) e 
grandes empresas (o mundo dos negócios das 
grandes corporações). 
STANDARD AMERICAN ENGLISH 
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Phonetics studies the sounds of a language. 
 
For example in Portuguese there are 26 letters (agora com 
o Novo Acordo Ortográfico) and 31 phonemes 
In English there are 26 letters and 36 phonemes. (24 
consonant sounds, 12 vowel sounds), and 8 diphthongs. 
 
Phonology studies the variation of these sounds according 
to accents and dialects. 
 
PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY 
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Let’s see how it works: 
Em Português temos, por exemplo, o “s” chiado do carioca: Casas, folhas 
O “r” retroflexo dos paulistas: porta, portão, porteira 
A vogal mais aberta no Nordeste Menino 
 
And in English: 
For example, in English, the "p" sound in pot is aspirated (pronounced 
[pʰ]), while that in spot is not aspirated (pronounced [p]). However, 
English speakers intuitively treat both sounds as variations (allophones) 
of the same phonological category, that is, of the phoneme /p/. 
 
The pot is on the table. 
There is a spot on the sun. 
PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY 
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So as we can see there were two main features of cockney accent. 
 
The first is the pronunciation of the diphthong “AI”. 
 
In the sentence “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain”. 
 
And: “In Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly ever 
happen” 
 
Dropped ‘h’ at beginning of words 
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Phonemes are the sounds of the words 
Graphemes are the written forms of the words. 
How many letters and phonemes are there in the following 
words? 
WORDS GRAPHEMES PHONEMES 
Cat 3 3 
Chat 4 3 (CH – consonant digraph) 
Fish 4 3 (SH – consonant digraph) 
Stick 5 4 (CK – consonant digraph) 
Blue 4 3 (UE – vowel digraph) 
Weigh 5 3 (GH – silent letters) 
Head 4 3 (EA – vowel digraph) 
Bee 3 2 (EE– vowel digraph) 
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 Relação entre pronúncia e escrita 
em inglês; 
 Dialetos e acentos da Língua Inglesa; 
 Diferença entre fonética e fonologia, 
letra e fonema. 
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Speakers of a language have to be aware of the need to vary 
language use according to the context of communicative 
interaction, i.e. language varies with variation in topic, 
participants, setting, purpose, and medium (verbal or written). 
 
Moreover, language varies according to academic domains (content 
areas) and tasks. 
 
There are more than 5 million distinct words in the English 
language: The Oxford Dictionary of English (2005) lists more than 
400,000 entries; William Shakespeare used about 15,000; the 
average person whose first language is English knows about 4300 
words, although they understand the exact meaning of only 70 per 
cent or so of these. 
 
 
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Despite extensive lexical borrowing, the 
workings of the English language are 
resolutely Germanic, and English 
remains classified as a Germanic 
language due to its structure and 
grammar. Borrowed words get incorporated 
into a Germanic system of conjugation and 
syntax, and behave exactly as though they 
 were native Germanic words (For example, the word reduce is borrowedfrom Latin redūcere; however, in English one says "I reduce - I reduced - I 
will reduce" rather than "redūcō - redūxī - redūcam"; 
 
Anyways, the general consensus on the origins of English words are thus: 
Germanic: 35% French: 30% Latin:30% Greek: 5% 
 
This is just a general way of saying that 60% of English vocabulary as we 
know it comes from Italic language. 
 
 
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Anglo-Saxon Origin Words Old French Origin Words 
Thinking, Mindful Pensive 
Ask, Beseech Enquire 
Buy Purchase 
Wonder Ponder 
Harbour Port 
Answer Reply, Response 
Weird Strange 
Forgive Pardon 
Worthy Valuable 
Wish, Will, Longing Desire 
Freedom Liberty 
Anglo-Saxon Origin Words Latin Origin Words 
talkative voluble 
harmful virulent 
chew masticate 
maze labyrinth 
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SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH 
SPOKEN WRITTEN 
We usually speak in a much less 
formal, less structured way. 
We usually write with correct 
grammar and in a structured 
way 
We do not always use full 
sentences and correct 
grammar. 
We organize what we write into 
sentences and paragraphs. 
We usually use contractions. We do not usually use 
contractions in writing (though 
if we want to appear very 
friendly, then we do sometimes 
use contractions in writing 
because this is more like 
speaking.) 
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SPOKEN WRITTEN 
The vocabulary that we use is 
more familiar and may include 
slang. 
We use more formal vocabulary 
in writing (for example, we 
might write "the car exploded" 
but say "the car blew up") and 
we do not usually use slang. 
We usually speak in a 
spontaneous way, without 
preparation, so we have to 
make up what we say as we go. 
This means that we often 
repeat ourselves or go off the 
subject. 
We must use punctuation marks 
like commas and question 
marks. 
SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH 
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LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN BOTH INTERVIEWS: 
 
Enter, please 
I hope you do not mind be being inquisitive, but can I ask you why… 
I’m looking forward to… 
He doesn’t shake hands. 
He interrupts her all the day. 
Cheers, bye. 
 
SPEAKING 
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Before you start writing any article, you need to ask yourself 
 
Who's the target audience? 
What’s the best way to communicate my message? 
Does my topic require a certain delivery style? 
 
Answering these questions will help you decide if you should use a formal 
writing style or an informal writing style. 
 
There are 4 different delivery styles that are used: 
1) Extemporaneous - previously planned but delivered with the help of 
few or no notes. 
2) Impromptu (Improvised) - delivered without previous preparation 
3) Memorization - previously planned and recited from memory 
4) Reading (manuscript) - previously planned and read from notes 
 
WRITING 
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FORMAL WRITING INFORMAL WRITING 
Complex and 
thorough 
Conversational 
Long sentences Short sentences or 
incomplete sentences 
Full words Slang or figures of speech 
No contractions or 
abbreviations 
Contractions and 
abbreviations 
Objective language Personal or emotional tone 
Not a personal 
writing style 
Speak directly to audience 
(use words like ‘you’ and 
‘your’) 
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WRITING: This is to inform you that your book has been 
rejected by our publishing company as it was not up to the 
required standard. In case you would like us to 
reconsider it, we would suggest that you go over it and make 
some necessary changes. 
 
SPEAKING: You know that book I wrote? Well, the 
publishing company rejected it. They thought it was awful. But 
hey, I did the best I could, and I think it was great. I'm not 
gonna redo it the way they said I should. 
 
ONE MORE EXAMPLE 
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 1. Active & Passive Voice 
Informal: Our technician repaired the fault 
on 12th June. Now it’s your turn to pay us. 
Formal: Although the fault was repaired on 
12th June, payment for this intervention 
has still not been received. 
 
2. Verb Form: Phrasal Verbs & Latinate 
Informal: The company laid him off because he didn't work much. 
Formal: His insufficient production conducted to his dismissal. 
 
3. Language: Direct & Formulaic (rebuscado) 
Informal: I’m sorry but …/I’m happy to say that … 
Formal: We regret to inform you that …/We have pleasure in 
announcing that … 
 
DIFFERENT STYLES BETWEEN INFORMAL & FORMAL ENGLISH 
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DIFFERENT STYLES BETWEEN INFORMAL & FORMAL ENGLISH 
4. Use of Slang 
Informal He had to get some money out of a hole in the wall 
… 
Formal He withdrew the amount from an ATM. 
 
5. Personal Form & Nominators 
Informal If you lose it, then please contact us as soon as 
possible. 
Formal Any loss of this document should be reported 
immediately … 
 
6. Linking Words 
Informal I have never seen a movie I did not like. 
Formal I have never seen a movie that I did not like. 
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DIFFERENT STYLES BETWEEN INFORMAL & FORMAL ENGLISH 
7. Singular & Plural Person 
Informal I can help you to solve this problem. Call me! 
Formal We can assist in the resolution of this matter. 
Contact us on our toll-free number. 
 
8. Contractions 
Informal: He can’t come. 
Formal: He cannot come. 
 
9. Prepositions: 
Informal: He is the man I am talking to. 
Formal: He is the man to whom I am talking. 
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EXAMPLES 
To a friend it is acceptable to say, “Hey Jack, how’re you doing 
buddy?” 
To a Governor you would say, “Good afternoon Governor, how 
are you doing today?” 
 
To your girlfriend/boyfriend, “Do you want to grab a bite to 
eat? I need to ask you something.” 
To your girlfriend’s father, “Mr. Jones, would you care to have 
dinner with me tonight? I would like to talk to you about your 
daughter, and myself.” 
 
To a coworker, “ Morning Joe.” 
To your boss or a client, “ Good morning, Mr. Smith or Good 
morning, sir.” 
 
 
 
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EXAMPLES 
To a friend, “Man! Was that movie really cool or what, 
we need to see it again!” 
 
We might say, “Give it to me now!” but in abook we 
might see it written as “Could you please pass that to 
me?” 
 
A person talking to a friend might say “The kids were 
always sticking filthy whatsits in their gobs – the mum 
was just useless.” A report written by a social worker 
might read “The children frequently put dirty toys in 
their mouths. The mother was not maintaining any 
order.” 
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FORMAL INFORMAL 
He is resolving the problem with the computer. sorting out 
I contacted with my sister yesterday. got in touch 
Lady Gaga canceled the concert. called off 
The traffic cop is ascertaining the suspect’s ID. checking 
The police officer informed me that he was 
speeding. 
told 
I need to ensure that I arrive on time at the 
office. 
make sure 
Peter enquired about the cost of the ticket. asked 
Sherlock Holmes discovered who murdered the 
priest. 
found out 
We are postponing the holiday because of the 
hurricane. 
putting off 
I received the email today. got 
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EXERCISES 
1. Which of the forms below may be used in a FORMAL context? 
A) Kids (children) 
B) Guy (man/boy) 
C) Awesome (wonderful) 
D) Won’t (will not) 
E) Invigorating (kindling/making alive) 
 
2. Which of the forms below may be used in an INFORMAL 
context? 
A) Cannot (can’t) 
B) Begin (commence) 
C) Ensure (make sure) 
D) Several (many) 
E) Please refer to… (Remember – avoid imperative forms) 
 
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EXERCISES 
 
3. In which alternative all words may be used in a FORMAL 
context? 
 
A) Can’t (cannot) – Supply (furnish) – Entail (involve) 
B) Submit (have to give) – Receive (get) – Carry out 
(effect) 
C) Submit (have to give) – Receive (get) - Effect (carry out) 
D) Disclose (tell) – Exceed – Go over 
E) On receipt (when we get) – Exceed (go over) – Take 
away (withdraw) 
 
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1) Particularidades da fala e da escrita. 
(Particularities of speaking and writing) 
 
2) Contextos de uso do inglês formal e 
do informal. (Contexts of use of formal 
and informal English) 
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See what the North-American Patrick Brown wrote in July, 
2003: “The orthography of English is absurd if not insane. 
There isn't any justification for it - it's just the way it is. Of 
course, those of us who are used to it feel attached to the 
charming madness of English spelling, and we'd be bereft 
were it ever changed.” 
 
First, there is considerable ambiguity in the English spelling 
system, and it works in both directions: many sounds to one 
spelling, and many spellings to one sound. The former 
situation results in ‘eye-rhymes’, or forms which look as if 
they ought to have the same pronunciation. 
 
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Same spelling, different 
pronunciation 
PLOUGH /AW/ 
COUGH /OFF/ 
THROUGH /U:/ 
DOUGH /OW/ 
 
Different spelling, same 
pronunciation 
SEE [I:] 
SEA [I:] 
PEOPLE [I:] 
AMOEBA [I:] 
FIEND [I:] 
 
 
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A consonant is a speech sound made by 
partially or completely blocking the flow of 
air through the mouth (using the lips, teeth, 
tongue, and palate). 
 
Consonant X Contoid 
Since the word ‘consonant’ is used in describing 
the phonology of a language that can include sounds which could 
be classed phonetically as vowels (Y, W), so we ought also to 
have a different word which covers just those sounds which are 
phonetically of the type that produces a significant obstruction 
to the flow of air through the vocal tract: the term proposed is 
CONTOID. 
 ATTENTION - In some words, the h is soundless: hour, honest, 
honesty, heir, honor, honorary, herb. 
 
CONSONANTS 
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[dз] jaw, magic, age 
[θ] think, bathtub, 
mouth 
[ð] the, father 
[t∫] chair, witch 
[r] red, marry, car 
(retroflex) 
 
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A vowel is a speech sound made by allowing breath to flow out of 
the mouth, without closing any part of the mouth or throat. 
Schwa – it appears only in 
unstressed syllables. 
The vowel of words like 'bought', 
'coffee' varies among dialects. 
Northeastern American varieties 
use this one, called 'open o', 
while most Californians (esp. 
Southern Californians), use 'ah' . 
 
VOWELS 
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Vowel diphthong refers to the blending of two vowels sounds, both 
vowel sounds are usually heard and they make a gliding sound: 
 
DIPHTHONGS OR TWIN-VOWELS OR GLIDING VOWELS 
ATTENTION: In the English 
word “ride”, the “i” would be 
transcribed phonetically as 
/ai/. Although it appears as a 
single letter in our writing, it 
actually consists of two vowels 
— if you say the word you 
should be able to hear the 
two. The same happens to 
“no”, “so” /ow/ 
 
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A digraph is a combination of letters or characters used to 
represent a single speech sound. 
 
EXAMPLES OF CONSONANT DIGRAPHS 
CH – chin, such 
SH – ship, wish 
TH – thin, with, this 
WH - whip 
NG - sing 
CK - cock 
PH - phone 
GU - vogue 
BB - clubbed 
SS - miss 
 
 
 
 
 
DIGRAPH 
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A vowel digraph is two letters with the first letter making a long 
sound and the second letter is silent. We call this: "first one 
does the talking, the second keeps on walking." 
 
In English include EA (teach), EE (free), EY (key), IE (piece),), 
OO (book), OA (road) and UE (true), AU (Audience), EO 
(people), IO (region), AI (main), OU (soul). 
 
ATTENTION: friend 
 
The digraph OO has two sounds. One is the sound heard in hook, 
book, good (short). The other sound is the sound heard in tooth, 
choose, goose (long). 
VOWEL DIGRAPHS 
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BLEND OR CLUSTER 
It is a combination of two or more letters, where all of the 
sounds can be distinguished. 
 
CONSONANT BLEND OR CLUSTER 
Two or three consonants are blended together, each consonant 
sound may be heard in the blend. Some examples of consonant 
blends are: 
BL–black, CL–clap, FL–flip,GL–glass, SL–slip, BR–brick, 
DR–drop, SC–scale, SK–skip, RL – world, SW–swell, STR – stray 
(in which there are two clusters: s+t and t+r). 
 
One of the most difficult clusters to be pronounced is RL, as in 
WORLD. 
 
BLEND OR CLUSTER 
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SEMIVOWEL OR GLIDE 
A semivowel (or glide) is a sound, such as English /w/ or /j/ ("y"), that is 
phonetically similar to a vowel sound but functions as the syllable 
boundary rather than as the nucleus of a syllable. 
 
The letter y is a consonant at the beginning of a syllable. If it is anywhere 
else in the syllable, it is a vowel or a semivowel. 
 
Examples of Y as a Consonant - yes - yam - yell - yellow - yogurt - yacht 
Examples of Y as a Vowel - gym - my - cycle - baby - hairy - sky - fairy 
Examples of Y as a Semivowel – valley 
 
The letter w is a consonant at the beginning of a syllable or after another 
consonant. If it is anywhere else in the syllable, it is a semivowel. 
Examples of W as a Consonant – winged – why – swell 
Examples of W as a semivowel – bow – jaw –known - lawn 
 
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IS THERE A CASE WHERE THE "W" IS A VOWEL ON ITS OWN? 
Yes and no. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, 
this happens in the word spelled “cwm,” pronounced 
“koom” and meaning "a steep hollow at the upper end of a 
mountain valley." 
 
Although it is sometimes used as an example of a word in 
which "w" is a vowel, it is more often used as an example 
of a rare English word without a vowel. 
 
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COUNTING PHONEMES 
How many phonemes are there in: 
 
a) rich? 3 /r/ /i/ /ch/(digraph) 
b) pitch? 3 /p/ /i/ /tch/(digraph) 
c) bring?– 4 /b/ /r/ /i/ /ng/(digraph) 
d) shoot? 3 /sh/ (digraph) /o/ (digraph) /t/ 
e) shy? 2 /sh/ (digraph) /y/ 
f) six? 4 /s / /i / / k / /s/ as the "x" has two distinct speech sounds. 
g) brought? 4 /b/ /r/ /ou/ /ght/ 
h) through? 3 /th/ /r/ /ough/ 
i) thorough?4 /th/ /o/ /r/ /ough/ 
k) Bible? 5 /b/ /i/ /b/ /l/ /e/ 
 
 
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RULES 
Digraphs count as 1 phoneme. 
Even if a vowel has a double sound, 
it is 1 phoneme. For example, in the 
word shy, even with the sound /ai/, 
you will have 1 phoneme. 
“Time” has 3 phonemes /t/ /i/ /m/. 
–E at the end of the word is a magic –
E. It doesn’t count as a phoneme. 
If the word ends in “LE” the “E” is 
counted. 
 
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EXAMPLES 
Boy [bɔɪ] 
Make (m k) 
No (n ) 
Low (l ) 
Night (n t) 
Try (tr ) 
Here (hîr) 
Near (nîr) 
There ( âr) [ðɛə] 
Where (hwâr, wâr) 
Cure AE: (ky r) BE: (ky ) 
Newer AE: (n ər) BE: (n ə) 
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EXAMPLES 
How many words are there in “scarecrow”? 
Six in Australian and UK English - s / c / are / c / r / ow However, 
American English has more emphasis on the first "r", and thus there is an 
extra phoneme - s / c / a / re / c / r / ow (7 phonemes) 
 
How many words are there in “whistle”? 
Five or 6. Five if you pronounce /w/ /i/ /s/ /e/ /l/. Six if you aspire 
the “H”: /h/ /w/ /i/ /s/ /e/ /l/. 
 
How many phonemes are there in BIBLE? 
Five. /b/ /i/ /b/ /l/ /e/. If the word ends in “LE” the “E” is counted. 
 
How many phonemes are there in GLOW? 
Three. /g/ /l/ /o/. Even if the /o/ has an /ow/ sound, it counts as one 
phoneme. The /w/ has a mute sound. 
 
 
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EXERCISES 
1. In what Word the y is a semivowel? 
a) yes 
b) yellow 
c) gym 
d) boy 
e) yacht 
 
2. In what option the number of phonemes is 
WRONG? 
a) dream -5 
b) glow - 3 
c) sweet - 4 
d) spread - 5 
e) slice - 4 
 
 
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EXERCISES 
3. Which word sounds different? 
a) tea 
b) pea 
c) see 
d) we 
e) the 
 
4. Which word does NOT have three phonemes? 
a) ride 
b) knock 
c) wreck 
d) road 
e) among 
 
 
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EXERCISES 
 
5. Which of the following words does NOT have the sound shown 
on the picture? 
a) pick peak bean breed 
 
b) bid bit bead bin 
 
c) bed feed fed bell 
 
d) bus bun bat bud 
 
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1) Alfabeto da língua inglesa, com 
quadros descritivos e analíticos das 
consoantes e vogais. (English 
alphabet, with descriptive and 
analytical charts of consonants and 
vowels) 
 
2) Dígrafos e os encontros vocálicos e 
consonantais. (Digraphs and the 
vocalic and consonantal clusters) 
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There are 21 consonant letters in English, for 24 consonant sounds 
in most English accents. Unlike vowels, consonants usually match 
closely enough to permit easy transference or, in some cases, do 
not match at all. 
 
 
Examples in which they do not match 
[dз] jaw, magic, age 
[θ] think, bathtub, mouth 
[ð] the, father 
[t∫] chair, witch 
[r] red, marry, car (retroflex) 
 
 
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A consonant is a speech sound made by partially or completely blocking 
the flow of air through the mouth (using the lips, teeth, tongue, and 
palate). 
 
CONSONANTS – include sounds which could be classed phonetically as 
vowels (Y, W), 
 
CONTOIDS – don’t include sounds which could be classed phonetically 
as vowels (Y, W). 
 
 
CONSONANT AND CONTOID 
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PLACE OF ARTICULATION 
The place of articulation 
is where in the vocal tract 
the obstruction of the 
consonant occurs, and 
which speech organs are 
involved. 
BILABIAL /b/ /p/ /m/ 
/w/ 
DENTAL 
labio dental/f/ /v/ 
Interdental /θ/ /ð/ 
ALVEOLAR /t /d/ /n/ /z/ 
/s/ /l/ 
PALATAL /r/ /š/ /t∫/ /∫/ 
/dз/ /j/ 
VELAR/g/ /k/ /h/ /ŋ/ 
 
 
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MANNER OF ARTICULATION 
How air escapes from the vocal tract when the consonant or approximant 
(vowel-like) sound is made. 
 
STOPS (PLOSIVES):/p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/ 
 
FRICATIVES: /f/ /v/ /h/ /θ/ /ð/ /s/ /z/ /∫/ /š/ 
 
AFFRICATES:/t∫/ /dз/ 
 
LATERAL: /l/ 
 
RETROFLEX: /r/ 
 
NASALS: /m/ /n/ /ŋ/ 
 
SEMIVOWELS(GLIDES): /j/ /w/ 
 
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You may have noticed that the letters /c/, /q/, /x/ do not have a 
phoneme listed. This happens because they are not listed as a 
pure phoneme, as the sounds that they represent can be 
represented by other letters or spellings. 
 
For example: 
the letter c can be represented by the phonemes /k/ or /s/ as in 
can, cent. 
the letter x as in fox can be represented by two phonemes /ks/ 
the letter q can be represented by two phonemes /kw/ as in 
queue 
 
WHAT ABOUT THE LETTERS /C/, /Q/, & /X/ ? 
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CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT FLAP, GLOTTAL, GLIDE and 
APPROXIMANT 
 FLAPPING RULE OR TAPPING 
Intervocalic alveolar flapping (more accurately 'tapping') is a 
phonological process found in many dialects of English, especially 
North American English and Australian English, by which T and D 
surface as the tap [ɾ] : 
 There is a Lenition, i.e, a kind of consonant mutation. Lenition 
means 'softening' or 'weakening' (from Latin lenis = weak), and it 
refers to the change of a consonant considered 'stronger' into one 
considered 'weaker' (or fortis → lenis). 
 
 after vowel: butter , buddy, better 
 after r: barter 
 after l: faculty (but not immediately post-tonic: alter → al[tʰ]er, 
not *al[ɾ]er) 
 
 
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Glottal is a phonological phenomenon that occurs in everyday 
informal English. The phonetic symbol for a glottal stop is ʔ. 
In a true glottal stop there is complete obstruction to the passage of 
air, and the result is a period of silence. Hold your breath. 
It happens: 
 With a t-sound before unstressed vowel 
Fountain – Foun- tain (like a hiccup) - Cur-tain - Bu-tton 
 
 Before a final T: I can’t - Let me know 
 
 In front of a p, t or k if there is not a vowel immediately following 
e.g. captive - kÆʔptiv, catkin’ kÆʔtkin, arctic’ a:ʔktik); 
 
NOTE: A similar case is that of tʃ when following a stressed vowel, as 
in in ‘butcher’ bυʔtʃə. 
 
GLOTTAL 
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Approximants are speech sounds that involve the articulators 
approaching each other but not narrowly enough or with enough 
articulatory precision to create turbulent airflow. Approximants are 
divided into the following two sub-classes: 
liquids 
lateral approximants like [l] (as in less) 
non-lateral approximants like [ɹ] (as in rest) 
semi-vowels - also known as "glides" . They are vowels masquerading as 
consonants. 
 
Examples of Y as a Consonant - yes - yam - yell - yellow - yogurt - yacht 
Examples of Y as a Vowel - gym - my - cycle - baby - hairy - sky - fairy 
Examples of Y as a Semivowel – valley 
Examples of W as a Consonant – winged – why – swell. 
Examples of W as a semivowel – bow – jaw –known - lawn 
 
 
 
 
 
APPROXIMANT (VOWEL-LIKE) 
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Involving vibration of the vocal cords 
VOICED SOUNDS 
SING 
 
AWAY 
 
FATHER 
 
ZOO 
 
LAMP 
 
 
BOY 
 
DAY 
 
JAW 
 
GO 
 
VERY 
 
ROUGE 
ME 
 
NO 
 
RED 
 
YOU 
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VOICELESS SOUNDS 
No vibration of the vocal cords 
sit 
PAY 
 
TOP 
 
CHAIR 
 
CAKE 
 
FUN 
THINK 
 
SIT 
 
SHOE 
 
HAT 
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/d/ When the pronunciation of the infinitive ends in a VOWEL 
OR VOICED CONSONANT 
PRONOUNCING PAST TENSE VERBS 
SING 
 
BLOW 
 
SMOOTH 
 
USE 
 
CONTROL 
 
 
GRAB 
 
ENGAGE 
 
BRAG 
 
LIVE 
 
 
 
BLAME 
 
YAWN 
 
REPAIR 
 
PLAY 
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PRONOUNCING PAST TENSE VERBS 
/t/ When the pronunciation of the infinitive ends with a 
voiceless consonant 
sit 
TYPE 
 
WATCH 
 
WORK 
 
PUFF 
 
MISS 
 
CASH 
 
/ d/ When the pronunciation of the infinitive ends with an alveolar 
stop consonant – /d/ or /t/ 
 
NEED 
 
 
 
CREATE 
 
 
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The -s is pronounced like /z/ after voiced sounds. 
PRONUNCIATION OF PLURAL NOUNS, GENITIVE CASE AND 
PRESENT TENSE VERBS (THIRD PERSONS) 
THROWS 
 
SMOOTHS 
 
GIRLS 
 
 
CABS 
 
DOGS 
 
LIVES 
 
DADS 
 
 
 
TOM’S 
 
JANE’S 
YEARS 
 
BOYS 
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PRONUNCIATION OF PLURAL NOUNS, GENITIVE CASE AND 
PRESENT TENSE VERBS (THIRD PERSONS) 
The -s is pronounced like /s/ after voiceless sounds. 
sit 
CUPS 
 
CATS 
 
MARK’S 
 
JEFF’S 
 
MOTHS 
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PRONUNCIATION OF PLURAL NOUNS, GENITIVE CASE AND 
PRESENT TENSE VERBS (THIRD PERSONS) 
The -s is pronounced with an additional syllable - similar to "iz" - after 
the following endings, both voiced and voiceless which are sibilant. 
CLASSES, PLACES, FIXES 
 
SIZES, EXERCISES 
 
DISHES 
 
JUDGES, PAGES 
 
MATCHES 
 
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MOST COMMON ERRORS WITH THE ENGLISH CONSONANTS 
MADE BY PORTUGUESE NATIVE SPEAKERS. 
 
The aspiration of the English /p/, /t/ and /k/, when occurring 
word-initially or at the beginning of stressed syllables, has no 
equivalent in Portuguese. 
 
pig [phIg] if pronounced as [pIg], without aspiration, could be 
perceived as big 
tin [thIn] if pronounced as [tIn], without aspiration, could be 
perceived as din 
kit [khIt] if pronounced as [kIt], without aspiration, could be 
perceived as git 
 
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In some accents in Brazil /t/ and /d/ are palatalized in the presence 
of a vowel as in words like leite ['leytshi] and pode ['pódzhi]. This 
Portuguese phenomenon, if transferred to English, will neutralize the 
contrast between words like: 
 
till [thIl] - chill [tshIl] 
tip [thIp] - chip [tshIp] 
dim [dIm] - Jim [dzhIm] 
 
 
MOST COMMON ERRORS WITH THE ENGLISH CONSONANTS 
MADE BY PORTUGUESE NATIVE SPEAKERS. 
 
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The phonemes /Ø/ and /ð/ have no close counterparts in Portuguese. 
Commonly, students resortto the clusters /ts/ or /dz/ as substitutes, 
which neutralize the contrast between words like: 
math - mats 
breathe - breeds 
 
Other students might use /s/ and /z/ as substitutes, which is still less 
desirable because /s/ and /z/ have a heavy functional load and this 
substitution could result in the neutralization of minimal pairs like: 
thin - sin 
thick - sick 
faith - face 
 
MOST COMMON ERRORS WITH THE ENGLISH CONSONANTS 
MADE BY PORTUGUESE NATIVE SPEAKERS. 
 
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The English retroflex /r/ does not have a similar sound in Portuguese, 
except in one dialect in certain areas of the state of São Paulo. 
 
hat [hæt] - rat [ræt] 
head [hed] - red [red] 
high [hay] - rye [ray] 
hoe [how] - row [row] 
 
 
MOST COMMON ERRORS WITH THE ENGLISH CONSONANTS 
MADE BY PORTUGUESE NATIVE SPEAKERS. 
 
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In Portuguese /s/ between two vowels has a /z/ sound, but in 
English it may occur or not, as there is no rule for it. So, be 
careful: 
 
House /s/ 
Mouse /s/ 
Use (noun) /s/ 
Vase /s/ 
Case /s/ 
 
 
 
MOST COMMON ERRORS WITH THE ENGLISH CONSONANTS 
MADE BY PORTUGUESE NATIVE SPEAKERS. 
 
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RECOMMENDATION 
Final –s 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ksyiycxq4&feature=related 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoZTs06AUGo&feature=related 
 
Past Simple Regular Verb Endings 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-EC_kk0Lso 
 
'th' /θ/ & /ð/ vs. / t / & / d / - American English Pronunciation Lesson 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewQyUi4QvC0&feature=related 
 
 
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Contents 
1) Classification (voiced or 
voiceless, place and manner of 
articulation) and peculiarities of 
consonants (lenition, glottal, 
approximants and flap phenomena) 
 
2) Pronunciation of consonants in 
final position and in the simple 
past. 
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A vowel is a speech sound made by allowing breath to flow out of 
the mouth, without closing any part of the mouth or throat. 
 
PARTICULARITIES of the vowel sounds in English: 
vowels sounds are always voiced 
TENSENESS: This is another distinctive feature in speech sounds 
that deserves attention. Tenseness, produced by the tension of 
the vocalization muscles, is a characteristic that occurs in English 
vowels (long vowel sounds\) while nonexistent in Portuguese. Let’s 
see better the so-called Long and Short Vowel Sounds 
THERE ARE NO NASAL VOWELS IN ENGLISH. Vowels preceding 
nasal consonants are nasalized, but there is no phonemic 
distinction between nasal and oral vowels (and all vowels are 
considered phonemically oral). However, the word "huh" is 
generally pronounced with a nasal vowel. 
 
 
VOWEL DEFINITION 
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In the International Phonetic Alphabet the sign ː (not a colon, but two 
triangles facing each other) is used for vowel length. 
 
 
 
Diacritics 
Macron (ā), used to indicate a long vowel 
Breves (ă) are used to mark short vowels 
 
 
NOTATION 
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VOWELS CLASSIFICATION 
SHORT VOWEL SOUNDS 
LONG VOWEL SOUNDS 
HIT 
 
PUT 
 
BUT 
 
DOT 
ABOUT 
 
BET 
 
HAT 
 
 
LEAVE 
 
TOO, UNICORN 
 
PART, APRON 
 
CAUGHT, BOUGHT 
 
WORD 
 
 
 
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RULES FOR SHORT AND LONG VOWEL SOUNDS 
 LONG SHORT 
a short word, or the last syllable of a longer 
word, ends in this pattern: vowel--consonant—
e (magic –e), the first vowel is usually long and 
the e is silent. place, cake, mice, vote, mute. 
Exception: verbs – live, love, come 
syllable ends in a consonant 
and has only one vowel 
fat, bed, fish, spot, luck. 
a syllable ends in any vowel and is the only 
vowel, that vowel is usually long. Examples: 
"pa/per, me, I, o/pen, u/nit. 
 a word has one vowel and it comes at the end 
of the word, that word usually has a long 
vowel sound. E.g.: he – we – why - yo-yo - my 
The vowels i and o have the long vowel sound 
when followed by two or more consonants. 
E.g.: child –mind – light – old – colt 
vowel is followed by two 
consonants: Sammy, Beth, Ross 
a syllable has 2 vowels together (digraph) , the 
first vowel is usually long and the second is 
silent. Examples: pain, eat, boat, say, grow. 
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Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
A vowel digraph is two letters with the first letter making a long 
sound and the second letter is silent. We call this: "first one 
does the talking, the second keeps on walking." 
 
In English include EA (teach), EE (free), EY (key), IE (piece),), 
OO (book), OA (road) and UE (true), AU (Audience), EO 
(people), IO (region), AI (main), OU (soul). 
 
ATTENTION: friend (the long sound is the –e, the -i is a silent 
letter) 
 
VOWEL DIGRAPHS (LONG VOWEL SOUND) 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
Sight words are also called IRREGULAR WORDS OR OUTLAW WORDS. 
They are words that not follow these rules of long and short sound. 
 WHOM — This should have short vowel sounds because they are 
closed syllables, like sat and cot, BUT IT HAS A LONG SOUND. 
 AGAIN, AGAINST, SAYS AND SAID — These should have long a 
sounds because of the AI vowel combination, like say and pain. 
(digraph). Attention to the sound, BUT THEY HAVE A SHORT 
SOUND. 
 BEEN — This should have a long e sound, like seen, BUT IT HAS A 
SHORT SOUND 
 The vowels i and o have the long vowel sound when followed by 
two or more consonants. Exceptions: MONTH, FRONT, 
OTHER,AMONG. (SHORT VOWEL SOUND) 
 When the vowel "o" is followed by "i," the two-vowel rule is not 
followed, as in "BOIL." – neither long nor short. 
 COUGH, THOUGHT, TOUGH – short sound 
 
SIGHT WORDS 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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AR - car, star, arm, shark 
ER - sister, brother, waiter, barber, butter, hammer, shutter. 
IR - shirt, skirt, girl, bird 
OR - corn, fork, cord 
UR - church, nurse, curve, burger 
 
ATTENTION: 
Grammarians have no consensus about how to classify the 
following vowels. 
Some will say they are long. Others that they are not long nor 
short. They are R-controlled. 
 
 
R-CONTROLLED VOWEL (ALSO KNOWN AS R-COLORED VOWELS 
OR MURMUR DIPHTHONGS) 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
Itis a sound that appears only in unstressed syllables. It happens to the 
vowel that comes immediately after or before the stressed vowel. 
 Example: the word photographer might be pronounced /fô'tógrafêr/ 
instead of the correct /fə'tagrəfər/. 
 like the 'a' in about [əbaʊt] 
like the 'e' in taken [ˈteɪkən] 
like the 'i' in pencil [ˈpɛnsəl] 
like the 'o' in eloquent [ˈɛləkwənt] 
like the 'u' in supply [səˈplaɪ] 
like the 'y' in sibyl [ˈsɪbəl] 
 
/a/ among, afraid, probably, attempt, away, adept 
/e/ Children, synthesis /i/ decimal 
/o/ Complete, harmony /u/ medium 
/y/ syringe 
 
 
 
 
 
SCHWA /ə/ 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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/e/ /æ/ 
bed bad 
led lad 
dead dad 
head had 
peck pack 
wreck rack 
Ben ban 
den Dan 
Ken can 
ten tan 
rep rap 
bet bat 
met mat 
net gnat 
pet pat 
set sat 
lest last 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
EXERCISES 
1. Underline the word which contains the short form of the 
vowel: 
a) arrive heart fun heat 
b) fake seat vase come 
c) but meet seat cake 
d) each wheel hill bean 
e) rich meal reach eat 
 
2. Which word has a long vowel sound?: 
a) beat b) bet c) man d) men 
 
3. Which word sounds different? 
a) mother b) brother c) bother d) another 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
Contents 
1)Redeploy the vocalic phonemes 
 
2)Work the concept of long and short 
vowel sounds 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
REV 1 – LESSONS 1 TO 5 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
See what the North-American Patrick Brown wrote in July, 
2003: “The orthography of English is absurd if not insane. There 
isn't any justification for it - it's just the way it is. Of course, 
those of us who are used to it feel attached to the charming 
madness of English spelling, and we'd be bereft were it ever 
changed.” 
 
First, there is considerable ambiguity in the English spelling 
system, and it works in both directions: many sounds to one 
spelling, and many spellings to one sound. 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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Same spelling, different pronunciation 
PLOUGH /AW/ 
COUGH /OFF/ 
THROUGH /U:/ 
DOUGH /OW/ 
 
Different spelling, same pronunciation 
SEE [I:] 
SEA [I:] 
PEOPLE [I:] 
AMOEBA [I:] 
FIEND [I:] 
 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
RULES FOR COUNTING THE NUMBER OF PHONEMES 
Digraphs and diphthongs count as 1 phoneme. 
 
Even if a vowel has a double sound, it is 1 phoneme. For 
example, in the word shy, even with the sound /ai/, you will have 
1 phoneme. 
 
“Time” has 3 phonemes /t/ /i/ /m/. –E at the end of the word 
is a magic –E. It doesn’t count as a phoneme. 
 
If the word ends in “LE” the “E” is counted. 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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How many phonemes are there in the following words? 
WORDS PHONEMES 
Rich 3 /r/ /i/ /ch/ 
Thorough 4 /th/ /o/ /r/ /ough/ 
Bring 4 /b/ /r/ /i/ /ng/ 
Shy 2 /sh/ /y/ 
Six 4 /s/ /i/ /ks/ 
Boy 3 /b/ /o/ /y/ 
Night 3 /n/ /i/ /ght/ 
Now 2 /n/ /ow/ 
Bough 2 /b/ /ough/ 
Kite 3 /k/ /i/ /t/ 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
EXAMPLES 
How many words are there in “scarecrow”? 
Six in Australian and UK English - s / c / are / c / r / ow 
However, American English has more emphasis on the first "r", and thus 
there is an extra phoneme - s / c / a / re / c / r / ow (7 phonemes) 
 
How many words are there in “whistle”? 
Five or 6. Five if you pronounce /w/ /i/ /s/ /e/ /l/. 
Six if you aspire the “H”: /h/ /w/ /i/ /s/ /e/ /l/. 
 
How many phonemes are there in BIBLE? 
Five. /b/ /i/ /b/ /l/ /e/. If the word ends in “LE” the “E” is counted. 
 
 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
They are vowels masquerading as consonants. 
 
 
 
 
Examples of Y as a Consonant - yes - yam - yell - yellow - yogurt - yacht 
Examples of Y as a Vowel - gym - my - cycle - baby - hairy - sky - fairy 
Examples of Y as a Semivowel – valley 
 
 
Examples of W as a Consonant – winged – why – swell. 
Examples of W as a semivowel – bow – jaw –known - lawn 
 
 
 
 
 
SEMIVOWELS OR GLIDES 
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/d/ When the pronunciation of the infinitive ends in a VOWEL 
OR VOICED CONSONANT 
PRONOUNCING PAST TENSE VERBS 
 
 
BLOW 
 
SMOOTH 
 
USE 
 
CONTROL 
 
 
GRAB 
 
ENGAGE 
 
BRAG 
 
LIVE 
 
 
 
BLAME 
 
YAWN 
 
REPAIR 
 
PLAY 
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PRONOUNCING PAST TENSE VERBS 
/t/ When the pronunciation of the infinitive ends with a 
voiceless consonant 
sit 
TYPE 
 
WATCH 
 
WORK 
 
PUFF 
 
MISS 
 
CASH 
 
/ d/ When the pronunciation of the infinitive ends with an alveolar 
stop consonant – /d/ or /t/ 
 
NEED 
 
 
 
CREATE 
 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
The -s is pronounced like /z/ after voiced sounds. 
PRONUNCIATION OF PLURAL NOUNS, GENITIVE CASE AND 
PRESENT TENSE VERBS (THIRD PERSONS) 
THROWS 
 
SMOOTHS 
 
GIRLS 
 
 
CABS 
 
DOGS 
 
LIVES 
 
DADS 
 
 
 
TOM’S 
 
JANE’S 
YEARS 
 
BOYS 
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Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
 
PRONUNCIATION OF PLURAL NOUNS, GENITIVE CASE AND 
PRESENT TENSE VERBS (THIRD PERSONS) 
The -s is pronounced like /s/ after voiceless sounds. 
sit 
CUPS 
 
CATS 
 
MARK’S 
 
JEFF’S 
 
MOTHS 
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PRONUNCIATION OF PLURAL NOUNS, GENITIVE CASE AND 
PRESENT TENSE VERBS (THIRD PERSONS) 
The -s is pronounced with an additional syllable - similar to "iz" - after 
the following endings, both voiced and voiceless which are sibilant. 
CLASSES, PLACES, FIXES 
 
SIZES, EXERCISES 
 
DISHES 
 
JUDGES, PAGES 
 
MATCHES 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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VOWELS CLASSIFICATION 
SHORT VOWEL SOUNDS 
LONG VOWEL SOUNDS 
HIT 
 
PUT 
 
BUT 
 
DOT 
ABOUT 
 
BET 
 
HAT 
 
 
LEAVE 
 
TOO, UNICORN 
 
PART, APRON 
 
CAUGHT,BOUGHT 
 
WORD 
 
 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
RULES FOR LONG VOWEL SOUNDS 
 Vowel-consonant—e (magic –e) - the first vowel is usually LONG and 
the e is silent. E.g.: place, cake, mice, vote, mute. 
Exceptions: verbs – live, love, come 
 
A syllable ends in any vowel and is the only vowel. 
E.g.: "pa/per, o/pen, u/nit. 
 
A word has ONE vowel and it comes at the end of the word. 
E.g.: he – we – why - yo-yo - my 
 
The vowels i and o have the LONG VOWEL SOUND when followed by 
two or more consonants. E.g.: child –mind – light – old – colt 
 
A syllable has 2 vowels together (digraph) , the first vowel is usually 
LONG and the second is silent. 
E.g.: pain, eat, boat, say, grow. 
 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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RULES FOR SHORT VOWEL SOUNDS 
 
A syllable ends in a consonant and has only one vowel 
E.g.: fat, bed, fish, spot, luck. 
 
 
A vowel is followed by two consonants (digraphs) 
E.g.: Sammy, Beth, Ross 
 
 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
RULES FOR SHORT AND LONG VOWEL SOUNDS 
 
According to some grammarians, diphthongs are neither long nor short. 
They are classified as diphthongs. 
 
According to some grammarians, when the diphthong doesn’t come at 
the end of the syllable and is represented by one vowel, this vowel is 
long and when it is represented by two vowels, it is neither long nor 
short. 
 
Let’s see the second case: 
mAke - long 
nIght – long 
nOIse – neither long nor short 
bOUgh - neither long nor short 
 
 
 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
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RULES FOR SHORT AND LONG VOWEL SOUNDS 
 
 
At the end of the syllable – neither long nor short 
no – neither long nor short 
day – neither long nor short 
low – neither long nor short 
boy - neither long nor short 
 
The following diphthongs are always NEITHER LONG NOR SHORT. 
here, near – neither long nor short 
there, wear – neither long nor short 
cure – neither long nor short 
 
 
 
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LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
It is a sound that appears only in unstressed syllables. It happens to the 
vowel that comes immediately after or before the stressed vowel. 
 
The word photographer might be pronounced /fô'tógrafêr/ instead of the 
correct /fə'tagrəfər/. 
 
 like the 'a' in about [ə’baʊt] 
like the 'e' in taken [‘teɪkən] 
like the 'i' in pencil [‘pɛnsəl] 
like the 'o' in eloquent [‘ɛləkwənt] 
like the 'u' in supply [sə’plaɪ] 
like the 'y' in sibyl [‘sɪbəl] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SCHWA /ə/ 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
/e/ /æ/ 
bed bad 
led lad 
dead dad 
head had 
peck pack 
wreck rack 
Ben ban 
den Dan 
Ken can 
ten tan 
rep rap 
bet bat 
met mat 
net gnat 
pet pat 
set sat 
lest last 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
EXERCISES 
1. Underline the word which contains the short form of the 
vowel: 
a) arrive heart fun heat 
b) fake seat vase come 
c) but meet seat cake 
d) each wheel hill bean 
e) rich meal reach eat 
 
2. In what option the number of phonemes is WRONG? 
a) dream -4 
b) glow - 3 
c) sweet - 4 
d) spread - 5 
e) slice - 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
 
EXERCISES 
 
5. Which of the following words does NOT have the sound shown 
on the picture? 
a) pick peak bean breed 
 
b) bid bit bead bin 
 
c) bed feed fed bell 
 
d) bus bun bat bud 
 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
LÍNGUA INGLESA FONÉTICA E FONOLOGIA 
Aula 1- O Caráter Científico do Estudo da Fonética e da Fonologia 
Contents of this class 
Relation between spelling and 
pronunciation; 
 
Number of phonemes; 
 
The pronunciation of consonants in final 
position and in the simple past; 
 
The concept of long and short vowel 
sounds