English is a language that has many different sounds, some of which can be hard to pronounce or write down. In this article, we will look at some of the most tricky sounds in English, how to pronounce them correctly, and how to use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to transcribe them.
What is the IPA?
To learn more about the IPA and how to use it, you can watch this video:
Vowels
Vowels are sounds that are made with an open mouth and no obstruction of the air flow. English has many Vowel Sounds, some of which are short (like /æ/ in "cat") and some of which are long (like /i:/ in "see"). Some vowel sounds are also diphthongs, which means they are a combination of two vowel sounds in one syllable (like /aɪ/ in "eye"). Here are some examples of tricky vowel sounds in English and how to pronounce them:
- /ɪ/ vs /i:/: These two sounds are often confused by learners because they are both high front vowels, but they have different lengths and qualities. The sound /ɪ/ is short and lax, which means your tongue is relaxed and slightly lower than for /i:/. The sound /i:/ is long and tense, which means your tongue is high and close to the roof of your mouth. To Practice these sounds, try saying these words: "sit" (/sɪt/) vs "seat" (/si:t/), "bit" (/bɪt/) vs "beat" (/bi:t/), "ship" (/ʃɪp/) vs "sheep" (/ʃi:p/).
- /ʌ/ vs /ə/: These two sounds are also often confused by learners because they are both mid central vowels, but they have different stress patterns and qualities. The sound /ʌ/ is stressed and lax, which means your tongue is relaxed and slightly lower than for /ə/. The sound /ə/ is unstressed and schwa, which means it is the most neutral vowel sound in English. To practice these sounds, try saying these words: "cut" (/kʌt/) vs "about" (/əˈbaʊt/), "but" (/bʌt/) vs "the" (/ðə/), "fun" (/fʌn/) vs "again" (/əˈgen/).
- /ɔ:/ vs /ɒ/: These two sounds are also often confused by learners because they are both low back vowels, but they have different lengths and qualities. The sound /ɔ:/ is long and rounded, which means your lips are rounded and protruded. The sound /ɒ/ is short and unrounded, which means your lips are relaxed and slightly open. To practice these sounds, try saying these words: "saw" (/sɔ:/) vs "sock" (/sɒk/), "bought" (/bɔ:t/) vs "bot" (/bɒt/), "law" (/lɔ:/) vs "lock" (/lɒk/).
Consonants
Consonants are sounds that are made with a partial or complete closure of the air flow in the mouth or throat. English has many consonant sounds, some of which are voiced (like /b/ in "boy") and some of which are voiceless (like /p/ in "pie"). Some consonant sounds are also affricates, which means they are a combination of a stop and a fricative in one sound (like /tʃ/ in "cheese"). Here are some examples of tricky consonant sounds in English and how to pronounce them:
- /θ/ vs /ð/: These two sounds are often difficult for learners because they are not common in many other languages. They are both dental fricatives, which means you make them by placing your tongue between your teeth and blowing air out of your mouth. The difference is that /θ/ is voiceless and /ð/ is voiced. To practice these sounds, try saying these words: "thin" (/θɪn/) vs "then" (/ðen/), "think" (/θɪŋk/) vs "this" (/ðɪs/), "bath" (/bɑ:θ/) vs "bathe" (/beɪð/).
- /tʃ/ vs /ʃ/: These two sounds are also difficult for learners because they are both postalveolar fricatives, which means you make them by raising your tongue to the roof of your mouth behind your alveolar ridge (the bumpy part behind your teeth). The difference is that /tʃ/ is an affricate and /ʃ/ is a fricative. To practice these sounds, try saying these words: "chair" (/tʃeər/) vs "share" (/ʃeər/), "cheese" (/tʃi:z/) vs "she's" (/ʃi:z/), "watch" (/wɒtʃ/) vs "wash" (/wɒʃ/).
- /ʒ/ vs /dʒ/: These two sounds are also difficult for learners because they are both voiced postalveolar fricatives, but they have different manners of articulation. The sound /ʒ/ is a fricative, which means you make it by creating a narrow gap between your tongue and the roof of your mouth and blowing air through it. The sound /dʒ/ is an affricate, which means you make it by first stopping the air flow with your tongue and then releasing it with a fricative sound. To practice these sounds, try saying these words: "measure" (/ˈmeʒər/) vs "major" (/ˈmeɪdʒər/), "pleasure" (/ˈpleʒər/) vs "pledge" (/pledʒ/), "vision" (/ˈvɪʒən/) vs "bridge" (/brɪdʒ/).
Conclusion
These are some of the most tricky sounds in English, but there are many more to learn and practice. The best way to improve your pronunciation is to listen to native speakers, record yourself, and compare your sounds with the IPA symbols. You can also use online resources, such as pronunciation dictionaries⁴, YouTube videos⁵, and podcasts⁶, to help you learn and practice. Remember, pronunciation is a physical skill that requires regular practice and feedback. With time and effort, you can master the tricky sounds in English and speak with confidence and clarity.
