Short e and Short a

Let's look at two rather troublesome sounds. This pair sounds almost the same...but they're not.

Short e (Ɛ) 

• smile slightly
• open your mouth about 3/4 the length of your thumb

Short a (æ)

• start with the same position as short e
• open your mouth about 3/4 the length of your thumb as well.
• now lower your jaw a little more while saying ja (note: j is pronounced as y in IPA)
• your tongue will be moving slightly backward then forward, but it's still flat in your mouth
• the sound you would be saying is Ɛja

Is it clear? Let's do the drills so that you will remember them! ^^

short e (Ɛ)                                            short a (æ)

                                               bed                                                       bad

                                               pen                                                       pan

                                               men                                                      man

                                               trek                                                       track

                                               peck                                                     pack

                                               ten                                                        tan

                                               hem                                                      ham

short e (Ɛ)

1. They left the scented petals on the leather sofa.
2. Get yourself a new pet from the store.
3. The devil under the hemlock tree is red
4. Ten generals caught ten bad men.
5. Pen the letter for the seven men.

short a (æ)

1. Athletes have big appetites.
2. The antiques are in the attic.
3. He married his companion from Arizona.
4. The annual family picnic is in January.
5. Stand still in the alley.

TONGUE TWISTERS

I bet the better batter would batter the betting bed wetter, if the betting bed wetter does not bet on him. If the betting bed wetter bets on the better batter, he better be a better batter than he was before.