Short e and Long a

Here's another pair that can cause trouble for those practicing pronunciation...short e and long a.

short e (ε)

• grimace like when you're slightly disgusted with something or you didn't hear someone clearly.
• open the mouth a little wider (about half of your thumb's length wide)
• do this sound for 1 beat.

long a (e or εi)

• start in the same position as (ε)
• then smile
• do this for 2 beats.

(ε)    short e                                                        (εi) long a

                                           fell                                                                       fail

                                           sell                                                                      sail

                                           bell                                                                      bail

                                           tell                                                                       tale

                                           cell                                                                      sail

                                           dell                                                                      dale

                                           well                                                                      wail

(ε) short e

1. Seven enviable men set out today.
2. I wept when a friend had a debt.
3. Get some medicine for your headache.
4. Dr. Bell said the wet, heavy weather is bad for you.

(εi) long a

1. Katie said she waited for a pail.
2. The way to the oasis is dangerous.
3. The rain seems a waste of water.
4. An acre of acorns makes squirrels insane.

Tongue Twisters!

Red ravens renege on their deal

And the lame rabbit's rage is more than ideal

To teach them lessons they'll never forget:

Don't bait a rabbit you've only just met.

Short o and Long o

Sorry for the delay, guys. Adjusting to my new schedule as a volunteer is a bit of a hassle *sweat drop*.

Anyway, let's get started! ^^

Short o (Ɔ)

• open your mouth about half your thumb's length (normal a position)
• purse your lips to make an O shape

Long O (ɔʊ)

• purse your lips to make an O shape
• after that, make the opening smaller.
• say  this for 2 beats

    Short o (Ɔ)                           Long O (ɔʊ)

                                                       store                                         soap

                                                       bore                                          boat

                                                       sore                                          sew

                                                       gore                                          know

                                                       lore                                           low

                                                       floor                                         flow

Short o (Ɔ)

1. An awkward warden bought an automobile.
2. The lizard crawled and clawed along the wall.
3. George danced the waltz until dawn.
4. They cautiously altered the arrangement.

Long o (ɔʊ)

1. Load the boat and let us go.
2. The host noticed tomato sauce on his shoulder.
3. The oval plateau was on the coast.
4. My own diploma was a bonus.

TONGUE TWISTER

There was a group of tourists who went to the haunted hall. One's coat was caught on a nail and they paused. They found some flaws in the flow of lines along the wall, then they read the poems of Poe and Shaw. A ghost applauded the reading, and they all fled in awe. Later, the haunted hall was bought by a man named Joe.

Short u and Long u

Both short u and long basically have the same starting position: pursed lips with a very small opening. Their only difference is length of time. As you guessed, short u is pronounced with one beat, and long u with two. Let's move on to the drills, then. ^^

Long u (ʊ̈)                                  Short u (Ʊ)

                                                     fool                                             full
                                                     pool                                            pull
                                                    shooed                                         should
                                                    wooed                                         would
                                                    cooed                                          could

Long u (ʊ̈)

1. Luke stewed while he cooked a stew.
2. The groom's tooth is loose.
3. The putrid boot is in the loo.
4. Rude boys are taboo.

Short u (Ʊ)

1. A bull pushed the woman with a crook.
2. The butcher took some cookie recipes.
3. I would pull the pages in the cookbook.
4. The wolves stole the hood from the hook.

TONGUE TWISTER

A Tudor who tooted the flute,

Tried to tutor two tooters to toot,

Said the two to the Tudor,

"Is it harder to toot,

Or to tutor two tooters too toot?"