ENGLISH AND SPANISH VOWELS SOUNDS

It is important know differences between English vowels and Spanish vowels. In Spanish has five pure vowels sounds such as: a,e,i,o,u . Also “The vowels a, e, and o are pronounced quite softly, while i and u are pronounced with a strong tone”. for example, a: pan, e: mes, i:, bonita,o: yo, u: tú. English has eleven pure vowels sound that are form for five long vowels iː,aː,uː,ɔː,ɜ ːand six short vowels sounds I,e,a, ae,^,u  In addition, for foreign learners is difficult recognize and pronounce these sounds, because in some case has similar sound.     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRxG_OnnRSQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMM_hwyHxaI

PLOSIVES

This unit is about English plosives. It refers six plosive consonants sound as /p,t,k,g,d/ and one consonant that produce in glottal place h ,but the plosive consonants have different place of articulation. For example, /b,p/ sounds are bilabial. Besides, “all six plosives consonants sounds occur at the beginning of a vowel (initial position), between other sound (medial position), and at the end of a word (final position)”. For example,

Initial position---CV= put

Medial position---VCV=apple

Final position---VC= up 

References:

Peter  Roach, English Phoentics and Phonology, Cambridge University, New York, fourth edition,2009 

DIPHTHONGS AND TRIPHTHONGS

This unit is about diphthongs and triphthongs. Diphthong is combination of two vowels that make a sound. The numbers of diphthongs are eight that are / Iə, eə, ʊə, eI, aI, ɔI, əʊ, aʊ/. Also, these diphthongs are form with tree vowel sounds that are /ə/  this sound is centring position. For example Iə, eə, ʊə, and /I,ɔ/  these sounds  are closing. For example, eI, aI, ɔI, əʊ, aʊ   .Triphthongs are combination one vowel to another and then to a third, producing one sound. For example eI+ ə= eIə, layer, aI+ə= aIə liar, ɔI+ə =ɔIə loyal ,əʊ+ ə=əʊə lower, aʊ+ə= aʊə.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi1_oTqv2pc

LONG VOWELS

 This unit is about long vowels. English language has five long vowels sounds such as: iː,aː,uː,ɔː,ɜ ː. The main characteristic is that long vowels sounds are followed by the voiced consonants sounds. For example /b,v,g,z/ sounds. Also, in this unit studies the position that have each one such as:” iː it is closer and more front, aːthis is an open vowel, and the lips position is neutral, uːit is much less back and less close,ɔːthe tongue height for this vowel, closer to the latter and ,ɜ ːit is a mid central vowel which is used in most English accents”.

Reference: 

Peter Roach, English Phonetics and Phonology,Cambrige Universiy, New York ,2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY6EZjcDZdA

THE PRODUCTION OF SPEECH SOUND

This unit is about articulator above the larynx. This unit studies the parts of the body and organs that help us to make sounds. The organs along with the breath that comes from the lungs work together to produce sounds such as: pharynx, soft palate, hard palate, alveolar ridge, tongue, teeth and lips. Beside in this unit we find a little introduction about short vowels and consonants sounds. Vowels sounds are sound in which there is not obstruction to the flow of air it passes  from the larynx to the lips, and consonants sounds depend when each one are produce.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArmTOv7Q3Q

INTRODUCTION

  

This unit is about the introduction of English phonetics and phonology. This unit refers how English is pronouncing, and its principal’s elements that help that this process develops such as: the production of speech sound. It represents all organs that produce different sounds that we make when we speak. For example /b/sound is produce for lips Besides, Phonemes and phonetics, these elements are different. For example, phonemes use slashes //, and phonetic use [ ]. Another is the place of articulation that has all consonants and vowels as /f/ sound is labiodental and voiceless. Finally, Accents and dialects. This about different accents that produced by people from different geographical place. For example American English and British English. 

 References:   

http://books.google.com.ec/books/about/Introduction_to_English_Phonetics_and_Ph.html?id=zG-w9D5Bu1gC&redir_esc=y