INSTITUTO NEUQUINO DEL PROFESORADO EN INGLES
Fundación "Cristina Gallo de Morales"
PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS – TRADUCTORADO EN INGLÉS
PHONETICS I
Unit 3
Curso: Primer Año
Profesora: Laura Andrea Estevez
Ciclo lectivo: 2016
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
The English Pure Vowels
A vowel is a “sound in the production of which the air-stream comes out through the mouth
(and nose), centrally over the tongue, and metes a stricture of open approximation” (Finch &
Ortíz-Lira, 1982, p. 189).
Characteristics of vowels:

They can stand on their own. Some MONSYLLABIC WORDS illustrate this point: ear,
or, out, err, air, I, owe, etc.

They occur in the nucleus of the syllable, so they are CENTRAL. E.g. peas, ease, pee.

The air escapes freely through the mouth. This means that they are CONTINUANT
because the airflow does not stop. Also, they are FRICTIONLESS because the organs
are sufficiently apart so as not to produce turbulence.

They are normally VOICED because there is vibration of the vocal folds.

They are mainly ORAL because the air escapes through the ORAL cavity. However,
they can be NASALISED when they are in contact with .l+ m+ M.. Block your nostrils
with your fingers and compare the word reader with morning. Which of the two has a
continuous nasal resonance?

They are better described AUDITORILY because it is difficult to see what happens
inside your mouth. Also, it takes a lot of practice to be able to manipulate your organs
of speech at will!

The articulatory features that make vowels different from each other are:
TENSENESS, the shape of the lips, their relative length and QUALITY. Remember
that the last feature is the most transcendental.
cardinal vowel diagram, devised by Daniel
Jones. These cardinal vowels do not
exist in any language in particular; they are
abstractions which serve as a reference
point to describe and compare the vowels
in a language, and also across languages.
The vertical axis of the chart indicates the
degree of opening of the jaw and its
connection with the raising or lowering of
the tongue. The horizontal axis shows the
_ The vowel chart is used as a visual aid for
understanding the quality of the vowel
system in a language. It is based on the
part of the tongue that is raised the most
and forms the narrowest stricture in the
oral tract.
2
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure Front Vowel. Long. The front of the tongue is raised to a height slightly
below and behind the close front position; the lips are spread: the tongue is tense, with the
side rims making a firm contact with the upper molars.
Distribution
Initial
Medial
Final
east
peel
see
Spelling:
....... : three, cheese, leek, ………………………….
....... : people, ……………………………………...
....... : season, leap, seat, …………………………..
....... : piece, siege, ..............................
....... : be, these, complete, ………………………..
....... and ....... : seize, receive, key, ............
....... and ....... : aesthetic, anaemia,
....... : machine, prestige, ..................
phoenix, ……………………………
3
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Tips:

Spellings: silent <-e>, magic <-y>, two vowels together where the first one says its
name.

This is similar to the Spanish sound in the words “tía mía”.

Think of Spanish /i/ and close your jaws a bit more. Smile a bit, this helps!
Silly Sentence:
o
Three sleepy sheep see a bee eat a piece of cheese. They seem to be pleased.
/..................................................................................................................................
...................…………....................................................................................................../
In a café: ‘It’s cheaper to eat at Marguerite’s’
CHRISTINA: What would you like to eat, 1 …………………………….. ? The cheese sandwiches are the
cheapest. PETER: Er … mmm … oh, a 2 …………………………. sandwich, please, Christina. }
CHRISTINA: Cheese … mmm … Janine? Would you like a 3 ……………………………………… sandwich or
a cheese sandwich?
JANINE: A cheese sandwich, 4 …………………………………….
PETER: What about you, Christina? Would you like cheese or 5 ……………………………………….?
WAITRESS: Are you all ready to order? What would you like to 6 …………………………………………?
CHRISTINA: Er, we’ll have one beef sandwich, two cheese sandwiches and, mmm, 7
………………………………… for me.
JANINE: Tea for 8 …………………………………….. too, please.
PETER: Yes, make that three 9 ……………………………………., please.
WAITRESS: (writing down the order) One beef sandwich, two cheese sandwiches and 10
………………………….. teas.
4
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure Front Vowel. Short. The part of the tongue slightly nearer the centre is
raised to just above the half close position ( not as high as in /i:/ ) . The lips are spread
5
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
loosely, and the tongue is more relaxed. The sides of the tongue may just touch the upper
molars.
Distribution
Initial
Medial
ill
since
Final
Spelling:
....... : sit, tick, ....................
....... : circuit, build, .........................
....... : sympathy, mystery, ......................
....... : busy, minute, .................................
....... : sieve, hippie, ...................
....... and ....... : women, pretty, ............
....... and ....... : bargain, coffee, .................
....... : character, spinach,..................
....... and ...... : image, postage , preface,
.................
Tips

Basic vowel pattern in the spelling.

This is a checked vowel, this means that it cannot occur in word-final position,

This is similar to the Spanish sound in the incredulous version of “sí, sí” (sometimes
spelt “se se” the words “Sixto, mixto”.

Think of Spanish /i/ and drop your jaws a bit more.

This sound can be stressed (e.g. sit) or unstressed (e.g. sitting). The following weak,
and extremely frequent words, contain this sound: in, is, it, its, it´s, if, this, with, his,
him, etc.
Silly Sentence :
o
Which big tin did Bill kick under the kitchen sink?
/ ……………………………....................................................................................................../
Three interesting films
BILL: Good evening, Mrs Lee.
GINA: Is Kim in?
BILL: Is he coming to the cinema, Mrs Lee? It’s the Children’s Film 1 ………………………………………. .
MRS LEE: Kim’s ill.
BILL: Here he is!
GINA: Hi, Kim! KIM: Hi, Gina! Hi, Bill!
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
BILL: Kim, we’ve got these three free tickets to see three 2 …………………………………………… films for
children! MRS LEE: Listen, Kim … KIM: Is it 3 ………………………………….. ?
GINA: We think it is. First there’s a short film about gorillas and 4 ……………………………………. in
Africa, and … BILL: … then the next film is about the six best Olympic 5
……………………………………………… competitions, and then …
GINA: … then it’s the big film – The 6 ……………………………………………. of English Cricket.
KIM: Cricket! BILL: It’s a 7 …………………………………………… film.
MRS LEE: If you’re ill, Kim …
GINA: It would be a pity to miss it.
MRS LEE: Now listen, you kids …
BILL: And it begins in fifty minutes.
MRS LEE: KIM!
KIM: Quick! Or we’ll miss the 8 …………………………………………….. of the gorilla film!
7
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure Front Vowel. Short. The front of the tongue is beween the half-open and
half –close position. Lips are loosely spread . The tongue is tenser than for /I/, and the sides
of the tongue may touch the upper molars.
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Distribution
Initial
Medial
L
said
Final
Spelling:
....... :bed, set, went, ....................
....... :many,any .........................
....... :head, dead, ......................
....... : heifer, Leicester, ........................
....... :jeopardize,Leonard ...................
Exceptional spelling: bury, burial, friend, says,
ate, said
Tips:

Basic vowel pattern in the spelling.

Think of Spanish /e/ and drop your jaws a bit more. The English /e/ is more open than
the Spanish /e/. It may be found in Spanish words like “perro, ley”.
Silly Sentence:
o
The jelly Ned made for Ted never set.
/................................................................................................................................./
Extra Practice: Transcribe the underlined words and practise following text.
Only ten per cent of Kensington Express readers take regular exercise. In a recent survey,
readers answered questions about diet and exercise. Ten per cent felt that they were healthy
or very healthy. Twenty per cent admitted that they should take more exercise.
Read the following dialogue and try to fill in the gaps with the expressions below.
 Can I get you a drink, Adele?
 Is that better?
 Was it expensive?
 Are you listening to the Red Hot Chily Peppers?
 How did you spend your holiday, Adele?
 Are you a friend of Emma´s?
 Have you met my friend Adele yet, Kevin?
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Friends
ADELE: Hi, Emma! Hi, Ben! Hello, Emily! Hello! Eddie! Hi, everybody!
EVERYBODY EXC EPT KEVIN: Hi, Adele!
EMILY: Nice to see you again, Adele. Kevin, this is Adele. Adele, this is Kevin.
ADELE: Hi, Kevin. 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………..…..? It´s terribly
loud.
KEVIN: Yes …. (turns the music down) 2 ……………………………………………..? (Adele nods her head)
3 ………………………………………………………………………… ?
ADELE: Yes.
KEVIN: Emma said she had a friend called Adele.
EDDIE: Help yourself to Mexican food, Adele. It´s on the kitchen bench.
EMILY: And there's French bread on the shelf.
BEN: 4 ……………………………………………………………………………………?
ADELE: Yes, thanks, Ben. Some lemonade with a bit of ice in it.
EMMA: 5 …………………………………………………………………….?
KEVIN: Yes. I've just met her. She's very friendly.
BEN: 6 ……………………………………………………………………………?
ADELE: I went to South America with my best friend Kerrie.
EVERYBODY: Well!
EMMA: We're all jealous
EDDIE: 7 …………………………………………………………………………………..?
ADELE: Not very. But I spent everything. I haven't any money left.
10
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure Front Vowel. Short. The front of the tongue is raised to just below the
half-open position. Lips are neutrally open.
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Distribution
Initial
Medial
at
fat
Final
Spelling:
....... :sat pat, ....................
....... : plaid,plait ……………………………………..
Tips:
 Basic vowel pattern in the spelling.
 This sound is very clear in American English (think of “The Nanny”).
 You need to lower your jaw and spread your lips. Smile!
Silly Sentence:
o
Pat’s so mad at the fat black cat.
/................................................................................................................................./
A man sat on a black cat and the black cat was squashed flat for the man was a fat man. “Oh,
that fat man is a bad man,” said the black cat. “He squashed me flat and that makes me sad.”
Read the words below, pay attention to the target sound and complete the dialogue.
Allen
Africa
1.
salad
habit
antelope
travel
Annabelle
Janet
absent
Anthony
sandwich
contracts
cancelled
animals
passengers
anchovy
Alligator
advertising
Aaron works at the Ajax Travel Agency.
2. He´s on holiday in …………………………………………………. .
3. His boss is Mrs ……………………………………………………… .
4. Aaron left an ………………………………… and …………………………………………………………on his desk.
5. He ……..…………… to contact Anthony about the ……………….. of ……………………………….. he
…………………….. on ……………………………. .
6. Aaron has a …………………….. of being ………………………………… from work.
7. Aaron booked a …………………………………….. to San ………………………………………. with three
…………………………… : an anteater, an ……………………………………….. , and an ………………………………
8. The computer has ………………………………………. and Aaron hadn't done the ……………………… up for the
…………………………………………. programmes. Mrs Allen is very ……………………………………. .
9. The best advertising …………………………………………. have been ………………………………….. because of
Aaron's bad ………………………………………. .
10. Aaron doesn´t ………………………… to come …………………… to the …………………………….. agency because
he's been …………………………………. .
12
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure central vowel. The centre of the tongue is raised to just above the fully
open position. Lips are neutrally open.
13
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Distribution
Initial
Medial
uncle
truck
Final
Spelling:
....... : sun, gun, ....................
....... : mother, lovely, done, ........................
....... : enough, young, ......................
....... : flood, blood, ........................
........: doesn´t, ..........................
Tips:
 Basic vowel pattern in the spelling.
 It may be spelt with <o> or <u> but never <a>.
 You need to look “miserable” when you produce this sound, as you need to lower your
jaw and avoid smiling.
Silly Sentence:
o
My country cousin, Cuthbert, loves to jump in muddy puddles.
/ ................................................................................................................................/
She doesn't love him
JASMINE : Honey why are you so sad?
(Duncan says 1 ……………………………………….. )
JASMINE: 2 …………………………………… , why are you so unhappy? I don't understand.
DUNCANY: You don´t love me Jasmine.
JASMINEB: But Duncan, I love you very much!
DUNCANT: That´s untrue, Jasmine. You love my cousin.
JASMINE: Justin?
DUNCANN: No, his 3 …………………………………..
JASMINE: Dudley?
DUNCAN: No. Stop being funny, Jasmine. Not that one. The 4 …………………………….. brother. Hunter.
You think he´s 5 ……………………………….. and I´m unattractive.
JASMINE: Duncan! That's utter rubbish!
DUNCAN: And Hunter loves you too.
JASMINE: No he doesn' t
DUNCAN: Yes, he 6 ………………………………...
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
JASMINE: Duncan, just once last 7 ……………………………….. I had lunch with Hunter. You mustn´t 8
……………………………… . I like your 9 ……………………………………. Much better than Hunter´s. Hunter´s ….
DUNCAN: Oh, just shut up, Jamine!
JASMINE: But honey, I think you´re ………………………………………………. .
DUNCAN: Oh, shut up, Jasmine.
JASMINE : Now that's enough! You're just jealous, Duncan. You shut up!
15
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure back vowel. Long. The tongue, between the centre and the back is in the
fully open position. Lips are neutrally open.
Distribution
Initial
Medial
Final
aunt
chance
spa
Spelling:
....... : father, tomato, after, ....................
....... : farm, large, part, .........................
....... : calf, palm, calm, ......................
....... : clerk, sergent, Berkeley, .....................
....... : laugh, aunt, ...................
.........: (French) repertoire, reservoir,
bourgeois…………………..
Tips
 Note that some BATH words take /ɑː/ in British English and /æ/ in American English.
(e.g. class, answer, grass, pass, laugh, etc.)
Silly Sentence :
o
Charming Charly asks Martha Farnbarns for a dance at the barn dance.
/ ................................................................................................................................/
Extra Practice
Farmer Barnes goes to market in a car, not a cart, and drives many a hard bargain buying and
selling calves. He does nothing by halves, and when he laughs, his laughter makes the rafters
tremble. Farmer Barnes is a hard man for a bargain, but he isn't hard-hearted.
At a party
(Margaret and Alana are at the bar. People are laughing in the garden.)
ALANA: What a 1 ……………………………………… party this is! I´m having so much fun, Margaret.
MARGARET: Where´s your glass, Alana?
ALANA: Here you are. Thanks. That´s enough.
MARTIN: Alana! Margaret! Come into the garden. Tara Darling and Marcus Marsh are dancing on
the grass.
MARGARET: In the dark?
MARTIN: They are dancing under the stars.
ALANA: 2 …………………………………………..! And Bart Jackson is playing his guitar.
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
MARCARET: Just look at Tara! She can´t dance but she looks very 3 …………………………………….. .
MARTIN: Look at Markus. What a 4 …………………………………………………… dancer!
ALANA: What an 5 …………………………………………………….. couple they are! Let´s take a photograph of
them.
17
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure back vowel. Short. The back of the tongue is in the fully open position.
Lips are lightly rounded.
Distribution
Initial
Medial
off
Boss
Final
Spelling:
....... : dog, lock, bother, ....................
....... : was, swam, what,.........................
....... or ..........: cough, knowledge,
....... : gone, ........................
......................
....... : sausage, Australia, ...................
.........: (French) encore, rendezvous
Tips
 Basic vowel pattern in the spelling.
 This is similar to the Spanish sound in “Hola” when people try out a microphone in a
sound test.
 Think of Spanish /o/ and drop jaws a bit more.
Silly Sentence:
o
Don and Dot Mogg both have long blonde hair.
/ .............................................................................................................................../
Extra Practice
Tom's got a lot of dots on his shirt. I wonder if t hose dots are spots that'll wash off. What?
You can wash off the lot? With what will you wash the lot off? With a pot of hot water and lots
of soap ? Tom will want to thank you for that. Tom's got a fondness for that spotty shirt
though it's not his best and he's had it a long, long time.
TV Advertisement on “ONWASH”
VOICE A: What's wrong with you, Mrs Bloggs?
MRS BLOGGS: What's wrong with me? I want a holiday from this 1 ………………………….. job of
washings socks!
VOICE B: Buy a bottle of “Onwash”, Mrs Bloggs!
VOICE C : “Onwash” is so 2 ………………………….. and 3 ……………………………..
18
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
VOICE D: You don't want lots of 4 ……………………………………….. water with “Onwash”.
VOICE A : lt's not as 5 ………………………….. job with “Onwash”.
VOICE B: Use “Onwash” often.
VOICE C: You won´t be sorry when you´ve got “Onwash”.
VOICE D: Everybody wants “Onwash”.
EVERYBODOY: “Onwash” is so 6 ……………………………………………..!
19
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure back vowel. Long. The back of the tongue is raised to between the half
open and half close positions. Lips are loosely rounded.
Distribution
Initial
Medial
Final
or
taught
law
Spelling:
....... : lord, fork, short, ....................
....... : door, floor, .........................
....... : dawn, yawn, ......................
....... : war, tall,
....... : brought, fought...................
........: daughter, fault, ......................
........ : board, oar………………………..
........: (French) Fiancé(e), restaurant
........................
…………………………..
Tips
 This is similar to the Spanish sound found in the idiosyncratic “Ooooooooocho” as
spoken by Riverito.
 Place your lips in the shape of a Spanish /u/ but say a Spanish /o/ sound.
Silly Sentence :
o
The horse stall Paul bought is far too short for this tall horse.
/ ............................................................................................................................../
Extra Practice
Portly Paul Corder snores. Paul Corders snores are awful. They're hoarse, coarse snores. He
snores worse than a horse. We close the doors when Paul snores. Paul snores more and more
as the night draws on.Just before dawn Paul's snores make more noise than a storm.
Sports report form Radio Station 4
ANNOUNCER: This morning the Roarers football team arrived back from York. Laura Short is our sports
reporter, and she was at the airport.
LAURA SHORT: Good morning, listeners. This is Laura Short. All the footballers are walking towards me.
Here´s George Ball, the goalkeeper. Good morning, George.
GEORGE BALL: Good morning. Are you reporter?
LAURA SHORT: Yes, George. I´m Laura Short from Radio Station 4. Tell us about the football match with
York.
20
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
GEORGE BALL: Well, it was awful. We lost. And the score was forty-four, four. But it wasn´t my fault,
Laura.
LAURA SHORT: Whose fault was it, George?
GEORGE BALL: The forwards.
LAURA SHORT: The forwards?
GEORGE BALL: Yes. The forwards. They were always falling over or losing the ball!
21
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure back vowel. Short. The part of the tongue just behind the centre is
raised, just above the half open position. The lips are rounded, but loosely so. The tongue is
relatively relaxed.
Distribution
Initial
Medial
Oops (rare)
good
Final
Spelling:
....... :pull, put, cushion, ....................
....... : should, could, .........................
....... : wool, wood, rook, ......................
....... : woman, wolf, ........................
Silly Sentence :
o
The cook threw her cookery book at the cuckoo which was looking at her pudding.
/ ................................................................................................................................/
Tips
 This is similar to the Spanish sound in “burro, curro.”
 Modern / ʊ / is somewhat a mixture of /o/, /u/ and / ə /.
A lost book
Mr. Cook: Could you tell me where you´ve put my book, Brownmen?
Mrs. Cook: Isn´t it on the bookshelf?
Mr. Cook: No. The bookshelf is full of your cookery books.
Mrs. Cook: Then you should look in the bedroom, shouldn´t you?
Mr. Cook: I´ve looked. You took that book and put it somewhere, didn´t you?
Mrs. Cook: The living-room?
Mr. Cook: No. I´ve looked. I´m going to pull all my books in a box and lock it!
Mrs. Cook: Look, John! It´s on the floor next to your foot.
Mr. Cook: Ah! Good!
22
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure back vowel. Long. The back of the tongue is raised just below the close
position. Lips are rounded. The tongue is tense.
23
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Spelling:
....... : tooth, spoon, loose, ....................
....... : canoe, shoe.
....... : two, lose, do, ......................
....... : youth, through, ...................
Distribution
Initial
Medial
Final
ooze
food
grew
Silly Sentence :
o
Sue threw soup at the youth in blue.
/ ................................................................................................................................/
Tip
 This may be similar to the Spanish /u/ in “pua, ganzúa”.
Try saying these tongue twisters
1. A purely rural duel truly plural is better than a purely plural duel truly rural.
2. A tutor who tooted the flute tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to the tutor "Is
it tougher to toot Or to tutor two tooters to toot?"
3. Esau Wood sawed wood. All the wood Esau Wood saw, Esau Wood would saw. All the wood
Wood saw, Esau sought to saw. One day Esau Wood's wood-saw would saw no wood. So Esau
Wood sought a new wood-saw. The new wood-saw would saw wood. Oh, the wood Esau Wood
would saw. Esau sought a saw that would saw wood as no other wood-saw would saw. And
Esau found a saw that would saw as no other wood-saw would saw. And Esau Wood sawed
wood.
The two rudest students in the school
MISS LUKE: Good afternoon girls.
GIRLS: Good afternoon, Miss Luke.
MISSL UKE: This afternoon we're going to learn how to cook soup. Turn on your computers and
look at unit twenty-two.
LUCY: Excuse me, Miss Luke.
MISS LUKE: Yes, Lucy?
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
LUCY: There's some chewing gum on your shoe.
MISS LUKE: Who threw their chewing gum on the floor? Was it you, Lucy?
LUCY: No, Miss Luke. It was Susan.
MISS LUKE: Who?
LUCY: Susan Duke.
SUSAN: It wasn't me, stupid. It was Julie.
JULIE: It was you!
SUSAN: lt wasn't me! My mouth's full of chewing gum. Look, Miss Luke!
JULIE: Stop pulling my hair, Susan. It was you!
SUSAN: YOU!
JULIE: YOU!
MISS LUKE: Excuse me! lf you two continue with this rudeness, you can stay after school instead
of going to the pool.
25
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure central vowel. Long. The centre of the tongue is between the half open
and half close position. Lips are relaxed, and neutrally spread.
Distribution
Initial
Medial
Final
earth
word
stir
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I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Spelling:
....... :church, purse, curl, ....................
....... : girl, skirt, .........................
....... : her, serve, ......................
....... : earth, early, ........................
....... : journey, bourbon...................
........: world, word, ...........................
Silly Sentence :
o
The thirty third Earl of splurge flirts with Bert’s girlfriend Myrtle.
/ ................................................................................................................................/
Tips
 There´s generally involved an <r> involved in the spelling.
 You should do NOTHING to produce this sound. Botox effect: don´t spread your lips,
don´t round your lips, don´t lower your jaw, and don´t raise your jaw!
The worst nurse
SIR HERBERT: Nurse!
COLONEL BURTON: Nurse! I´m thirsty!
SIR HERBERT: Nurse! My head hurts!
COLONEL BURTON: Nurse Sherman always wears such dirty shirts.
SIR HERBERT: He never arrives at work early.
COLONEL BURTON: He and …er…Nurse Turner weren´t at work on Thursday, were they?
SIR HERBERT: No, they weren´t.
COLONEL BURTON: Nurse Sherman is the worst nurse in the guard, isn´t he, Sir Herbert?
SIR HERBERT: No, he isn´t, Colonel Burton. He´s the worst nurse in the world!
27
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Description: Pure central vowel. Short. The centre of the tongue is between the half close
and half open positions. Lips are relaxed and neutrally spread.
28
I.N.P.I.
Phonetics I
Distribution
Initial
Medial
Final
about
waiters
actor
Spelling:
....... : about, appear, ....................
....... : fabulous, virtuous, .........................
....... : paper, letter, ......................
Weak form of function words.
....... : nation, creation, ...................
Silly Sentence:
o
The banana that was on the table for the girl that Robert met at the ball.
/ ............................................................................................................................... /
Tips
 It’s the “Queen of English” because it’s the most frequent vowel by far!
 Most unstressed syllables take Schwa.
 The following weak words take schwa: am, are, can, had, has, have, does, do
(+consonant), must, shall, was, were, her, us, them, a, an, the (+consonant), and, as,
but, than, that, at, for, from, of, to (+consonant), some, there.
 Make sure you cram and lower the volume of those syllables containing Schwa (E.g.
“There were some professors at the conference”.
Reading aloud
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