Reading of Unstressed Vowels

Vowels in unstressed syllables in disyllabic and polysyllabic words usually denote the neutral sound [ə] and short [ı].

1.The letters ‘e’, ‘i’, ‘y’ denote the sound [ı]: rocket, bandit, funny.

2.The letters ‘a’, ‘o’, ‘u’ denote the sound [ə]: Poland, bottom, cactus.

BUT -age [ı] (message), -ate [ə/ı] (delicate), -ible [ı/ə] (terrible).

3.The letter combinations ‘vowel + the letter ‘r” give the neutral [ə]: dollar, dinner, doctor, nature.

4.In the letter combination ‘vowel + vowel + consonant’ (-ial, -ion, -our, -ous etc.) we pronounce the neutral [ə]: initial, division, labour, generous.

5.In the letter combinations ‘vowel + consonant + consonant (+ consonant/vowel)’ (-able, -ance, -ent etc.) we pronounce [ə]: capable, attendance, student.

6.In the letter combinations ‘consonant + vowel + consonant (+ vowel)’ we can pronounce:

a) the neutral [ə]: freedom;

b) the neutral [ə] or short [ı]: careless;

c) the neutral [ə] or short [υ]: awful.

7.The letters ‘o’ and ‘u’ in an open syllable and a closed one with the mute ‘e’ after the stressed syllable have their primary long meanings: sambo [əυ], costume [ju:].