Definition,[d] is back, open (broad variant), rounded, short.
Articulation.This vowel is articulated with the mouth wide open and slight open lip-rounding. The body of the tongue is even more retracted than in the case of the vowel [a]. The back of the tongue is only slightly raised. No contact is made between the rims of the tongue and the upper teeth.
It may occur only in closed syllables, eg opera, stock, lodge, impossible.
Allophones. The vowel [d] is longer and free in the closed syllable with a weak voiced consonant at the end. It is shorter in the stressed closed syllable ending in a strong voiceless consonant, cf dog — dock.
Recommendations.Start with Articulation Exercises II, 2, 3; IV, 11. The vowel [d] resembles the shortest variant of the vowel [a] pronounced with slight lip-rounding. Words such as cart, laugh, calf should be said with the vowel [a] as far back in the mouth as possible, with the jaws wide apart and only the very slightest lip-rounding. The vowel should be shortened. In this way a quality near to the vowel [d] may be obtained. Check the position of the jaws and the lips by the mirror. The sound should come from the very back of thejmouth. To make the vowel (d] checked cut it off by the following strong voiceless consonant.
Comparison with the Russian vowel (oj.The Russian vowel [o] is much closer than the English vowel [t>]. In the case of the
Russian [o] the lips are not only strongly rounded but also pro-j
truded especially at the beginning of the articulation. i
Possible Mistakes. 1. Russian students of English can easily
replace the English [â] by the Russian [o]. In this case the tip of
the tongue should be withdrawn from the lower teeth. The
whole body of the tongue should be kept low in the back part of
the mouth. The back of the tongue is only slightly raised. I
2. Sometimes the English [o] is not checked and short enough in stressed closed syllables ending in a voiceless consonant. This mistake is especially common in such syllables which would be open in Russian. For instance the syllable division of the word potter in English is pot-ter. According to Russian pronunciation habits it would be po-tter. To make the English [x>l checked and short enough it is necessary to observe correct syl-j lable di vision and cut the vowel off by the following strong' voiceless consonant.