Fig. 49.
Definition,[ç:] is central, mid (narrow variant), unrounded, long.
Articulation.The tongue is almost flat. The central part of the tongue is slightly higher than the front and the back of the tongue, which are raised between the half-close and half-open positions. No firm contact is made between the rims of the tongue and the upper teeth, the lips are neutrally spread, they do not cover the teeth. The passage between the teeth is rather narrow. The vowel is long.
This vowel may occur in all positions in the word, eg earn, stir, serve, search, foreword.
Allophones.The vowel [x] is longer in the open syllable when It is free. It is shorterHn the closed syllable with a weak voiced consonant at the end. It is checked and much shorter in t!ie stressed closed syllable ending in a strong voiceless consonant, cf prefer — firm — birth.
Recommendations. Start with Articulation Exercise II, 4, 8.
The vowel [ç:] is not very close in quality to any of the other English or Russian vowels. Three things may help: try to keep the tongue flat, bring the teeth rather close together and do not round the lips at all. Smile when you say it! Keep approximately the same lip position as for the vowel [i]. Check it with the mirror. Lip-spreading is especially important after the consonant [w].
Since there is no similar vowel in English or in Russian the quality of it may seem rather vague and indistinct to you. In your
listening time be attentive and experiment until you arrive at a reasonable pronunciation.
To make the vowel (ç:) checked and short enough cut it off by the following strong voiceless consonant.
Possible Mistakes, t. If the students pronounce the Russian (e:] instead of the English [ç:] they should give the vowel the shade of the Russian [oj.
2. If the students replace the English [ç:| by the Russian |o:]
the vowel should be given the shade of the Russian {ej.
In both cases the lips must be spread, the teeth should be kept close together, the tongue must be more or less flat.
3. If the vowel is not checked and short enough in stressed
closed syllables with a strong voiceless consonant at the end it is
advisable to cut it off by the following consonant.
Spelt with almost any vowel letter or combination of vowel letters.
e — mineral, president er — teacher, after
a — ago, woman, Frenchman or — director, doctor
î — correct, omit èãå — picture, furniture
è — suggest, support ou — dangerous
i — possible our — favour
|
Definition.|ý] is central, mid (broad variant), unrounded, very short,
Articulation.The quality of [ý] is that of a central vowel which varies from a half-open to a half-close position. The lips are unrounded. The opening between the jaws is narrow.
This vowel occurs in all unstressed positions in the word.
Recommendations.The sound occurs
■i^"^'*?tu in unstressec* positions and is practically a
(~j Ý^ short variety of the sound |ç:). The neutral
4 sound is extremely short and weak. Never
( concentrate on it. Keep in mind the
^ stressed vowel.
Allophones. 1. The non-final allophone
Fig. 50. is met at the beginning and in the middle
of the word. It is similar to the vowel (ç:), eg away, woman, misery, property.
2. In the final position an open variety is generally used. The tongue is in the half-open position, the resulting sound is between [ç:] and [ë], eg better, Asia, father.
Comparison with the Russian UnstressedVowels. The English non-final [aj is very near to the Russian unstressed vowel in the unstressed syllable following the stressed one, cf mineral — ñäåëàíî. The English final [ý] is the nearest to the Russian final unstressed vowel {a], cf êàðòà — carter.
Possible Mistake.Russian learners often replace the English neutral sound by the strong Russian vowels |a} or je]. That is quite unacceptable in English. Make the sound very weak and short.
|
i:
DIPHTHONGOIDS
|
[i:J
e — be, scene, complete ce — see, been, meet ca — sea, mean, beaf ie — field, believe, belief ci, ey — key, receive — police
Definition,[i:] is front, close (narrow
triant), unrounded, long.
Articulation.The tongue is in the
Iront part of the mouth. The front of the
'tmgue is rather high in the mouth. The vowel is noticeably diph-
ibongized, especially in open syllables. The tongue glides from a
lusition nearer to the English vowel [i] to a more advanced and
' >qh position. The tongue is tense, the side rims of it make a firm
ontact with the uppei teeth. The lips are spread.
This vowel may occur in all kinds of syllables, eg bee, leave, ■ ■i.f.
Allophones.The vowel (i:J is definitely longer in the open
liable when it is free. It is snorter in the closed syllable with a
.vak voiced consonant at the end. It is checked, and much
shorter in the stressed closed syllable ending in a strong voice- 1
less consonant, cf be — bead — beat. I
Recommendations. Start with Articulation Exercises II, 4; ]
111,11. j
Be careful to imitate the diphthongization of the vowel [i:] in 1
all positions with caution, since any exaggeration will sound vul-1
gar or dialectal. It is not less important to reduce length and!
make the vowel checked in closed syllables before voiceless con-1
sonants but not to confuse the quality of the vowels [L] and [i]l
which can easily happen in the closed syllable before a strong!
voiceless consonant, cf seat — sit. I
To make the vowel [fc] checked and short enough cut it off byl
the following strong voiceless consonant. I
Comparison with the Russian Vowel [è]. The Russian vowel [è] is closer and more advanced than the English vowel [i:J. The English vowel resembles the Russian one only at the end of the articulation. The Russian vowel is a monophthong. It is normally short.
Possible Mistakes. 1. If the English vowel [i:J is replaced b] the Russian [è] the front of the tongue should be retracted anc lowered at the beginning of the articulation. The vowel must b( longer, more tense and diphthongized.
2. If the English vowel (LJ is replaced by the Russian [û] al the starting point the tongue must be slightly advanced and lowered. The tip of the tongue should be moved closer to the lowei teeth. During the articulation the tongue moves, further up àøæ forward to the position of the Russian [è]. f
3. If the vowel [i:J is not checked and short enough cut it off by the following strong voiceless consonant.
4. In closed syllables ending in a strong voiceless consonant the vowels [i:J and [i] can be easily confused. Not to make this mistake the diphthongization of [i:] should be observed, cf beat — bit.