Uttalslära Introduction to phonetics and English phonology: American English

“England and America are two countries separated by a common language.” George Bernard Shaw

“American English” Has its roots in English as it was spoken in Britain, Scotland and Ireland in the 18th century. Pronunciation changes in North America as well as in Britain/Scotland/Ireland have resulted in the different pronunciations we hear today.

“General American” GA is an umbrella term used for “standard” US English. Canadian English have many phonological similarities with GA, but is considered a separate variety. There are comparatively few regional accents in US English.

Differences between RP and GA Vocabulary (e.g. pavement - sidewalk) Semantics (e.g. first floor) Spelling (e.g. colour - color) Pronunciation

Different vowel sounds RP / ʌ /—GA / ɜ / worry, courage, hurry RP / ɒ /—GA / ɑ :/ ; / ɔ :/ holiday, want, bomb ; gone, coffee RP / ɑ :/—GA /æ/ dance, laugh, bath

Different consonant sounds /r/ is pronounced in all positions /l/ is more or less dark in all positions /t/ is voiced or a tap in some positions “wh” is often pronounced /hw/

Different word stress In some words, primary stress is earlier in GA than in RP RPGA mi gratemi grate do natedo nate re searchre search

Different word stress In some French loanwords, primary stress is later in GA than in RP RPGA ga ragega rage ca féca fé de brisde bris bal letbal let

Vowel reduction differences In some words with suffixes, the vowel in the suffix is less reduced in GA than in RP. Examples: melancholy cemetary category ceremony monastery

Different pronunciations Many words have other pronunciation differences. RPGA ate/et//eıt/ clerk/kl ɑ :k//kl ɜ :rk/ vase/v ɑ :z//veıs/ shone/ ʃɒ n// ʃ o ʊ n/ progress/ ' prə ʊ gres// ' pr ɑ :grəs/

and now for something completely different...

Written exam, A1 and HS1 Part of the language structure exam 20 multiple choice questions (1 point each) Roughly proportioned according to the time given to the subject areas in the lectures/seminars

1. Which of the following sounds is normally voiced? a) /f/ b) /k/c) /θ/ d) /s/e) / ʒ / 2. Which of the following sounds is a monophthong? a) / ɜ :/ b) /θ/c) /aı/d) /m/e) /t/ 3. Which of the following sounds is a fricative ? a) /t/b) /b/c) /g/d) /ı/e) /s/

1. Which of the following sounds is normally voiced? a) /f/ b) /k/c) /θ/ d) /s/e) / ʒ / 2. Which of the following sounds is a monophthong? a) / ɜ :/ b) /θ/c) /aı/d) /m/e) /t/ 3. Which of the following sounds is a fricative ? a) /t/b) /b/c) /g/d) /ı/e) /s/

1. Which of the following sounds is normally voiced? a) /f/ b) /k/c) /θ/ d) /s/e) / ʒ / 2. Which of the following sounds is a monophthong? a) / ɜ :/ b) /θ/c) /aı/d) /m/e) /t/ 3. Which of the following sounds is a fricative ? a) /t/b) /b/c) /g/d) /ı/e) /s/

1. Which of the following sounds is normally voiced? a) /f/ b) /k/c) /θ/ d) /s/e) / ʒ / 2. Which of the following sounds is a monophthong? a) / ɜ :/ b) /θ/c) /aı/d) /m/e) /t/ 3. Which of the following sounds is a fricative ? a) /t/b) /b/c) /g/d) /ı/e) /s/

4. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /s ɔ :(r)d/ ? a)swardb) swordc) seedd) said e) sold 5. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /p/? a)corps b) corpse c) cupboard d) receipt e) psychology 6. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /b ɜ :(r)d/ ? a)birdb) boredc) barredd) burp e) bud

4. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /s ɔ :(r)d/ ? a) swardb) swordc) seedd) said e) sold 5. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /p/? a) corps b) corpse c) cupboard d) receipt e) psychology 6. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /b ɜ :(r)d/ ? a) birdb) boredc) barredd) burp e) bud

4. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /s ɔ :(r)d/ ? a) swardb) swordc) seedd) said e) sold 5. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /p/? a) corps b) corpse c) cupboard d) receipt e) psychology 6. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /b ɜ :(r)d/ ? a) birdb) boredc) barredd) burp e) bud

4. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /s ɔ :(r)d/ ? a) swardb) swordc) seedd) said e) sold 5. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /p/? a) corps b) corpse c) cupboard d) receipt e) psychology 6. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /b ɜ :(r)d/ ? a) birdb) boredc) barredd) burp e) bud

7. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /kə ʊ m || ko ʊ m/? a) comeb) camec) calmd) comb e) crumb 8. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /g/? a) geographyb) signc) rigidd) giddy e) giant 9. In which of the following words are the bolded letters pronounced /eə || e(ə)r/? a) earb) fearc) beerd) dear e) bear

7. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /kə ʊ m || ko ʊ m/? a) comeb) camec) calmd) comb e) crumb 8. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /g/? a) geographyb) signc) rigidd) giddy e) giant 9. In which of the following words are the bolded letters pronounced /eə || e(ə)r/? a) earb) fearc) beerd) dear e) bear

7. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /kə ʊ m || ko ʊ m/? a) comeb) camec) calmd) comb e) crumb 8. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /g/? a) geographyb) signc) rigidd) giddy e) giant 9. In which of the following words are the bolded letters pronounced /eə || e(ə)r/? a) ear b) fearc) beerd) dear e) bear

7. How do you spell the word that is transcribed /kə ʊ m || ko ʊ m/? a) comeb) camec) calmd) comb e) crumb 8. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /g/? a) geographyb) signc) rigidd) giddy e) giant 9. In which of the following words are the bolded letters pronounced /eə || e(ə)r/? a) ear b) fearc) beerd) dear e) bear

10. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /aı/? a) finishb) limbc) hint d) vivid e) lilac 11. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /b/? a) subtleb) thumbc) chamberd) doubt e) lamb 12. In which of the following words is/are the bolded letter(s) pronounced /t/ ? a) thankb) castlec) oathd) author e) Mathilda

10. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /aı/? a) finishb) limbc) hint d) vivid e) lilac 11. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /b/? a) subtleb) thumbc) chamberd) doubt e) lamb 12. In which of the following words is/are the bolded letter(s) pronounced /t/ ? a) thankb) castlec) oathd) author e) Mathilda

10. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /aı/? a) finishb) limbc) hint d) vivid e) lilac 11. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /b/? a) subtleb) thumbc) chamberd) doubt e) lamb 12. In which of the following words is/are the bolded letter(s) pronounced /t/ ? a) thankb) castlec) oathd) author e) Mathilda

10. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /aı/? a) finishb) limbc) hint d) vivid e) lilac 11. In which of the following words is the bolded letter pronounced /b/? a) subtleb) thumbc) chamberd) doubt e) lamb 12. In which of the following words is/are the bolded letter(s) pronounced /t/ ? a) thankb) castlec) oathd) author e) Mathilda

13. Which one of the following words is transcribed /θru:/ ? a) throwb) threwc) trued) two e) three 14. Which of the following word classes does not have words with “strong” and “weak” pronunciation? a) adjectiveb) preposition c) pronoun d) auxiliary verbe) conjunction

13. Which one of the following words is transcribed /θru:/ ? a) throwb) threwc) trued) two e) three 14. Which of the following word classes does not have words with “strong” and “weak” pronunciation? a) adjectiveb) preposition c) pronoun d) auxiliary verbe) conjunction

13. Which one of the following words is transcribed /θru:/ ? a) throwb) threwc) trued) two e) three 14. Which of the following word classes does not have words with “strong” and “weak” pronunciation? a) adjectiveb) prepositionc) pronoun d) auxiliary verbe) conjunction

15. In RP, how many times is the sound /r/ pronounced in the following sentence (all instances of the letter are underlined)? Fortunately, her mother and her uncle brought her shoes. a) two b) threec) fourd) fivee) six 16. In RP, how many instances of clear /l/ are there in the following sentence (all instances of the letter are underlined)? Gladys put a full glass of milk on the table in the parlour. a) one b) twoc) threed) foure) five

15. In RP, how many times is the sound /r/ pronounced in the following sentence (all instances of the letter are underlined)? Fortunately, her motheR and heR uncle bRought her shoes. a) two b) threec) fourd) fivee) six 16. In RP, how many instances of clear /l/ are there in the following sentence (all instances of the letter are underlined)? Gladys put a full glass of milk on the table in the parlour. a) one b) twoc) threed) foure) five

15. In RP, how many times is the sound /r/ pronounced in the following sentence (all instances of the letter are underlined)? Fortunately, her motheR and heR uncle bRought her shoes. a) two b) threec) fourd) fivee) six 16. In RP, how many instances of clear /l/ are there in the following sentence (all instances of the letter are underlined)? GLadys put a full gLass of milk on the tabLe in the parLour. a) one b) twoc) threed) foure) five

17. In which of the following words/phrases do we find an example of elision? a) gunpoint / ˈ g ʌ mp ɔ ınt/b) washed/w ɒʃ t/ c) light blue /laıp blu:/ d) fifth /fıθ/ e) drawing (RP) / ˈ dr ɔ :rıŋ/ 18. Which of the following words can not be stressed in two different ways, changing the meaning and the word class of the word? a) balanceb) conductc) insultd) perfect e) record

17. In which of the following words/phrases do we find an example of elision? a) gunpoint / ˈ g ʌ mp ɔ ınt/b) washed/w ɒʃ t/ c) light blue /laıp blu:/ d) fifth /fıθ/ e) drawing (RP) / ˈ dr ɔ :rıŋ/ 18. Which of the following words can not be stressed in two different ways, changing the meaning and the word class of the word? a) balanceb) conductc) insultd) perfect e) record

17. In which of the following words/phrases do we find an example of elision? a) gunpoint / ˈ g ʌ mp ɔ ınt/b) washed/w ɒʃ t/ c) light blue /laıp blu:/ d) fifth /fıθ/ e) drawing (RP) / ˈ dr ɔ :rıŋ/ 18. Which of the following words can not be stressed in two different ways, changing the meaning and the word class of the word? a) balanceb) conductc) insultd) perfect e) record

19. Which of the following words is transcribed according to GA pronunciation? a) leisure / ˈ le ʒ ə/b) vitamin / ˈ vıtamın/ c) shone / ʃɒ n/ d) clerk /kl ɜ :rk/ e) lieutenant /lef ˈ tenənt/ 20. In which of the following words is the primary stress placed according to GA pronunciation? a) ga ˈ rageb) do ˈ natec) ˈ balletd) re ˈ search e) ˈ plateau

19. Which of the following words is transcribed according to GA pronunciation? a) leisure / ˈ le ʒ ə/b) vitamin / ˈ vıtamın/ c) shone / ʃɒ n/ d) clerk /kl ɜ :rk/ e) lieutenant /lef ˈ tenənt/ 20. In which of the following words is the primary stress placed according to GA pronunciation? a) ga ˈ rageb) do ˈ natec) ˈ balletd) re ˈ search e) ˈ plateau

19. Which of the following words is transcribed according to GA pronunciation? a) leisure / ˈ le ʒ ə/b) vitamin / ˈ vıtamın/ c) shone / ʃɒ n/ d) clerk /kl ɜ :rk/ e) lieutenant /lef ˈ tenənt/ 20. In which of the following words is the primary stress placed according to GA pronunciation? a) ga ˈ rageb) do ˈ natec) ˈ balletd) re ˈ search e) ˈ plateau

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