English Sound Patterns Position of the sounds in utterances * How they are pronounced whether the sounds vary or change in utterances or connected speech, and * if they vary or change what features bring the variations or changes

The Sequences of Sounds The sequence of sounds is the order of the sounds in utterances or connected speech. The basic unit in which we can find the sequences of distinctive sounds (phonemes) is within words. The sequences of sounds in English are classified into two major groups; vocalic and consonant elements

The Vocalic Elements The sequences of vocalic elements are those which form a glide with one syllable called Diphthong The sequences of vocalic elements have regularities/ consistency in terms of position, letters (spelling), and length and stress patterns with some exceptions

The Regular Sequences of Vocalic Elements The first elements; certain vocalic elements come before the others The length and stress are put on the first element in pronouncing the words The second elements; the elements which come after the other elements. The seconds elements are slightly sounded A diphthong consists of a single syllable, therefore, it is pronounced with a single impulse of breath

The sequence of first and second elements Robin (1980:75) /e/, /o/, /a/, /ɔ/, /i/, /ɛ/, u/ --- first elements /i/, /u/, /ə/ --- second elements 1)/ei/ front half close to close with spread lips may /mei/, made /meid/ 2) /ou/ back half close to close with rounded lips hole /houl/, go /gou/ 3) /ai/ central open with lips neutral to close front with spread lips lie /lai/, might /mait/

The sequence of first and second elements (continued) 4) /au/ central open with lips neutral to close front back with rounded lips cow /kau/ owl /aul/ 5) /ɔi/ back open with rounded lips to front close with spread lips boy /bɔi/, coil /kɔil/ 6) /iə/ front close with spread lips to central half close with lips neutral pier /piə/, fierce /fiəs/ 7) /ɛə/ front half open with spread lips to central half close with lips neutral air /ɛə/, pared /pɛəd/ 8) /uə/ back close with rounded lips to central half close with lips neutral poor /puə/, gourd /guəd/

The sequence of first and second elements (continued) Gimson (1978: ) /e/, /a/, /ɔ/, /ə/, /ɑ/, /i/, /ɛ/, /u/ --- first elements /ı/, /u/, /ə/ --- second elements 1) /eı/: late /leıt/, make /meık/ 2) /aı/: time /taım/, bite /baıt/ 3) /ɔı/: boy /bɔı/, toy /tɔı/ 4) /əu/; old /əuld/, home /həum/ 5) /ɑu/: house /hɑus/, sound /sɑund/ 6) /ıə/ : dear /dıə/, tear /tıə/ 7) /ɛə/ : care /kɛə /, rare /rɛə/ 8) /uə/ : poor /puə /, moor /muə/

/ıə/

The sequence of first and second elements (continued) Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Hornby: 1977) /e/, /ɑ/, /ɔ/, /ə/, / ɪ /, /u/ --- first elements / ɪ /, /u/, /ə/ --- second elements 1)/e ɪ / 2)/ɑ ɪ / 3)/ɔ ɪ / 4)/əu/ 5)/iə/ 6)/eə/ 7)/uə/

The common spelling of /e ɪ / 1.Regular peer 2. Some words hear, here, pier, idea, weir, weird

The spelling of /ɑ ɪ / 1.Regular bite, sight, try, tie, 2.Single words height, 3.Exceptional words buy, eye, aisle

The spelling of /ɔ ɪ / Regular: Voice, boy, toy, point, choice

The spelling of /əu/ Common: Home, old

The spelling of /iə/ 1.Regular peer, beard, rear 2.Some words hear, here, pier, idea, weir, weird

The Spelling of /eə/ 1.Regular air, fair, hair 2.Common wear, care, where, there, their, scarce

The spelling of /uə/ Common Sure, poor