1. Zhou Yuhua Ningbo University of Technology
Unit 4-1 Front Vowels 前元音
Zhou Yuhua
Ningbo University of Technology

2. Front vowels
/i:/, /I/, /e/, /æ/

3. Contents 1 Warming-up Activity 2 Definition 3
Illustration and Practice 3
Assignment 4

4. Warming-up Activities
Can you make the following letters into words?
Group 1
a, r, u, n
Group 2
w, s, p, k
ran
run

5. Definition
Vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips.
元音是指当气流通过咽部直至唇部的过程中没有受到阻碍的音。

6. The English Vowels
12 pure vowels
单元音

7. Pure Vowels
Pure vowels are simple vowel sounds and no movement of the tongue and lips are involved when they are uttered.
单元音是指简单元音，即当我们发单元音时，舌头和嘴唇都不会移动。

8. Vowels can be classified according to:
The height of the raised part of the tongue (high, mid-high, mid-low, low);
舌抬升的高度 (高位，中高位，中低位，低位)
The part of the tongue raised (front, central, back);
舌抬升的部位 (前位，中位，后位)
The position of the lips (rounded or unrounded)
唇的形状 (圆唇，非圆唇)

10. Vowel Charts: English Pure Vowels
front
central
back
high i: u: I ʊ
mid-high
з : e ə ɔ:
mid-low ʌ ɒ æ ɑ:
low
Vowel Charts: English Pure Vowels

11. /i:/ and /I/
/i:/
/I/

12. 2 steps to make a correct /I/
Lower you tongue a little bit from the position for /i:/;
从/i:/的位置将舌位稍稍降低
Make it a lax sound instead of a tense sound like /i:/.
/I/的口腔肌肉较放松，没有/i:/那么紧绷

13. Reading practice /i:/ /I/ deep /di:p/ dip /dIp/ green /gri:n/
grin /grIn/
feel /fi:l/
fill /fIl/
beach /bi:ʧ/
bitch /bIʧ/

14. Comparison between /i:/ and /I/
The difference between /i:/ and /I/ is not merely the length of sound. There is also a difference in tongue position or quality. /I/ sound is made by lowering the tongue slightly from the high-front position for /i:/. Also, /i:/ is a much more tense sound than /I/.
/i:/ 和/I/的区别不仅在于长短，还包括舌位和性质。/I/是由高位元音/i:/稍稍降低而来。同时，发/i:/时脸部肌肉比/I/绷得更紧。

15. Read for fun (Jazz chant)
See the breeze teasing the tree,
Weaving the leaves or shaking them free.
Tossing the fleece of sheep, that keep
On peacefully feeding, half asleep.

16. Sentence Practice (/i:/)
Eat the meat, but don’t eat the beef, please.
Do you see the green leaves in the tree?
We’ve been in the green fields for three weeks.
Three geese are eating green leaves in the wheat fields.
Please keep these streets clean.
The teacher repeated the speech to greet the people.
We eat meat, peas, beans and cheese for three meals.

17. Sentence Practice (/I/)
It’s a little baby.
Please give him this ticket.
Little Lily lives in this pretty city.
Finish it in a minute if it is not difficult.
He will bring his sister with him to the party.
It’s a pity it’s still misty in this city of Italy.
I think it’s an interesting film.
Isn’t it a pity that you live in a big city like this!

18. /e/ and /æ/
/e/
/æ/

19. Comparison between /e/ and /æ/
/e/ and /æ/ sound alike. But /æ/ is pronounced with mouth opened wider and the tongue dropped at the lowest position for front vowels. It can be get by starting from /e/ and then slightly lower the tongue and lengthen the more open /e/ a little.
/e/ 和/æ/发音相似，当/æ/的口型更大且舌位降至最低部，对前元音来说，该音口型最大。我们可以先从/e/出发，将舌位降低并适当延长即可。

20. Reading practice /e/ / æ / Beg /beg/ Bag / bæg / Said /sed/ Sad /sæd /
Pet /pet/
Pat / pæt /
Pen /pen/
Pan / pæn /

21. Read for fun Good, better, best, Never let it rest;
Till good is better,
And better best.

22. Sentence Practice (/e/)
Jenny is getting better and better.
Don’t forget to let the hens out.
Don’t forget to tell Ted to get ready for the test.
East or west, home is the best.
All is well that ends well.
Better to do well than to say well.
Birds of a feather flock together.

23. Sentence Practice (/æ/)
Harry was standing by the taxi.
The rabbit dashed from the sandy bank.
Get a ladder and hang up the banner.
She had a fan in her hand.
Hands thanked the man for bringing back his black hat.
Jack’s black cat is catching that fat rat.

24. Front vowels / i:/ high, front, unrounded vowel
be, see, sea, piece, seize, machine
/ I / lower high, front, unrounded vowel
sit, city, pretty, village
/ e / mid, front, unrounded vowel
egg, bed, breath, head, any, many
/ æ / low, front, unrounded vowel
at, sat, hand, lamp, plait, plaid

25. Passage Practice—Electric Cars
People were interested in making electric cars as early as the 1840s. One small electric car was made then, but it didn’t work well. Then, in 1912, General Motors produced an electric truck. These electric vehicles were of course not made for the public to buy.
General Motors was the first to try again in the last decade. It was a big challenge. An electric car needs a battery. But the batteries are heavy and don’t work well. None of them could power a car far enough or long enough. And the new technology cost a lot.
They did succeed finally. The car they built was called the EV1 and it became available in California in It was the first electric car designed and sold by a large automobile company.

26. Assignment Review this section;
Practice the Front vowels and put them into words;
Practice the Jazz chants;
Practice the Fricatives in the passage—Electric Cars.

27. Thank You !