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Short Vowel Sound

The document introduces the short vowel sounds in American English: short a /æ/ as in "cat", short e /ɛ/ as in "bed", short i /ɪ/ as in "it", short o /ɑ/ as in "odd", and short u /ʌ/ as in "us". It explains that short vowels typically occur between two consonants in the consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern. Examples are provided to demonstrate the pronunciation of words containing each short vowel sound, with notes on irregular spellings. Diagrams illustrate the tongue position for each short vowel.

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Dajana Rakić
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235 views14 pages

Short Vowel Sound

The document introduces the short vowel sounds in American English: short a /æ/ as in "cat", short e /ɛ/ as in "bed", short i /ɪ/ as in "it", short o /ɑ/ as in "odd", and short u /ʌ/ as in "us". It explains that short vowels typically occur between two consonants in the consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) pattern. Examples are provided to demonstrate the pronunciation of words containing each short vowel sound, with notes on irregular spellings. Diagrams illustrate the tongue position for each short vowel.

Uploaded by

Dajana Rakić
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction to Short Vowels

What makes a sound a short vowel?


The term short vowel is used to refer to the sounds that most often correspond to the letters
'a,' 'e,' 'i,' 'o,' and 'u' when the vowel occurs individually between consonants (Consonant-
Vowel-Consonant, or CVC pattern). It is important to note that the term short is not
referring to the length of time the vowel sound is pronounced—it is merely a label.

When learning the common spellings of vowel sounds, note that long vowels--not short
vowels--often have a silent 'e' at the end of a word (see the long vowel VCe pattern).
The Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) pattern

All of the short vowel key words use the Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) pattern. The
CVC pattern states that when a single vowel is between two consonants, the vowel is
pronounced as a short vowel sound (if the letter 'e' follows the second consonant, the vowel
will be pronounced as a long vowel sound due to the Vowel-Consonant-e pattern).

Additionally, when a vowel is pronounced with a short vowel sound, it may be followed by
two consonants. Both consonants are not necessary for short vowel identification purposes,
but do often offer an additional clue that the particular sound in that instance is a short vowel
sound.

The CVC pattern still applies when a word begins with a vowel sound and is followed by one
or more consonants.

short a /æ/:

cat /kæt/
ask /æsk/
bath /bæθ/
class /klæs/

Practice pronouncing 'short a' /æ/

Beginning sound

act /ækt/
ask /ˈæsk/
at /æt/
after / ˈæftɚ/
answer /ˈæn.sɚ/
apple /ˈæp.əl/
adventure /ædˈvɛnt͡ʃɚ/
avenue /ˈævəˌnjuː/ (stress is on the 1st syllable)
application /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/

Middle Sound
class /klæs/
chance /tʃæns/
plan /plæn/ -- make it a bit longer with “plaaaan”
staff /ˈstæf/
attack /əˈtæk/
classic /ˈklæsɪk/

exam /ɪɡˈzæm/ , /ɛɡˈzæm/

standard /ˈstæn.dɚd/

faculty /ˈfæk(ə)lti/
(a bit more practice!)
How to pronounce the 'short e' /ɛ/
The 'short e' /ɛ/ sound is a relatively relaxed vowel sound. The middle of the tongue rounds
slightly upward and the sides of the tongue may lightly touch the top and bottom side teeth.
The lips and jaw are loose and relaxed.

Common 'short e' /ɛ/ spellings


1. -e- (CVC)

a. bed /bɛd/

b. send /sɛnd/

c. yes /yɛs/

2. ea* head , bread , bed

a. head /hɛd/

b. bread /brɛd/

c. heaven /hɛvən/
Short e non-phonetic words

Non-phonetic words are not pronounced according to their spelling. Their pronunciations
should be memorized.

1. said /sɛd/
2. says /sɛz/
3. friend  /frɛnd/
4. guest  /gɛst/
5. again /ə ˈgɛn/

How to pronounce the 'short i' /ɪ/


'SHORT I' ILLUSTRATION

The lips are relaxed and the central/front area of the tongue is in the central/high area of the
mouth for this sound. The overall neutrality and relaxed tongue and lip position is why it is
one of the pronunciations used in an unstressed vowel position.

Common 'short i' /ɪ/ spellings


1. -i- (CVC)

a. it /ɪt/

b. lip /lɪp/
c. spin /spɪn/
2. -y-

a. myth /mɪθ/

b. symbol /sɪmbəl/

c. system /sɪstəm/

Non-phonetic 'short i' words

(Non-phonetic words are not pronounced as expected by their spelling.)

1. give /ɡɪv/ “Give me that!”


2. busy /ˈbɪzi/
3. building /ˈbɪldɪŋ/ “G” is not heard!

How to pronounce the 'short o' /ɑ/


The vocal tract is very open for the production of the 'short o' /ɑ/ sound. In fact, the jaw is held more
open and the back of the tongue is held lower for this sound than any other American English vowel
sound pronunciation. The tongue touches the inside of the bottom teeth so that the top of the tongue is
nearly even with the top of the bottom teeth. The lips are held open and kept rounded, but relaxed.
Common 'short o' /ɑ/ spellings
1. -o- (CVC)

a. odd /ɑd/ (strange, odd) “aaahd”

b. box /bɑks/ (books!= not the same)

c. shock /ʃɑk/

Practice pronouncing 'short o' /ɑ/

Beginning sound

odd /ɒd/

on /ɒn/

honest /ˈɒnɪst/

honor /ˈɑnər/

onto /ˈɒntuː/ preposition; “on” + “to”: The cat jumped onto the box.

option /ˈɒp.ʃən/

obvious /ˈɒbvɪəs/ (swallow the “b”)

operate /ˈɒpəreɪt/

oxygen /ˈɒksɪdʒ(ə)n/
opposition /ɒpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/

Middle Sound

box /bɒks/

drop /drɒp/ “dr- sound like in DRY”

lot /lɒt/

not/knot /nɒt/

body /ˈbɒdi/

college / ˈkɒl ɪdʒ /

follow /ˈfɒləʊ/ (Follow me!)

problem /ˈprɒbləm/ (make the “o” into an “a”)

possible /ˈpɒsɪb(ə)l/ (make the “o” into an “a”)

economy /ɪˈkɒnəmi/
How to pronounce the 'short u' /ʌ/
'SHORT U' ILLUSTRATION

The body of the tongue is relaxed and set low in the mouth. The sides of the tongue lightly
touch the bottom teeth during the formation of the sound. The jaw is kept in a neutral
position, and the lips are relaxed.

The overall relaxed nature of the formation of this sound is why it is commonly used for the
pronunciation of the vowel sound of an unstressed syllable. The 'short i' /ɪ/ sound may also be
used in an unstressed syllable, but short u /ʌ/ or schwa /ə/ are more common.

Common 'short u' /ʌ/ spellings


1. -u- (CVC)

a. us /ʌs/

b. duck /dʌk/

c. just /ʤʌst/

d. such /sʌʧ/
http://www.phonemicchart.com/

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