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CRASHin British English PronunciationCOURSE

850 WORDS

Copyright © 2015 Ashley Howard

Ashley Howard has asserted his moral right to be identified as the author of this work. Some of the word lists have been sourced from C. K. Ogden’s The ABC of Basic

English (which is freely available on the internet), which have been regrouped into their lexical sets for the purposes of this free publication.

All right reserved. No part of this publication, including the accompanying audio, may be reproduced in any form of binding or cover or circulated electronically without

prior permission of Edwin Publishing and Media Ltd.

Edwin Publishing and Media Ltd

First published in 2015 by Edwin Publishing and Media Ltd57 London Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1BS

www.edwinpublishing.co.uk

CRASH COURSEin British English Pronunciation

adapted, written and illustrated by

Ashley Howard

Copyright © 2015 Ashley Howardwww.englishpronunciationroadmap.com 1

Hello, and congratulations!

You’ve taken your first step on your pronunciation ‘roadmap’ journey towards speaking British English with more clarity and more confidence.

Speaking English is a complex thing, not least of all because what is written on the page has little or no relation to how it should be pronounced. Short of swallowing a pronunciation dictionary, there is no quick fix – or is there?

Nothing really beats one-to-one coaching, a video coaching course, or a comprehensive book. However, someone told me recently that in everyday spoken English, most speakers use a core of about 850 words. Arguably, each of us uses vocabulary that is specific to our circumstances and the situations we find ourselves in, but here are 850 words that most native English speakers use in everyday speech and how to pronounce them! It’s a sort of ‘crash course in British English pronunciation’ – if you can pronounce these words accurately, you are a huge step closer to clearer, more intelligible speech, plus you’ll sound more like a native speaker!

These words have been sourced from C. K. Ogden’s The ABC of Basic English, but I have grouped them into their standard lexical sets – which is to say the pronunciation of the vowel of the stressed syllable in each word is the same.

Dowload the audio to guide you:

www.englishpronunciationroadmap.com/dl/crashcourse

Practice, practice, practice and mimic, mimic, mimic! Imitation is the way we learn our first language – it’s the spoken word, not the written word that we first experience. We repeat sounds over and over, playing with them without fear of failure until they become engrained in our neuro-physiological muscle memory. Have a go and be playful!

2 Copyright © 2015 Ashley Howardwww.englishpronunciationroadmap.com

phonetic symbol - i

When pronouncing the KIT vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward. The lips are very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

give will in with till this if still little addition

bit building business committee competition condition

decision distance division drink existence fiction

grip history impulse increase n. industry ink insect

instrument interest kick kiss lift limit linen liquid

list middle milk minute mist opinion position print

religion rhythm river silk silver sister slip stitch

swim system thing tin trick twist wind winter

brick bridge chin finger fish lip picture pig pin

prison ring scissors ship skin spring stick ticket

whip whistle window wing fixed living military

physical political quick sticky stiff thick bitter different

ill mixed simple thin

1

the KIT vowel sound

2


phonetic symbol - e

When pronouncing the DRESS vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward, but not as much as in the KIT vowel. The lips are very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

get let send any every when ever then together

well very yesterday west yes attempt attention bread

breath connection credit death debt development

digestion direction edge effect end error event

expert friend help invention jelly leather letter level

measure memory metal pleasure question record n.

regret request respect rest secretary selection self

sense sex smell step stretch suggestion tendency

test vessel weather bed bell berry chest dress

egg engine feather head kettle leg neck net pen

pencil shelf stem thread umbrella chemical dependent

electric general healthy medical necessary present n.

present v. ready regular irregular second separate adj.

separate v. wet yellow bent dead delicate left special

the DRESS vowel sound

3

4


phonetic symbol - æ

When pronouncing the TRAP vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward, but not as much as in the DRESS vowel. The lips are very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

have at as than that and act animal attack

back balance canvas comparison crack damage

expansion fact family land language man manager

mass reaction sand smash tax transport n. value

wax angle ant apple bag band camera carriage

cat flag hammer hand hat map match rat stamp

acid angry automatic black elastic fat flat hanging

happy married natural parallel bad narrow sad

the TRAP vowel sound

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6


the STRUT vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ʌ

When pronouncing the STRUT vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is low, almost level with the bottom molars. The lips are dropped apart, the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

come among under up other some such but

enough much adjustment blood brother butter

colour comfort company country cover crush current

destruction discovery discussion disgust dust front

government judge jump love money month mother

number punish rub run son structure substance

summer thunder touch trouble brush bucket bud

button cup glove gun monkey muscle nut oven

pump sponge stomach sun thump tongue cut sudden

young public rough shut

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the LOT, CLOTH vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ɒ

When pronouncing the LOT, CLOTH vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is very slightly raised towards the soft palate. The lips are very slightly rounded, the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

across from off on of because not tomorrow

authority body cloth copper copy cotton cough

knowledge loss offer polish profit property quality

salt shock song stop top wash bottle box clock

collar dog drop hospital knot lock office orange

pocket pot rod sock stocking watch common

complex conscious hollow long possible probable

responsible strong false opposite soft solid wrong

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10


the FOOT vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ʊ

When pronouncing the FOOT vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is raised up towards the soft palate. The lips are quite rounded, the jaw is loose, and the sound is short in duration.

put cook look pull push sugar woman sing. wood

wool book cushion foot hook full good woof

could should wouldn’t shouldn’t

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12


the FLEECE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - iː

When pronouncing the FLEECE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is up and forward. The lips are very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

keep seem be see between the he even east

please agreement belief degree detail disease feeling

field heat increase v. lead machine meal meat meeting

need peace reading reason sea sleep sneeze steam

steel teaching week bee cheese key knee leaf

needle receipt seed sheep street tree wheel cheap

chief clean deep equal free frequent adj. sweet

complete female feeble green secret

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13


the NURSE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ɜː

When pronouncing the NURSE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue is slightly raised in the middle of the mouth, like a little hill. The lips are relaxed, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

advertisement birth burn burst curve earth journey

learning person purpose servant turn verse word

work bird church circle curtain girl nerve shirt

skirt worm fertile first certain dirty early

15

16


the BATH, PALM, START vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ɑː

When pronouncing the BATH, PALM, START vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is low, level with the bottom molars. The lips are relaxed, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

after far answer argument art brass chance example

father glass grass harbour harmony laugh mark

market part plant start arch arm army basket

bath branch card cart farm garden heart parcel

star hard past sharp dark last

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18


phonetic symbol - ɔː

When pronouncing the THOUGHT, NORTH, FORCE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is raised up towards the soft palate. The lips are rounded, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

before for all or forward almost north cause

chalk cork daughter fall force law morning order

ornament porter record v. reward sort story support

thought walk war water ball board cord door

draw floor fork horn horse store wall important

normal poor tall warm short small talk

the THOUGHT, NORTH, FORCE vowel sound

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the GOOSE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - Uː

When pronouncing the GOOSE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue is raised up towards the soft palate. The lips are rounded, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

do through to you who amusement approval

distribution food fruit group humour move music

news produce room rule soup unit use view

wound (injury) boot jewel moon roof root school

screw shoe spoon tooth beautiful new smooth true

blue cruel foolish future loose

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22


the FACE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - eɪ

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the FACE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind, the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue starts up and forward, close to the DRESS vowel sound and then moves higher up and forward close to the FLEECE vowel sound. The lips remain slightly spread throughout, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

make take say may against again apparatus base

behaviour change danger day education exchange

flame grain hate name nation observation operation

organisation page pain paint paper paste payment

place play rain range rate ray relation representation

scale shade shake shame space stage statement

taste trade wave way weight baby basin blade

brain brake cake chain drain face nail plane

plate potato rail sail snake spade station table

trail train tray able great grey male same straight

waiting awake late safe strange

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24


the PRICE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ɑɪ

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the PRICE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue starts low, level with the bottom molars, close to the BATH, PALM, START vowel sound and then the body of the tongue moves up and forward, close to the FLEECE vowel sound. The lips start relaxed and apart and then very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

by I while why quite bite crime cry design

driving fight flight guide ice iron light mind mine

might price rice science side sign size sky smile

society surprise time wine writing eye fly island

knife library line pipe bright high kind like private

quiet right tight wide wise dry white

There are a handful of words, whose stressed vowel sound is called a triphthong, which is a combination of three vowel sounds. Essentially, a triphthong starts with a diphthong with a SCHWA added on the end. These following words start with the MOUTH diphthong, but then the body of the tongue moves into the middle of the mouth, like a little hill and the lips relax.

fire wire violent tired

25

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27


the CHOICE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ɔɪ

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the CHOICE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue starts slightly raised towards the soft palate, close to the THOUGHT, NORTH, FORCE vowel sound and then the body of the tongue moves up and forward, close to the FLEECE vowel sound. The lips start rounded and then very slightly spread, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

join noise oil point poison voice boy boiling

coin avoid toy

28

29


the GOAT vowel sound

phonetic symbol - əʊ

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the GOAT vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue starts slightly raised in the middle of the mouth, close to the NURSE vowel sound and then the back of the tongue moves up and backwards towards the soft palate, close to the GOOSE vowel sound. The lips start relaxed and open and then round, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

go over no though only so blow growth hope

motion note owner process prose protest road

slope smoke snow soap stone boat bone coat

comb goat nose throat toe broken open low

slow

When the GOAT vowel sound is followed by an L (specifically an L which either ends the word or is followed by another consonant sound), the back of the tongue starts slightly raised towards the soft palate, close to the LOT, CLOTH vowel sound and then moves up and backwards nearer to the soft palate, close to the GOOSE vowel sound. The lips start rounded and become more rounded, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

coal control fold gold hole roll cold old shoulder

mould soul

30

31

32


the MOUTH vowel sound

phonetic symbol - aʊ

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the MOUTH vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue starts slightly up and forward, close to the TRAP vowel sound and then the back of the tongue moves up and backwards towards the soft palate, close to the GOOSE vowel sound. The lips start very slightly spread and then round, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

about down how now out south account amount

doubt mountain powder sound wound (past tense of the verb

wind) cloud cow fowl house mouth plough town

trousers brown round loud

There are a handful of words, whose stressed vowel sound is called a triphthong, which is a combination of three vowel sounds. Essentially, a triphthong starts with a diphthong with a SCHWA added on the end. These following words start with the MOUTH diphthong, but then the body of the tongue moves into the middle of the mouth, like a little hill and the lips relax.

flower hour power sour shower

33

34

35


the NEAR vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ɪə

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the NEAR vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue starts up and forward, close to the KIT vowel sound, and then moves into the middle of the mouth, close to a SCHWA (or a short version of the NURSE vowel sound). The lips start very slightly spread and then relax, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

here near experience fear hearing idea theory

year ear clear material serious dear tear sear

gear shear bleary dreary appear mere we’re

adhere sphere coherent severe revere austere sincere

persevere career

36

37


the SQUARE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - eə

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the SQUARE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the body of the tongue starts up and forward, close to the DRESS vowel sound and then moves into the middle of the mouth, close to a SCHWA (or a short version of the NURSE vowel sound). The lips start very slightly spread and then relax, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

where there air care hair square share wear

rare fair compare fare dare swear scare blare

aware flare beware declare prepare ensnare nightmare

pair flair affair éclair stairs dairy canary millionaire

Claire despair bare heir pear scarce vary

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39


the CURE vowel sound

phonetic symbol - ʊə

This vowel sound is one of eight diphthongs, which is a combination of two vowel sounds. When pronouncing the CURE vowel sound on it’s own, the tongue tip is behind the bottom teeth and the back of the tongue starts up and backwards towards the soft palate, close to the FOOT vowel sound, and then moves into the middle of the mouth, close to a SCHWA (or a short version of the NURSE vowel sound). The lips start rounded and then relax, the jaw is loose, and the sound is long in duration.

insurance assure impure obscure procure pure secure

cure plural rural Truro centurion curious furious

injurious luxurious Muriel penurious spurious curate v.

during fury

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- Repetition, repetition, repetition

It sounds obvious and potentially quite boring, but it is the only sure way to build muscle memory and enable these new habits to manifest in live speech. However, here are three main way in which you can practice:

- Sit, listen and imitate

Set aside a period of time, as regularly as you can, to sit down with the crash course, and practice the areas that you found challenging. Take your time, repeat the exercises, listen to the audio, imitate the examples whilst watching yourself in a mirror and record yourself.

- Listen, listen, listen

Most of us live very busy lives, and even finding ten minutes to practice can be challenging. But we all have time while we are doing other things, like travelling, eating, cleaning, cooking, waiting etc… where we could do some listening. Even when we can’t actually practice aloud, just listening can be very productive! I won’t bore you with the science, but the brain and body engage in some very sophisticated imitative processes while listening, and so download the audio, have it on your computer or mobile devise and listen to it. Have it on in the background while you’re cooking or cleaning. Have it on your phone and listen on your headphones if you’re travelling on a train or bus or taxi. Just surround yourself with the sounds that you’re hoping to inhabit.

- Stealing the ‘best bits’

Look and listen out for speakers who embody the pronunciation and intonation habits that you’re hoping to inhabit. These might be friends and colleagues, or people in the media, who you might be able to hear regularly and steal some of what they’re doing really well. It’s nothing to do with becoming them, but simply having a reference to inspire and guide you.

So... what’s next?


So... what’s next?- Expand your word banks and rehearse phrases

Build a word bank for each new vowel sound. Essentially expand the word list with other words whose primary stress syllable rhythms with the words in that subsection. Take time to reflect on the language you use day to day, and expand those word banks to focusing your practice on words and phrases that you can then use in daily speech. Build these words into typical phrases and expressions that you use regularly, for example, ‘I’ll be home at six’, ‘what time is the meeting?’ or ‘do you want to go for lunch?’. Rehearsing these phrases might enable you to have greater control of how you pronounce the vowels and consonants, and which stresses and intonation you use, so you take the ‘I hope’ out of speaking, and can be specific and confident when you speak.

- Have a ‘second take’

After any conversation, meeting or presentation, you’ll be surprised at how you will have identified some words and phrases that you weren’t happy with in terms of pronunciation. ‘Strike while the iron is hot’ as we would say – find a couple of minutes to note down some of those words or phrases and immediately give them another go or a ‘second take’. Get me specific about what could have been better, maybe check their phonetic transcription in a reliable dictionary and play with them over the following days and weeks.

Blog Updates and Free Goodies

Look out for the weekly blog updates, free goodies, useful links and new material. Also head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages and join the English Pronunciation Roadmap community, leave some feedback on the Crash Course and let us know how we can help you.

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