Phonetic transcription of English. Features of the pronunciation of vowels in English

2016-11-11

Good-good-good morning planet!

I don’t know about you, of course, but on my planet of English (called Liza’s English) it’s morning now. And an important informational and practical article about English transcription I decided to write on a cheerful morning head. I don't think you mind.) Then we will begin the analysis of this simple, but often questionable topic.

Do you need an English transcription at all?

What can I say to that?.. If in school curriculum in English it is passed and forced to learn, then of course you can’t get out! Speaking globally, then its absence when studying English will not affect the results and knowledge in any way.

BUT! Since our children are still learning English, it is a matter of honor to know what transcription is in it. This is about the same as it is important to know that there are 6 cases in Russian (and this, by the way, differs from English and many others). But we can learn to speak and write words without thinking about what case to use in them ... "AND van R Odile D girl... Well, you understand me, I think.

Therefore, my verdict - we will study! But quickly and without any stretching for a year! Lesson or two - and "English transcription" will be the sweetest phrase in the world ...

In addition, having the ability to decipher English transcription, any student and adult will be able to read and pronounce any, even the most “terribly incomprehensible” word in English dictionary!!!

Why was it invented?

They came up with it a very, very long time ago, while the British themselves, for themselves - when they realized that they themselves could not always understand how this or that word was read.

The point is that in English language there are, according to which you can read the words correctly. For example, this rule: “In a closed syllable, the English letter “a” will be read like this (the words ba g, la ptop)» . But at the same time, there are so many exceptions to these rules that it is sometimes impossible to remember them (for example, we will take an exception to this rule with a word with a closed syllable t ask , in which the letter "a" is already read differently).

Well, they came up with such a thing as transcription, so that each English word could be read correctly without even knowing the rules, but simply by owning a set of transcription icons.

Sometimes you may see two versions of the same icon, this is normal. Both of them have their place. My analogies with Russian letters are very conditional. The main thing here is to hear the sound and imitate it as accurately as possible.

Transcription icons for vowels

[i] or [ ı ] a sound similar to "and", but more abrupt and firm.

[e] a sound similar to "e", but more abrupt and firm.

[ ӕ ] a sound similar to "e", but wider.

[ ɔ ] or [ ɒ ] a sound similar to "o", but more abrupt and open.

[ ∧ ] a sound similar to "a", but more abrupt.

[u] or [ ʋ ] a sound similar to "y", but more abrupt.

[i:] a sound like a long "and".

[ ɔ: ] a sound like a long "o".

[ ɑ: ] a sound like a long and deep "a".

[u:] a sound like a long "u".

[ ə: ] or [ɜ:] a sound reminiscent of something between "o" and "e".

In English, there is one single transcription icon that denotes an unstressed vowel - [ə] . It is pronounced very briefly and indistinctly. Often we hear it at the end of words ending in unstressed vowels. Teacher , computer ...

Transcription icons for consonants

[p] a sound similar to "p".

[b] a sound similar to "b".

[t] a sound similar to "t".

[d] a sound similar to "d".

[k] a sound similar to "k".

[g] a sound similar to "g".

[f] a sound similar to "f".

[v] a sound similar to "v".

[s] a sound similar to "s".

[z] a sound similar to "z".

[m] sound like "m".

[n] a sound similar to "n".

[l] a sound similar to "p".

[h] a sound like an airy "x".

[ ʃ ] a sound similar to "u".

[tʃ] a sound similar to "h".

[ ʒ ] a sound similar to "g".

[dʒ] a sound similar to "j".

[r] a sound similar to "r".

[j] a sound similar to "y". Softens vowels, eg. [jɒ] [je] [ju:]

[w] the sound of the lips.

[ ŋ ] a sound similar to "n" pronounced through the nose.

[ θ ] dull interdental sound.

[ ð ] loud interdental sound.

Transcription icons for diphthongs (double sounds)

[aı] or [ai] a sound similar to "ay".

[eı] or [ei] sound like "hey".

[ ɔı ] or [ɔi] a sound like "oh".

[aʋ] or [au] a sound similar to "au".

[ əʋ ] or [ou] a sound like "oh".

[ ıə ] or [iə] a sound similar to "ee".

[ ʋə ] or [uə] a sound similar to "weh".

[eə] or [ εə ] a sound similar to "ah".

Practice time

Well, here we have examined with you all the signs of English transcription. Most of them, children and adults remember quite easily. Difficulties sometimes arise with icons denoting diphthongs or some sounds that are not at all like Russian. But this is quickly corrected if you immediately fix everything with good practice and exercises, which we will now do.

Exercise 1

The first thing to do is to repeat the sound corresponding to a certain sign of the English transcription several times. Go in order (according to the list that I gave). Repeat one sound 3-5 times, while trying to associate a complex icon with an image. For example, repeating the sound [ ӕ ] , imagine a cat, a hat or any other image, but only let this image correspond to the word that in English is pronounced with this sound. For example, I had an image of a bag with such a brand icon in my head.))

Well, how? Difficult? If yes, then I will share with you my ideas regarding the most "intractable" signs of transcription. Please do not judge strictly my clumsy pictures. I swear, in my imagination they look much prettier)).

Icon [ ʋ ] — foot-heel image.

The word foot [fʋt].

Icon [ ɜ: ] - bird image.

The word bird [b ɜ: d] .

Icon [ ʃ ] - an image of a shoe.

The word shoe [ʃu:] .

Icon [tʃ]- an image of a chicken.

The word is chick [tʃık].

Icon [dʒ]- an image of a page in a textbook.

The word page .

Icon [j]- an image of a tick, the correct answer.

The word yes.

Icon [ ŋ ] - the image of a long and uneven road.

The word is long.

Icon [ θ ] - an image of the number three.

The word three [θri:] .

Icon [ ð ] - an image of a mother with a baby.

The word mother.

Exercise 2

• Now let's read with you simple words with different sounds. Your task is to look at the word, listen to its pronunciation, repeat it, and then guess which transcription icon from the ones below corresponds to the sound in the word (the necessary vowels or combinations will be underlined).

[ ı ] [e] [ ӕ ] [ ɒ ] [ ∧ ] [ ʋ ] [i:][ ɔ: ] [ ɑ: ] [u:] [ɜ:]

• Now you will see other words that you will also need to listen to and repeat, and then select the required transcription sign from the ones below, which corresponds to one or another sound. (necessary consonants or combinations will be underlined in words).

[p] [b][t] [d][k] [g][f] [v][s] [z][m] [n]

[l][h] [ ʃ ] [tʃ] [ ʒ ] [dʒ] [r][j] [w][ ŋ ] [ θ ] [ ð ]

• The following words contain diphthongs. Listen, repeat and choose desired sign transcriptions for underlined letters and letter combinations.

[aı] [eı] [ ɔı ] [aʋ] [ əʋ ] [ ıə ] [ ʋə ] [eə]

• The final exercise in this section is to choose the correct transcription for a word from the two proposed. The scheme of work is the same: we listen, repeat, and then choose.

cup[kʌp] or [kӕp]

twelve[tvelv] or [twelv]

month[mɑ:nθ] or [mʌnθ]

rain[raın] or [reın]

farm[fɜ:m] or [fɑːm]

large[lɑːʒ] or [lɑːdʒ]

spoon[spuːn] or [spɔ:n]

fair[feə] or [fıə]

say[seɪ] or [seə]

now[nəʋ] or [naʊ]

June[tʃuːn] or [dʒuːn]

Exercise 3

Well, it's time to write the transcription of the words ourselves. I think you will succeed! A day or two - and the topic of English transcription will become as easy for you as you never even dreamed of)). Let me remind you once again that unstressed syllables are often denoted as [ ə ] .

after, box, write, with, open,

season, shut, round, height, number,

shirt, plus, jam, song, yogurt, hate

Exercise 4

This exercise is to practice reading a lot of English words by transcription. For the most children the best option there will be cards with English words and their transcription. Some authors (for example, Nosova, Epanova) specially develop such cards - after all, they help not only to consolidate the learned transcription signs, but also to easily replenish their vocabulary. These are interesting cards I found in the maze store. Here are the most basic topics and words:

Set "Wild Animals"

Set "Fruits"

Set "Man"

Set "Professions"

Set "School"

Set "House"

Well, I did it, friends!

And you? Did you manage? If you have any questions, be sure to ask me. I will try to answer them.

In addition, I invite you to my tasty newsletter (subscription form below)! The most useful and interesting about English and not only...

Answers to the exercises:

[ˈɑːftə], [bɒks], [raɪt], [wɪð], [ˈəʊpən],

[ˈsiːzn], [ʃʌt], [raʊnd], [tɔːl], [ˈnʌmbə],

[ʃɜːt], [plʌs], [dʒæm], [sɒŋ], [ˈjɒɡət], [heɪt]

In contact with

Transcription is a recording of the sound of a letter or word as a sequence of special phonetic characters.

Transcription may not be interesting to everyone, but, no doubt, useful. Knowing the transcription, you will correctly read an unfamiliar word without outside help. In the classroom, you yourself can read the transcription of a word (for example, from the blackboard) without asking others around, thereby facilitating the process of mastering lexical material, etc.

At first there will be errors in the correct reading, tk. there are always some subtleties in pronunciation. But this is just a matter of practice. A little later, if necessary, you can transcribe the words yourself.

Transcription is directly related to reading rules. In English, not everything that is seen (letter combinations) is read (as in Russian and Spanish, for example).

When textbooks (mostly domestic) talk about reading rules, much attention is paid to the type of syllable. About five such types are usually described. But such a detailed theoretical presentation of the rules of reading does not make the lot of a beginner much easier, and can even mislead him. It must be remembered that a good knowledge of the rules of reading is a great merit of practice, not theory.

Your attention will be presented the basic rules for reading individual letters and letter combinations. "Behind the scenes" there will be some phonetic moments that are difficult to convey in writing.

A little patience! Both transcription and reading rules are easily acquired in a short time. Then you will be surprised: "How easy it became to read and write!"

However, do not forget that, despite its widest distribution, English does not cease to be a LANGUAGE full of exceptions, stylistic and other delights. And at any stage of language learning, and especially at the beginning, look into the dictionary more often.

You can download the tables. They are listed below on the page. We use and remember.

Table 1 - Letters, sounds, name and pronunciation of letters.

“I don’t understand transcription”, “How is it written in Russian letters?”, “Why do I need these sounds?”... If you start learning English with such moods, then I will have to disappoint you: it is unlikely that you will achieve significant success in English.

Without mastering transcription, it will be difficult for you to understand the device English pronunciation, you will constantly make mistakes, have difficulty learning new words and using dictionaries.

Since school, the attitude of many to transcription is frankly negative. In fact, there is nothing complicated in transcribing English. If you do not understand it, then you have not explained this topic properly. In this article, we will try to fix this.

To understand the essence of transcription, you must clearly understand the difference between letters and sounds. Letters is what we write, and sounds- what we hear. Transcription marks are the sounds represented in writing. For musicians, this role is performed by notes, and for you and me, transcription. In Russian, transcription is not of fundamental importance, since we speak the way we write, and there is no particular difference between spelling and pronunciation. English is another matter. Here are vowels that are read differently, and combinations that need to be remembered, and letters that are not pronounced. The number of letters and sounds in a word does not always match.

For example, the word daughter has 8 letters, and four sounds ["dɔːtə]. If the final [r] is pronounced, as in American English, then there are five sounds. The combination of vowels au gives the sound [ɔː], gh is not read at all, er can be read as [ə] or [ər], depending on the variant of English.

There are a huge number of similar examples. It is difficult to understand how to read a word and how many sounds are pronounced in it if you do not know the basic rules of transcription.

Where can you find transcription? First of all, in dictionaries. When you find a new word in the dictionary, there must be information nearby about how the word is pronounced, that is, transcription. In addition, in textbooks, the lexical part always contains transcription. Knowledge of the sound structure of the language will not allow you to remember correct pronunciation words, because you will always identify a word not only with its literal representation, but also with its sound.

In domestic publications, transcription is usually placed in square brackets, and in dictionaries and manuals of foreign publishers, transcription is presented in slash brackets / /. Many teachers use slash brackets when they write the transcription of words on the board.

Now more about the sounds of the English language.

There are 44 sounds in the English language, which are divided into vowels(vowels ["vauəlz]), consonants(consonants "kɔn(t)s(ə)nənts]). Vowels and consonants can form combinations including diphthongs(diphthongs ["dɪfθɔŋz]). Vowels in English differ in longitude by brief(short vovels) and long(long vowels), and consonants can be divided into deaf(voicels consonants ), voiced(voiced consonants). There are also those consonants that are difficult to classify as deaf or voiced. We will not delve into phonetics, since on initial stage this information is sufficient. Consider the table of English sounds:

Let's start with vowels. Two dots near the symbol indicate that the sound is pronounced for a long time, if there are no dots, then the sound should be pronounced briefly. Let's see how the vowel sounds are pronounced:

- long sound I: tree, free

[i] - short sound And: big, lip

[ʊ] - short sound U: book, look

- long sound U: root , boot

[e] - sound E. Pronounced the same as in Russian: hen, pen

[ə] - neutral sound E. It sounds when the vowel is not stressed or at the end of a word: mother ["mʌðə], computer

[ɜː] - a sound similar to the sound Yo in the word honey: bird, turn

[ɔː] - long sound O: door, more

[æ] - sound E. Pronounced widely: cat, lamp

[ʌ] - short sound A: cup, but

- long sound A: car , mark

[ɒ] - short sound O: box, dog

diphthongs- these are combinations of sounds consisting of two vowels, always pronounced together. Consider the pronunciation of diphthongs:

[ɪə] - IE: here, near

— uh: fair, bear

[əʊ] - EU (OU): go, no

- AU: how, now

[ʊə] - UE: sure [ʃauə], tourist ["tuerrest]

- HEY: make, day

- AI: my bike

[ɔɪ] - OH: : boy, toy

Consider consonants sounds. Voiceless and voiced consonants are easy to remember, since each of them has a pair:

Other consonants:

[h] - sound X: hat, home
[m] - sound M: make, meet
[n] - English sound H: nose, net
[ŋ] - a sound reminiscent of H, but pronounced through the nose: song , long - a sound reminiscent of P: run , rest
[l] - English sound L: leg, lip
[w] - a sound reminiscent of B, but pronounced with rounded lips: , west
[j] - sound Y: you, music ["mjuːzɪk]