English Vowels (1 of 8) - The Schwa Vowel

The English Vowels

Each lesson on a simple vowel or diphthong demonstrates how that sound may vary in duration. The sound is shortest when followed by a voiceless sonsanant and longest when it ends a word. Listen to words with the sounds /i/ and /ei/ as examples.

Vowel + Vowel + Vowel +
Voiceless Cnsonant Voiced Consonant No Consonant

beat bead be/bee
safe save say

The Simple Vowels

The Schwa Vowel

To Produce: Keep your tongue relaxed in a central position. The lips remain neutral.

The schwa is the shortest, the most simle, and the most frequent sound in English speech. The schwa vowel regquires no movement of the tongue, the jaw, or the lipbs; and there is no visible face movement. The sound is felt onlyat the larynx as a short, voiced sound.

There are two versions of the schwa: one stressed and the one unstressed.

The Stressed Schwa /ʌ/

- -- - -- - --
but/butt bud cup cub hunt hum

Notice how the consonant after the vowel affects the vowel's length.

Practice the stressed schwa. Repeat:

- -- - --
mutt mud nut non/nun
tuck tug runt run


The Unstressed Schwa /ə/

This sound is used in unstressed syllables. The following words contain both the stressed and the unstressed schwa. Listen:

above sudden trouble

Repeat these words:

adult conduct cousin
adjust enough hu*****and
among result oven

Synonyms - Practice the schwa vowel, stressed and unstressed, in synonums. After you hear A and B, repeat B.

A B A B
carpet rug allow for budget
confidence trust a pair a couple
difficulty trouble

After you hear A, you say B. Then listen to the model.

A B A B
amount sum fortune luck
amusement fun haste rush
finished done

Source: The American Accent Guide (2nd Edition)
http://www.amazon.com/American-Complete-Comprehensive-Pronunciation-Individuals/dp/0963413902/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304307187&sr=1-1