/ər/ - There is a stressed version as well as an unstressed version of this sound.
To Produce: Arch your tongue high in the middle with its sides touching the upper sides of your mouth. Draw the tongue tip backward, heeping the lips relaxed. Do not touch any part of your mouth with the tongue tip. The tongue remains in one position during sound /ər/. If you can produce /r/, prolong the sound without moving your tongue and you will say the sound /ər/.
/ʌr/ Stressed
Listen:
- -- ---
hurt heard her fiest firm fur
Practice /ʌr/ as you focus on its lengyh. Repeat:
perk - perm - per surf - serve - sir work - word - were
Practice groups of words containing the vowel /ʌr/ plus another vowel. Repeat:
during perfect alert hurry person concern jury purchase disturb journey purpose prefer
Synonyms - Practice /ʌr/ in synonyms. Upon hearing A and B, repeat B.
A B blister burn gain earn anxiety concern bravery courage city urban leniency mercy
This time, upon hearing A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B
gentleman sir labor work solid firm world earth
Contrast: /ʌr/ - /ɛr/
For /ʌr/, the tongue stays in one position; for /ɛr/ the tongue glides from vowel /ɛ/ to /r/.
Can you differentiate between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
fur --- fair --- per --- pair ---- stir --- stare ----
Answers: fur pair stare
Noet the constrast between the sounds /ʌr/ and /ɛr/ as you repeat word pairs.
curry - carry courage - carriage during - daring flurry - fairy hurry - hairy jury - Jerry
Repeat these words and stentences:
her I spoke with her. ................ hair I cut my hair. fur The cat has soft fur. ................ fare How much is the bus fare? were That's where we were. ............... wear What did you wear? per How much per person. .............. pair Which pair of shoes?
Contrast: - /ʌr/ - /ɔr/
For /ʌr/, the rongue stays in one position; for /ɔr/, the tongue glides from voewl /ɔ/ to /r/.
Can you differentiazte between these sounds? Listen to word pairs. You will hear one word again. Which is it?
firm --- form --- shirt --- short --- were --- wore ---
Answers: firm short were
Repeat these words and sentences:
were Tell me where you were. ........... wore That is what I wore. fur The animal has soft fur. ............ for What is that for? shirt That is a good-looking shirt. ......... short That movie was short.
/ər/ - Unstressed
Listen:
after bother gather sister
Say these words:
dinner proper correct effort other direct favor water perhaps
When /ər/ occurs twice in a word, keep the tongue raised in one position for both occurences. Repeat:
error emperor cheeseburger mirror laborer hamburger terror terrorist
Synonyms Practice the vowels /ər/ in synonyms. Upon hearing A and B, repeat B.
A B afterward later amusement humor bygone former not ever never preferred better
This time after yo hear A, you say B. Then listen to the model.
A B across over below unclear dad father mom mother