聽歌學英文
Life\'s a dream. Never too old to learn stupid things. :-)
/ər/ - as in her
/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
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
