oi, (as in boil, noise) This sound is represented also by oy (joy). The oi is a diphthong, composed of the broad a and the short i sounds. Note the difference between the diphthong and the vowel digraph, which is a single sound represented by two letters; in the word leaf, for example, ea is a vowel digraph. In making the oi sound, the organs start in the position for the broad a and shift quickly into the short i position. ou, (as in sound, out) This sound is represented also by ow (now). The ou is a diphthong. In making the sound, the organs start in the position for the short o and shift quickly into the long oo position. Common Vowel Errors In connection with this study of the production of vowel sounds, it may be helpful to present some of the vowel errors which are most frequently encountered. In the following table, the symbol ">" means "sounded as "; for example, a>e indicates that short a is wrongly sounded as short e. ȧ (as in bath)>ă (as in hat); båth, påss, tåsk>băth, păss, tǎsk. å (as in bath)>ä (as in father); båth, påss, tåsk> bäth, päss, täsk. ă (as in hat)>ä (as in father); bărrel, nărrow>bärrel, närrow. ā (as in fate)>ă (as in hat); pāthos, pātriotism➤ păthos, pătriotism. au, ou (as in caught, bought)>ŏ (as in not); caught, sought>cot, sõt. aw (as in law)>awr; law saw>lawr sawr. This error is commonly known as the sliding r; it occurs also at the end of some words ending in a, such as idea. ē (as in eve) >ì (as in ship); sheep, deep>ship, dip. ē (as in eve) >ŭ (as in hut); rēclaim, response>ruclaim, răsponse. ě (as in bet)>ž (as in bit); endure, gět>îndure, gìt. ě (as in bet)>ŭ (as in hut); běrry, fragměnt>bŭrry, fragmunt. ī (as in ride)>ž (as in bit); writhe, grimy>writhe, grimy. ì (as in bit)>ē (as in eve); ship, dip>sheep, deep. i (as in bit)>ě (as in bet); since, rinse, sit>sence, rense, sět. ì (as in bit)>i (as in bite); fragile, genuine>fragile, genuine. ō (as in dome)>aw (as in law); nō, don't, ōpen>naw, dawn't, awpen. ō (as in dome)>ŏ (as in not); extōl, bōlt, parōle> extol, bolt, parole. ŏ (as in not)>aw (as in law); sorrow, foreign> sawrow, fawreign. ōō (as in boot)>oo (as in took); mood, brood, food> mood, brood, food. oo (as in took)>ōō (as in boot); cook, stood, hood> cook, stood, hood. ou, ow (as in out, now)>aou, aow; cow, house>caow, haouse. ow (as in fellow)>er (as in tiller); fellow, pillow> feller, piller. oi (as in boil)>approximately er (as in verse); voice, foil>verse, ferl, the r sound being only vaguely suggested. Those who manifest this fault usually give the oi value to ir, ur, ear, er in certain words; for example, first, furl, verse, early>foist, foil, voice, oily. ū (as in use) >ōō (as in food); tūbe, dūke, resūme> toob, dook, resoom. At the end of certain words, such as opera, extra, the neutral vowel sound, represented by a, but most nearly approaching й in pronunciation, becomes (y); opera, extra> opery, extry. VOWEL EXERCISES Note 1. Use diaphragmatic breathing in these as in all speaking exercises. Also economize breath; observe how you can expend your entire supply on one or two "breathy" sounds, or make it produce fifteen to twenty clear, resonant ones. Note 2. Strive to make every sound with perfect distinctness. I. For developing a strong, open throat. II. a. Repeat very slowly the series ah-oh-aw-oo ten or a dozen times, with a moderate tone, keeping as nearly as possible for all four sounds the same open, relaxed throat position which is naturally assumed for the ah sound. b. Repeat the same series energetically and rapidly about ten or a dozen times. For acquiring an open, unconstricted throat in the production of the "close" vowels. The prefixing of the w sound tends to cultivate the habit of an open attack. Try to keep the throat throughout the series in approximately the same position which it assumes for the wah at the beginning. a. Repeat the series wah-we-wi-wā slowly ten or a III. dozen times, avoiding all forcing of the breath for the sake of mere loudness. b. Repeat the same series rapidly about ten times. For acquiring flexibility in shifting position for various vowel sounds. a. Repeat with perfect distinctness the series ā-ē-i-ō-ū ten or a dozen times; likewise ă-ĕ-ì-ŏ-ŭ with gradually increasing rapidity. b. Repeat the series ā-ă, ē-ě, i-i, ō-ŏ, ū-ŭ about ten times. c. Repeat the series σo aw-i-ē-ah, oh-ā-ŭ-ě-ă half a dozen times each. IV. For acquiring clear distinction of vowel sounds in combination with consonants formed in the front, middle, and back of the mouth respectively. a. Repeat each series half a dozen times, with slightly increasing rapidity: bay-be-buy-beau-beauty; pat-pet-pill-pop-pud dle; take-team-time-toe-tube; supper; sat-set-sit-sobrat-red-rim-rot-run; lake-leak-lightload-lucid; cake-keen-kite-cold-cute; gas-getgive-got-gun. b. Repeat the foregoing exercise, using a whisper instead of the normal voice. The whisper is especially valuable for developing distinct utterances. Since it is likely to tire the throat at first, do not repeat the exercise more than once or twice. SELECTIONS FOR PRACTICAL APPLICATION Awake, ye sons of Spain! awake! advance! But wields not, as of old, her thirsty lance, Say, is her voice more feeble than of yore, When her war-song was heard on Andalusia's shore? Hark! heard you not those hoofs of dreadful note? Red battle stamps his foot, and Nations feel the shock. (BYRON: Childe Harold's Pilgrimage) LILIAN Airy, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, Claps her tiny hands above me, Laughing all she can; She'll not tell me if she love me, When my passion seeks Smiling, never speaks: |