Using the Phonetic Alphabet
2024-12-14
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1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Mouhammed in Egypt about using the phonetic alphabet.
2Dear Teacher,
3I want to ask about the most important sources through which I can learn to improve the [pronunciation] of English letters, [for] trying to master the American accent.
4Thank you,
5Mouhammed
6I'm happy to answer this question, Mouhammed.
7You can use the phonetic alphabet to help you know each sound of American English.
8Let's start by looking at what the phonetic alphabet is.
9Each separate sound we make when we talk is called a phoneme. For example, the word "cat" has three phonemes: /k/, /æ/, /t/ --"cat."
10For every phoneme we say, in any language, we can show that phoneme by using a special symbol, or sign.
11Those symbols are what make The International Phonetic Alphabet, or IPA.
12Notice that in the example with "cat," only the phonetic symbol for the letter "t" looks the same as the English letter for that sound.
13For many phonemes, the phonetic symbol does not look the same as the letters of the English alphabet that make the sound of the phonemes.
14Consider the word "need," for example.
15It is spelled N-E-E-D but the phonetic symbol signifying the vowel looks like the English letter "i."
16How can you use the phonetic alphabet? Try to identify the phonemes that are difficult for you.
17For example, small differences between some vowel sounds in American English may be difficult for some non-native speakers to hear. Consider the following example:
18bit bet
19Did you clearly hear the difference between the two words?
20Hearing the sounds more clearly can help you pronounce them.
21The IPA Pronunciation Guide on the website Vocabulary.com has an audio element so you can listen to the sound of each symbol.
22It also provides example words that contain the sound of each symbol.
23So, you can use the guide to practice hearing and saying any phoneme in American English.
24The VOA Learning English video series How to Pronounce has many lessons that use IPA symbols to help learners practice the sounds of American English.
25The 21 lessons "Games with Vowel Sounds" and the "Listening Practice" lessons are good places to start.
26On the VOA Learning English website, you can play a short piece of audio and listen for phonemes you want to practice.
27You can hear words pronounced clearly and look at the way English spelling represents the phonemes you hear.
28For our readers and listeners, what are your questions about American English?
29We want to hear from you! Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com. And please let us know where you are from, too.
30And that's Ask a Teacher.
31I'm Andrew Smith.
1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Mouhammed in Egypt about using the phonetic alphabet. 2Question 3Dear Teacher, 4I want to ask about the most important sources through which I can learn to improve the [pronunciation] of English letters, [for] trying to master the American accent. 5Thank you, 6Mouhammed 7Answer 8I'm happy to answer this question, Mouhammed. 9Understanding phonemes and the phonetic alphabet 10You can use the phonetic alphabet to help you know each sound of American English. Let's start by looking at what the phonetic alphabet is. 11Each separate sound we make when we talk is called a phoneme. For example, the word "cat" has three phonemes: /k/, /æ/, /t/ --"cat." 12For every phoneme we say, in any language, we can show that phoneme by using a special symbol, or sign. Those symbols are what make The International Phonetic Alphabet, or IPA. Notice that in the example with "cat," only the phonetic symbol for the letter "t" looks the same as the English letter for that sound. 13For many phonemes, the phonetic symbol does not look the same as the letters of the English alphabet that make the sound of the phonemes. Consider the word "need," for example. It is spelled N-E-E-D but the phonetic symbol signifying the vowel looks like the English letter "i." 14Using the phonetic alphabet 15How can you use the phonetic alphabet? Try to identify the phonemes that are difficult for you. For example, small differences between some vowel sounds in American English may be difficult for some non-native speakers to hear. Consider the following example: 16bit bet 17Did you clearly hear the difference between the two words? Hearing the sounds more clearly can help you pronounce them. 18The IPA Pronunciation Guide on the website Vocabulary.com has an audio element so you can listen to the sound of each symbol. It also provides example words that contain the sound of each symbol. So, you can use the guide to practice hearing and saying any phoneme in American English. 19The VOA Learning English video series How to Pronounce has many lessons that use IPA symbols to help learners practice the sounds of American English. The 21 lessons "Games with Vowel Sounds" and the "Listening Practice" lessons are good places to start. 20On the VOA Learning English website, you can play a short piece of audio and listen for phonemes you want to practice. You can hear words pronounced clearly and look at the way English spelling represents the phonemes you hear. 21For our readers and listeners, what are your questions about American English? We want to hear from you! Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com. And please let us know where you are from, too. 22And that's Ask a Teacher. 23I'm Andrew Smith. 24Andrew Smith wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.