Speech work: Vowel Contrast /u/ and /u: - JSS2 English language Lesson Note
Speechwork: Vowel Contrast /u/ and /u:/
Understanding and distinguishing between the vowel sounds /u/ and /u:/ is essential for clear pronunciation in English. These sounds can change the meaning of words, so it is important to pronounce them correctly.
The Vowel Sound /u/
Articulation:
- The /u/ sound is a short, high, back, rounded vowel.
- To produce the /u/ sound, the back of the tongue is raised towards the soft palate, the lips are rounded but not as tightly as for the /u:/ sound, and the duration is short.
Examples in Words:
- Book /bʊk/
- Foot /fʊt/
- Put /pʊt/
- Good /ɡʊd/
- Look /lʊk/
Practice Sentences:
1. I found an interesting book at the library.
2. He hurt his foot while playing soccer.
3. Can you put the dishes away?
4. This meal tastes very good.
5. She asked me to look at the painting.
The Vowel Sound /u:/
Articulation:
- The /u:/ sound is a long, high, back, rounded vowel.
- To produce the /u:/ sound, the back of the tongue is raised high towards the soft palate, the lips are tightly rounded, and the duration is longer than the /u/ sound.
Examples in Words:
- Food /fuːd/
- School /skuːl/
- Boot /buːt/
- Moon /muːn/
- True /truː/
Practice Sentences:
1. We need to buy some food for dinner.
2. The children go to school every day.
3. He wore his new boots in the snow.
4. The moon is shining brightly tonight.
5. The story he told was completely true.
Comparing /u/ and /u:/
Similarities:
- Both /u/ and /u:/ are high, back, rounded vowels.
- Both sounds involve rounding the lips and raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate.
Differences:
- The /u/ sound is short, while the /u:/ sound is long.
- The /u:/ sound requires tighter lip rounding and a higher tongue position compared to the /u/ sound.
Minimal Pairs
Minimal pairs are pairs of words that differ by only one phoneme, in this case, either /u/ or /u:/. Practising minimal pairs can help distinguish between these sounds.
Examples of Minimal Pairs:
- Pull /pʊl/ vs. Pool /puːl/
- Look /lʊk/ vs. Luke /luːk/
- Foot /fʊt/ vs. Food /fuːd/
- Could /kʊd/ vs. Cooed /kuːd/
- Good /ɡʊd/ vs. Gooed /ɡuːd/
Practice Sentences with Minimal Pairs:
1. He will pull the rope vs. They swam in the pool.
2. Look at the sky vs. Luke is my friend.
3. She hurt her foot vs. We ate a lot of food.
4. They could finish the task vs. The dove cooed softly.
5. That is a good idea vs. The baby gooed happily.
Tips for Practising /u/ and /u:/
1. Listen and Repeat : Listen to native speakers and try to repeat what they say, focusing on the length and quality of the vowel sounds.
2. Use a Mirror: Watch your lip movements in a mirror to ensure you are rounding your lips correctly for both sounds.
3. Record Yourself : Record your speech and compare it with native speaker pronunciation to identify areas for improvement.
4. Practice with Words and Sentences : Regularly practise with words and sentences containing these sounds to build muscle memory and improve accuracy.
5. Minimal Pair Drills : Use minimal pairs to practise hearing and producing the difference between /u/ and /u:/.