Key at bottom of page.
Commentary
the:
When unstressed, as it usually is, the definite article the has the weak form /ðə/ when the following word begins with a
consonant.
trouble:
Phonemically, the final syllable of trouble
is /əl/. When this syllable is preceded by /b/, however, the schwa /ə/ isn't
pronounced. Instead the articulators move directly from the position for /b/ to
the position for /l/. This is easy to do in the case of /b/ because /b/ is
articulated with the two lips and /l/ is articulated with the tongue-tip. These
articulators can move independently of each other and so when the lips move
apart to release the /b/, the tongue tip is already in position for the /l/ and
no intervening schwa /ə/ occurs.
Note that in English, syllabic /l/ is
not a phoneme in its own right, but merely a special way of realising the
syllable /əl/. This means that when we use a special symbol [l̩] for it in
transcription, it makes our transcription non-phonemic (because we are now using
more than one symbol for each phoneme and introducing a special symbol to show
a particular phonetic detail).
with:
Although with is monosyllabic
function/grammatical word and is usually unstressed, it doesn’t usually have a
weak form.
that:
When unstressed, as it usually is, that as a conjunction or relative pronoun has the weak form /ðət/. Note that the other uses of that do not have weak forms and are
always pronounced /ðæt/: pronoun, I know
that. /aɪ ˈnəʊ ˈðæt/; determiner, I
know that man. /aɪ ˈnəʊ ˈðæt ˈmæn/; adverb, It wasn’t that good. /ɪt ˈwɒzn̩t ˈðæt ˈɡʊd/.
even:
Phonemically, the final syllable of even
is /ən/. When this syllable is preceded by /v/, however, the schwa /ə/ often
isn't pronounced. Instead the articulators move directly from the position for
/v/ to the position for /n/. This is easy to do in the case of /v/ because /v/
is articulated with the lower lip against the upper teeth and /n/ is
articulated with the tongue-tip and side-rims (and lowered velum). These
articulators can move independently of each other and so when the /v/ is
completed and the lower lip moves away from the upper teeth, the tongue tip and
side rims (and lowered velum) are already in position for the /n/ and no
intervening schwa /ə/ occurs.
Note that in English, syllabic /n/ is
not a phoneme in its own right, but merely a special way of realising the
syllable /ən/. This means that when we use a special symbol [n̩] for it in
transcription, it makes our transcription non-phonemic (because we are now
using more than one symbol for each phoneme and introducing a special symbol to
show a particular phonetic detail).
if:
Although if is monosyllabic
function/grammatical word and is usually unstressed, it doesn’t usually have a
weak form.
you:
The symbol u represents the same
vowel phoneme as the symbol uː. We
use u in unstressed syllables and uː in stressed syllables. This distinction
isn't very helpful for TEFL purposes and learners should simply treat the two
symbols as the same. Because we are using two different symbols for one
phoneme, this means our transcription isn't truly phonemic (phonemic
transcription = one symbol for each phoneme).
you’re:
When unstressed, as it usually is, are
combines with you to form the
contract you’re /jɔː/, which has the
same pronunciation as your. When you’re and your are unstressed, they can be pronounced /jɔː/ or with the weak
form /jə/. Learners can use the /jɔː/ pronunciation for you’re/your on all occasions because it will always be appropriate.
The same cannot be said of the weak form /jə/, however, because it will sometimes
sound too casual.
a:
When unstressed, as it usually is, the indefinite article a has the weak form /ə/.
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