In this video, you're going to learn the difference between the three English vowel sounds /ə/ /ʌ/ and /ɒ/
I'm going to give you one exercise that you can use to immediately improve your pronunciation of these three sounds.
And it's going to help you to make a massive difference straight away.
I'm Michael Roberts the founder of english school online the place where professionals come to lose their accent speak clearer english,
And get ahead in the global job market give the video a thumbs up if you liked it.
Thumbs down if you don't and let's get started. This video was a request from Vero Lito.
So thank you very much for the request I hope I pronounced your name correctly.
If I haven't I apologize comment below and show me how to pronounce it correctly. let's dive in.
There are three vowel sounds here '/ə/', '/ʌ/' and '/ɒ/'. I've done an extensive video training on the difference between, '/ə/' and '/ɒ/', in this video here.
So if you're struggling with the 'schwa' sound '/ə/' and the '/ɒ/' sound as in 'but' then go to this video here.
Now and if not stick here and then let's look at the '/ɒ/' and and how they go together.
So '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. The key to getting all of these sounds correct is to have your lips in the right position.
So I'm going to come closer to the camera. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'.
'/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. With the '/ɒ/' sound at the end look how rounded my lips are '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/'.
My whole mouth is open '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/'. Okay my tongue is back it's coming from the back of my mouth '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/'.
The 'schwa': '/ə/', '/ə/', '/ə/' sound my lips are, unrounded. It is not: 'uh', 'uh', 'uh'. It's: '/ə/', '/ə/', '/ə/'. And the '/ʌ/' sound again unrounded.
'/ʌ/', '/ʌ/', '/ʌ/', '/ʌ/'. It's coming from the back of my mouth like '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/', '/ɒ/'. Okay the schwa comes from the middle of my mouth
'/ə/', '/ə/', '/ə/'. So now let's put these sounds into one simple exercise and practice.
Going between the three. By practicing going between the three you're going to condition your mouth to actually recognize where each sound come from in your mouth
And going between each of them will really help you to get them right.
So repeat with me: '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/'. '/ə/', '/ʌ/', '/ɒ/.
Now let's combine the sounds with some other sounds to make it a bit more contextual.
So: '/bə/', '/bʌ/', '/bɒ/'. '/bə/', '/bʌ/', '/bɒ/'. '/bə/', '/bʌ/', '/bɒ/'. '/bə/', '/bʌ/', '/bɒ/'.
'Because', 'buddy', 'body'. ''Because', 'buddy', 'body'. 'Because', 'buddy', 'body'. '/bə/', '/bʌ/', '/bɒ/'. '/bə/', '/bʌ/', '/bɒ/'.
Now with a different sound: '/mə/', '/mʌ/', '/mɒ/'. '/mə/', '/mʌ/', '/mɒ/'. '/mə/', '/mʌ/', '/mɒ/'. '/mə/', '/mʌ/', '/mɒ/'. Okay, '/mə/', '/mʌ/', '/mɒ/'.
All right so it's as simple, as that just go through this exercise repeat it again and again and again.
Pause the video look, at your lips make sure your lips are in the same position as my lips because if they're not you're never going to make it correct.
But if you are then you're on the road to getting it correct.
Okay I really really really recommend watching this video next. It's going to really help you to drill down on the difference between '/ə/' and '/ʌ/' and /æ/.
If you watch these videos all the time you'll hear me saying it all the time.
'/ə/' the 'schwa' sound is the most common vowel sound in English.
So it's essential to get it right. Right thumbs up if you've liked the video thumbs down if you haven't boo.
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