Mastering the American Accent » Review of /ɘ/, /ɑ/, /ɔ/, and /ou/ Sounds

Review of /ɘ/, /ɑ/, /ɔ/, and /ou/ Sounds

These sounds are frequently confused. Non-native speakers sometimes do not clearly distinguish the difference between cup, cop, cap, and cope.

/ɘ//ɑ/ /ɔ//ou/
Remember, the sound /ɘ/ as in fun or cup is a neutral vowel, meaning that everything in your mouth is relaxed and the lips are just very slightly open.In contrast to the /ɘ/, the /ɑ/ as in father and /ɔ/ as in saw, require the mouth to be open. The sounds /ɑ/ and /ɔ/ are very similar, except that for the /ɔ/, the lips are a bit more oval in shape and the tongue is slightly tense. However, in many parts of the United States, the /ɑ/ and /ɔ/ are pronounced the same way. For example, many Americans pronounce hot and tall with the same vowel sound.For the /ou/ sound, as in boat, the lips are rounded and tense.

Warning: Dangerous Mistake

Confusing /ɘ/, /ɑ/, /ɔ/, and /ou/ may cause embarrassment or can even be offensive.

Do you mean?Or?
/ɘ//ɔ/
Dougdog

Also, mispronouncing words like coke, focus, fork, and folk can cause you to say an inappropriate or offensive word.

Practice Dialogue

Coffee Tomorrow

John: Hi Nico/ou/le. Can you ta/ɔ/lk?

Nicole: O/ou/h, hi Jo/ɑ/hn. Can you ho/ou/ld o/ɑ/n? I’m o/ɑ/n ano/ɘ/ther ca/ɔ/ll. I’m ta/ɔ/lking to my bo/ɑ/ss.

John: No/ou/ pro/ɑ/blem. I’ll wait ‘til you’re do/ɘ/ne.

Nicole: O/ou/kay, now I can ta/ɔ/lk. I am so/ɑ/rry it took so/ou/ lo/ɔ/ng. Wha/ɘ/t’s go/ou/ing o/ɑ/n?

John: No/ɘ/thing mu/ɘ/ch. I ju/ɘ/st wanted to know/ou/ if we can meet for lu/ɘ/nch or co/ɔ/ffee tomo/ɑ/rrow.

Nicole: That sounds like fu/ɘ/n. I’ve been working no/ɑ/nsto/ɑ/p and I’d lo/ɘ/ve to get out of the o/ɑ/ffice.

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