Mastering the American Accent » Vowel Length and Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

Vowel Length and Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

Vowels are longer when followed by a voiced consonant. They are shorter when followed by a voiceless consonant. Even short vowels like /i/, /ɛ/, /ɘ/, and /ʊ/ are prolonged when followed by a voiced consonant.

Warning: Common Mistake

When you lengthen a vowel, make sure that you do not change the sound of the vowel.
For example, when you say hid make sure that it doesn’t sound like heed.

Word Pairs for Practice

voicelessvoiced
/s//z/
1.adviceadvise
2.iceeyes
3.nieceknees
/t//d/
4.matemade
5.hathad
6.betbed
/f//v/
7.halfhave
8.lifelive
9.beliefbelieve
/k//g/
10.backbag
11.dockdog
12.duckDoug

Practice Sentences

voicelessvoiced
1. My wallet is in the back.My wallet is in the bag.
2. I saw five bucks on the floor.I saw five bugs on the floor.
3. He has blue ice.He has blue eyes.
4. I heard about the lice.I heard about the lies.

Word Pairs in Sentences

  1. He told me lies about the lice.
  2. His eyes are ice cold.
  3. There was a buzz in the bus.
  4. The dog is on the dock.

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