Lesson 6: The [ /ə / ] (Neutral Vowel)sound as in "banana"

Short Vowel [ /ə / ]

Speech organs Position

Jaw is half open, relaxed tongue and lips.Middle of the tongue is halfway up.Tongue position is a bit lower than when pronouncing [ /ɜː/] (Lesson 5)
Tongue is not going forward. The sound is very short.


Look at the mouth diagram to help you position your lips, tongue and jaw for the target sound

Highlighted bold letters pronounced as [ /ə / ]


The first syllable unstressed - away, agree, abuse, aboard, against, advice, attain,
advance, canal, correct, police, support


The second syllable unstressed - doctor, under, figure, colour, absent, constant,
standard, oral, forward, upward, awkward



Unstressed Positions

and----------------------------- a ---------------------an

Fish and chips ---------------Get a spoon------------ - Have an apple

Salt and pepper------------ --Cut a piece -------------A question and an answer

pork and beans --------------Here's a plate ------------An aunt an uncle

Ladies and gentlemen------- Lend a hand -------------Listen to an announcement

Comparison

[ /ə / ] ------------- [ /ɜː/]

slogan ------------- girl

forward ---------- word

awkward ----------third

standard ---------- earn

upward ------------word

backward ---------work



Sentences


Read each sentences aloud slowly at first, then as if you were telling it to someone in a natural way.


1. what are you doing in London? we are looking for a hairdresser.

2. Is it made of glass? No, it's made of plastic.

3.What can i do ? What has she done? What have you done?

4. she had done it before she came here.

5. Amanda, phone call for you .

6. The conductor of the orchestra was amazed to see the viola player drink a scotch and soda

7. Tell my sister Amanda to buy some better bananas as well as potatoes and tomatoes.