Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking
Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking
Learning the schwa & the four most problematic
pronunciations for native Spanish speakers
Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking
Agenda
The schwa
The big 5
mind body unison
Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking
What’s the schwa?The schwa, in fact, is the most frequently occurring sound in spoken English, but many speakers-even native-born American English speakers-may not be technically familiar with it. Learning to use the schwa is critical in helping you to improve your accent.
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What is the schwa?
1. A mid-central neutral vowel, typically occurring in unstressed syllables, as the final vowel of English sofa.
2. The symbol (ə ) used to represent an unstressed neutral vowel and, in some systems of phonetic transcription, a stressed mid-central vowel, as in but.
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Student Senate
Constitution Obama
President independence
Decision about
Syllable mountain
What do these words have in common?
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The schwa
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Obamə
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Studǝnt Senǝte
Constitutiǝn Obamǝ
Presidǝnt independǝnce
Decisiǝn ǝbout
Syllǝble mountǝn
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In order to identify the schwa we need to do three
things
1. identify the syllǝbles
2. identify the stressed syllǝble
3. insert the schwa when necessary
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Let’s practiceTomorrow təˈmɒrəʊ banana bəˈnɑːnə
Summer ˈsuməʳ focusˈfəʊkəs
Pupil ˈpjuːpəl survive sərˈvaɪv
Wizard ? Measure ?
Theatre ? pupil ?
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Tricks
the: iː + consonants ə + vowels
thə cat thə director thə clothes
Thiː əgreementthiː interview thiː egg
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TricksA - ə or eɪ
Ə dog ə bear ə guy
or with (eɪ)
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ION endings: stress before the last syllable and the schwa in +ion
Negotiation participation
Constitution potion
Allusion recreation
Conclusion salivation
Miscommunication transition
Notion vision
Tricks
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The big 5
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Examples:
Schoolsprite stop signI’m so sorry to stop spending small time with Sal. Strip spoon scold Cereal snake scaredSell Steve the seven shares of stock Saturday Sally.
1. A tendency to add the prefix “eh” to some words beginning with S, especially when S is followed by another consonant.
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2. The ʤ sound
J
¡Uff no me sale!
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beginning middle end
Job manager badge
Genuine suggestion George
Giant ages range
Gin language wedge
Jury budget stage
Generation project beige
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3. Is it Z or S?
Tricks: handout
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4. ʃ or “sh” for Y as in yogurt
Yoga youtube yahoo
Yoda yo-yo yellow
Yankee yacht Yogi
Yogurt yuck yummy
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5.
WOULD
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Thanks for your time & Have a nice day!