Page 15 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes
[ ] ... 'uh' as in 'supply'

The 'uh' as in 'supply' vowel sound, also known as the schwa. This is the most commonly
occurring sound in English, uh, uh. It only happens in unaccented syllables, like the first
syllable of supply or about. To make this sound, the mouth remains very neutral and relaxed,
uh, but the lips have the part. And the teeth, uh, will be close but not quite touching, uh, uh. The
tongue remains flat and forward, very relaxed, uh, lightly touching behind the bottom front
teeth. Uh, supply.
Diphthongs
[ ] ... 'ow' as in 'now'

The 'ow' as in 'now' diphthong. The first sound of this diphthong does not appear on its own as
a vowel in American English. To make this sound, aa, ow, the back part of the tongue stretches
a bit towards the soft palate, aa, and you can see the corners of the lips pull a bit and the top lip
pulls up, showing a little bit more of the top teeth, aa, aa. The second half of the diphthong is the
'uh' as in 'pull' vowel sound. In this vowel sound, the back of the tongue will stretch even
further up towards the soft palate, ow, ow. And you can see the lips will come in and round for
the second part of the diphthong, ow, now.
[ ] ... 'oh' as in 'no'

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