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1000-hours/sounds-of-american-english/2.1-vowels.md

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # 2.1. 元音（Vowels）
 
-英文总计 6 个基础元音，分别是 `ʌ`、`e`、`ə`、`ɪ`、`ʊ`、`ɒ` —— 这 6 个短元音就好像是 “根” 一样。剩下的十几个元音要么是它们略有变化的更长版本，即，长元音  ——  `ɑː, æ, əː, iː, uː, ɔː`；要么是它们的组合版本，即，双元音 —— `aɪ, eɪ, ɔɪ, aʊ, oʊ, er, ɪr, ʊr`。
+英文总计 6 个基础元音，分别是 `ʌ`、`e`、`ə`、`ɪ`、`ʊ`、`ɒ` —— 这 6 个短元音就好像是 “根” 一样。剩下的十几个元音要么是它们略有变化的更长版本，即，长元音  ——  `ɑː, æ, ɝː,  i, iː, uː, ɔː`；要么是它们的组合版本，即，双元音 —— `aɪ, eɪ, ɔɪ, aʊ, oʊ, er, ɪr, ʊr`。
 
-In English, there are 6 basic vowels: `ʌ`, `e`, `ə`, `ɪ`, `ʊ`, and `ɒ`. Think of these 6 short vowels like the *roots* of a tree. The remaining more than a dozen vowels are either slightly modified, longer versions of these - the *long* vowels, which are `ɑː, æ, əː, iː, uː, ɔː`; or, they are combinations of these basic sounds, known as *diphthongs* - `aɪ, eɪ, ɔɪ, aʊ, oʊ, er, ɪr, ʊr`.
+In English, there are 6 basic vowels: `ʌ`, `e`, `ə`, `ɪ`, `ʊ`, and `ɒ`. Think of these 6 short vowels like the *roots* of a tree. The remaining more than a dozen vowels are either slightly modified, longer versions of these - the *long* vowels, which are `ɑː, æ, ɝː, i, iː, uː, ɔː`; or, they are combinations of these basic sounds, known as *diphthongs* - `aɪ, eɪ, ɔɪ, aʊ, oʊ, er, ɪr, ʊr`.
 
 > 在英式英语中，`er, ɪr, ʊr` 这 3 个双元音分别读作 `eə, ɪə, ʊə`。
 >

1000-hours/sounds-of-american-english/2.1.10-ɤ.md

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# 2.1.10. `ɤ`
+
+人类的语音在最底层是相通的 —— 最明显的例证就是所有的语言都一样，不仅都以元音为核心，并且，都有大致相同的基础元音音素，比如 `ɑ`、`i`、`ʊ`、`e`、`ɔ`…… 日文就恰好只有这五个母音。英文还另外有一个 `ə`；而韩文比英文还要多出一个 `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span>（韩文字符为 `ᅳ`） —— 这个音中文也有，比如，在 “思念” 这个词中， “思”（`sī`）的韵母就是这个音。
+
+Human speech, at its core, is universal - the clearest example being that all languages share certain fundamental tenets. Every language places vowels at their heart and maintains a similar basic vowel phonemes such as `ɑ`, `i`, `ʊ`, `e`, `ɔ`, amongst others. Take Japanese for instance; it uses precisely these five vowels only. English includes one more: `ə`. Korean even outpaces English by adding another one —`ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span> (represented in Hangul as `ᅳ`). Interestingly enough you can find this sound in Mandarin Chinese too — like in `sī` of "思念" `sīniàn`, meaning to miss or remember.
+
+虽然英文的音标列表里并没有收录 `ɤ` 这个音，可实际上，你试试就知道了：`d` 被读作 `dɤ`，`g` 被读作 `gɤ` —— 其中的 `ɤ` 很轻很短；同样，`t` 实际上被读作 `tɤ`，`k` 被读作 `kɤ` —— 其中的 `ɤ` 没有气流振动。
+
+Even though the phonetic symbol `ɤ` isn't included in English phonetic chart, you'll notice something interesting if you try it out: the letter `d` is actually pronounced as `dɤ`, and `g` is pronounced as `gɤ`. Here, the `ɤ` sound is very light and brief. Similarly, `t` is actually pronounced as `tɤ`, and `k` is pronounced as `kɤ`, with the `ɤ` not involving any airflow vibration.

1000-hours/sounds-of-american-english/2.2.3-td.md

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ In Mandarin Chinese, the starting position of the tongue tip for the `t` and `d`
 
 For Chinese speakers, it's a pretty tough to correct at first because the tongue tip instinctively goes to the teeth, not the *alveolar ridge*. It can only be corrected through intense and frequent practice to build a new habit.
 
-另外，就好像 `p/b` 在发音的时候会自然带着一个很轻的 `ʊ` 一样，`t/d` 也会自然带着一个很轻的元音，不过，不是 `ə` 而是 `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span> —— 之前提到过，相当于中文里 “思念” 的 “思”（`sī`）的韵母。
+另外，就好像 `p/b` 在发音的时候会自然带着一个很轻的 `ʊ` 一样，`t/d` 也会自然带着一个很轻的元音，不过，不是 `ə` 而是 `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span> —— 之前提到过，相当于中文里 “思念” 的 “思”（`sī`）的韵母（[2.1.10](2.1.10-ɤ)）。
 
 Additionally, just as the `p` and `b` sound naturally carries a slight `ʊ` sound in its pronunciation, the `t` and `d` sound also carries a light vowel sound. But instead of 'ə', it's `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span> - as previously mentioned, this is equivalent to the vowel in the Chinese word for 思, which is `sī.`
 

1000-hours/sounds-of-american-english/2.2.4-kg.md

@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@ Firstly, to pronounce these two sounds, the back part of the tongue must be rais
 
 ![articulator-tongue-tip-kg](/images/articulator-tongue-tip-kg.svg)
 
-就好像 `t/d` 在发音的时候一样，`k/g` 也会自然带着一个很轻的元音，再一次，不是 `ə` 而是 `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span>，但只有气流通过，没有声带振动。
+就好像 `t/d` 在发音的时候一样，`k/g` 也会自然带着一个很轻的元音，再一次，不是 `ə` 而是 `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span>，但只有气流通过，没有声带振动。请仔细体会一下 *class* 的发音：`/klæs/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/class-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/class-us-female.mp3"></span> —— 其中 `ɤ` 的音色，虽然轻微但也明显。
 
-Moreover, much like the `t/d` sounds, `k/g` also naturally carries a slight vowel sound. Once again, it's not `ə` but `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span>, where the air is flowing through without any vocal cord vibration.
+Moreover, much like the `t/d` sounds, `k/g` also naturally carries a slight vowel sound. Once again, it's not `ə` but `ɤ`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/us/Close-mid_back_unrounded_vowel.ogg.mp3"></span>, where the air is flowing through without any vocal cord vibration. Pay close attention to the pronunciation of class: `/klæs/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us/class-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/us/class-us-female.mp3"></span>. The sound ɤ is subtle yet noticeable.