84 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
84 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
# Sounds of American English
|
||
|
||
## Introduction
|
||
|
||
## 1. English Alphabet
|
||
|
||
Modern English is composed of *26* letters, each with both *uppercase* and *lowercase* forms. English stands out among European languages for not using [diacritics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacritic), which are special marks added to letters to alter their pronunciation or meaning, such as *â*, *é* or *ç*, etc.
|
||
|
||
[NATO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO) has a system that uses common words to identify each letter, which is particularly helpful for military and civil aviation, emergency serivces, radio or phone communication, and many others to avoid confusion when spelling out words.
|
||
|
||
| Letter | Pronunciation | NATO Phonetic Alphabet |
|
||
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
||
| **A** *a* | `/eɪ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/a-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/a-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Alpha* `/ˈæl.fə/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Alpha-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Alpha-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **B** *b* | `/biː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/b-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/b-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Bravo* `/ˈbrɑː.voʊ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Bravo-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Bravo-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **C** *c* | `/siː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/c-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/c-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Charlie* `/ˈtʃɑːr.liː/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Charlie-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Charlie-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **D** *d* | `/diː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/d-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/d-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Delta* `/ˈdɛl.tə/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Delta-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Delta-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **E** *e* | `/iː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/e-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/e-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Echo* `/ˈɛk.oʊ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Echo-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Echo-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **F** *f* | `/ɛf/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/f-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/f-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Foxtrot* `/ˈfɔːks.trɒt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Foxtrot-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Foxtrot-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **G** *g* | `/dʒiː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/g-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/g-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Golf* `/ɡɑːf/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Golf-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Golf-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **H** *h* | `/eɪtʃ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/h-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/h-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Hotel* `/hoʊˈtɛl/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Hotel-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Hotel-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **I** *i* | `/aɪ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/i-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/i-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *India* `/ˈɪn.di.ə/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/India-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/India-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **J** *j* | `/dʒeɪ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/j-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/j-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Juliet* `/ˈdʒuːliːˌɛt/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Juliet-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Juliet-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **K** *k* | `/keɪ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/k-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/k-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Kilo* `/ˈkiː.loʊ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Kilo-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Kilo-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **L** *l* | `/ɛl/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/l-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/l-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Lima* `/ˈliː.mə/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Lima-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Lima-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **M** *m* | `/ɛm/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/m-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/m-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Mike* `/maɪk/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Mike-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Mike-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **N** *n* | `/ɛn/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/n-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/n-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *November* `/noʊˈvɛm.bər/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/November-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/November-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **O** *o* | `/oʊ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/o-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/o-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Oscar* `/ˈɑːs.kɑːr/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Oscar-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Oscar-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **P** *p* | `/piː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/p-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/p-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Papa* `/pəˈpɑː/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Papa-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Papa-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **Q** *q* | `/kjuː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/q-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/q-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Quebec* `/kəˈbɛk/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Quebec-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Quebec-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **R** *r* | `/ɑːr/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/r-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/r-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Romeo* `/ˈroʊ.miːˌoʊ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Romeo-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Romeo-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **S** *s* | `/ɛs/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/s-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/s-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Sierra* `/siˈɛr.ə/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Sierra-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Sierra-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **T** *t* | `/tiː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/t-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/t-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Tango* `/ˈtæŋ.ɡoʊ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Tango-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Tango-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **U** *u* | `/juː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/u-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/u-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Uniform* `/ˈjuː.nɪ.fɔːrm/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Uniform-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Uniform-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **V** *v* | `/viː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/v-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/v-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Victor* `/ˈvɪk.tər/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Victor-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Victor-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **W** *w* | `/ˈdʌbl̩juː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/w-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/w-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Whiskey* `/ˈwɪs.kiː/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Whiskey-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Whiskey-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **X** *x* | `/ɛks/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/x-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/x-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *X-ray* `/ˈɛks.reɪ/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/X-ray-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/X-ray-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **Y** *y* | `/waɪ/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/y-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/y-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Yankee* `/ˈjæŋ.kiː/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Yankee-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Yankee-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
| **Z** *z* | `/ziː/` <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/z-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/z-us-jen.mp3"></span> | *Zulu* `/ˈzuː.luː/`<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Zulu-us-guy.mp3" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Zulu-us-jen.mp3"></span> |
|
||
|
||
In British, letter *z* is pronounced as `/zed/`。
|
||
|
||
> [!Note]
|
||
>
|
||
> 1. The synthesized audio files primarily utilizes OpenAI's TTS (Text-to-Speech) and Microsoft Edge's TTS. The blue speaker icon<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us="/audios/us/Alpha-us-guy.mp3"></span>represents a male voice, whereas the brown speaker icon<span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-uk="/audios/us/Alpha-us-jen.mp3"></span>signifies a female voice.
|
||
> 2. The IPA ([International Phonetic Alphabet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet)) notation used for phonetic transcription is generated by OpenAI's ChatGPT, which may occasionally make mistakes that need to be corrected.
|
||
|
||
## 2. Phonemes
|
||
|
||
In natural speech, indivisible sound segments are referred to as *phonemes*. English language categorizes these phonemes into two main types: *vowels* and *consonants*.
|
||
|
||
> [!Note]
|
||
>
|
||
> The phonetic notation system employed in this tutorial is the D.J. Phonetic transcription, introduced by [Daniel Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Jones_(phonetician)) who published his *English Pronouncing Dictionary* (EPD) back in 1917 and continually revised it over many years. Eventually handed over to Cambridge University Press, its name was revamped as the [*Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary*](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/dictionary) (CEPD). The CEPD rolled out its 15^th^ edition sometime around 1997 with an additional set of symbols for American pronunciations tallied along. Now on par with their [18^th^](https://www.cambridge.org/gb/cambridgeenglish/catalog/dictionaries/cambridge-english-pronouncing-dictionary-18th-edition) outing, this sitely respin of Jone's original framework has been widely adopted amongst major authoritative dictionaries - including but not limited to [Oxford](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/dictionary)'s upstanding series or [*Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English*](https://www.ldoceonline.com/) down till [*Collins COBUILD*](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english).
|
||
|
||
### 2.1 Vowels
|
||
|
||
English approximately has *20* vowels.
|
||
|
||
Vowels can be classified into *long* and *short* vowels, or alternatively, they can also be grouped as *monophthongs* and *diphthongs*.
|
||
|
||
| Monophthongs | | Diphthongs |
|
||
| ----- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
|
||
| Short vowels | `ʌ`, `e`, `ə`, `ɪ`, `ʊ`, `ɒ` | |
|
||
| Long vowels | `ɑː`, `æ`, `əː`, `iː`, `uː`, `ɔː` | `aɪ`, `eɪ`, `ɔɪ`, `aʊ`, `oʊ`, `eə`, `ɪə`, `ʊə` |
|
||
|
||
English may well be the language with the most regional accents on Earth, leading to frequent debate over the actual number of vowel sounds. Take American English for instance, `ʌ` is pronounced as `ə`, effectively reducing one vowel sound compared to British English. Additionally, some linguists argue that `eə`, `ɪə`, and `ʊə` shouldn't count as independent diphthongs but *rhotic* versions of existing vowels: `e`, `ɪ` and `ʊ`, thus stripping off three more distinct vowels...
|
||
|
||
A prominent feature of American English is the rhotacized `ə`. The IPA developed two specific marks to note this, with `ɚ` corresponding to `əʳ`, and `ɝ` to `əːʳ`. Bear in mind not all instances of `ə` will be subjected to rhotacization; certain words like *focus* retain their original pronunciations as `/ˈfoʊkǝs/` rather than veering towards a rendition such as `/ˈfoʊkɚs/`.
|
||
|
||
## 2.2 辅音
|
||
|
||
英文大约 28 个辅音。
|
||
|
||
| 爆破音 | 清辅音 | `p`, `t`, `k` |
|
||
| ------ | ------ | ----------------------- |
|
||
| | 浊辅音 | `b`, `d`, `g` |
|
||
| 摩擦音 | 清辅音 | `f`, `s`, `θ`, `ʃ`, `h` |
|
||
| | 浊辅音 | `v`, `z`, `ð`, `ʒ`, `r` |
|
||
| 破擦音 | 清辅音 | `tʃ`, `tr`, `ts` |
|
||
| | 浊辅音 | `dʒ`, `dr`, `dz` |
|
||
| 鼻音 | 浊辅音 | `m`, `n`, `ŋ` |
|
||
| 边辅音 | 浊辅音 | `l` |
|
||
| 半元音 | 浊辅音 | `j`, `w` |
|