English Pronunciation, Vowels

/ʌ/

This is a very relax sound.

• The jaw drops, but the rest of the mouth remains very neutral
• The tongue is relaxed: the back presses down just a little bit, and the lip is forward.

/ɑ/

This vowel needs a lot of jaw drop.

• The tongue tip lightly touches behind the bottom front teeth,
• the back part of the tongue presses down a little bit
• The lips are neutral

/ɔ/

• The jaw drops, the lips flare a little bit
• the tongue shifts back. The tips of the tongue doesn't touch anything.

Think of the cheeks coming in and shifting forward just a little bit.

lips and cheeks are totally relaxed in /ɑ/

When the /ɔ/ vowel is followed by the r consonant, the sound does change. (/ɔr/), the lips flare more(round), and the tongue pulls back more, and up a little bit.

• The lips fare more
• The tongue pulls back more and up a little bit
• core /kɔr/, sore /sɔr/

/æ/

• The jaw drops quite a bit
• The tip of the tongue stays forward, touching the back of the bottom front teeth. The back part of the tongue stretches up.
• The tongue is wide

When it's followed by the /m/ or /n/ sounds, the tongue relaxes in the back. e.g. man, exam

When it's followed by /ŋ/, the vowel more like /eɪ/(hang)

• the middle part of the tongue lifts towards the roof of the mouth, then the front part of the tongue

/ɛ/

• The jaw drops
• The tongue remains forward with the tip touching slightly behind the bottom front teeth.
• The middle front part of the tongue lifts a little bit towards the roof of the mouth while the back of the tongue feels like it stretches wide.

/ʊ/

• the corners of the lips come in a little(lips flare away from the face)
• The back of the tongue lifts towards the back of the roof of the mouth.
• The front of the tongue remains down, but it might be pulled slightly back(not quite touching the back of the bottom front teeth)

/u/

• The back part of the tongue stretches up towards the soft palate.
• The front part of the tongue remains down, lightly touching or just behind the bottom front teeth
• The lips are round a lot
• lips move from relaxed into tighter position

/ɪ/

• relaxed jaw drop
• The tip of the tongue stays forward, lightly touching the back of the bottom front teeth.
• The top, front part of the tongue arches up towards the roof of the mouth

/i/

• The jaw drops just a little bit
• The tongue tip stays behind the bottom front teeth.
• The middle front part of the tongue arches up towards the roof of the mouth, diminishing the space between the tongue and the roof of the mouth
• The corners of the lips pull a little wide

/ə/

• Everything in your lips, jaw and neck should be relaxed
• slightly drop your jaw

Often go with the syllabic consonants /əl/, /əm/, /ən/, /ər/, you don't need to make the schwa.(absorbed by the next sound)

• father /fɑð ər/

/ɝ///ɚ/

• The corners of the lips come in, pushing the lips always from the face
• The middle part of the tongue lifts towards the roof of the mouth in the middle.
• The front of the tongue hangs down, but it's drawn back a bit(not touch anything)

/eɪ/

/ɛ/ + /ɪ/

• starting position:
  • The jaw drops and the tongue tip touches the back of the bottom front teeth
  • The top of the tongue pushes forward and lifts a bit.
• ending position:
  • The jaw will lift as the top front part of the tongue arches towards the roof of the mouth

/aɪ/

• starting position:
  • The back of the tongue stretches up a little bit.
• ending position:
  • The jaw drops less as the tongue arches up towards the roof of the mouth

/oʊ/

• starting position:
  • The jaw drops, the lips may stay relaxed or rounding right from the beginning.
  • The tongue shifts back a little bit
• ending position:
  • The lips round
  • The back of the tongue stretches up

/aʊ/

• starting position:
  • The jaw drops, similar to /a/
  • The tongue is wide and flat, the back stretches up a little bit
  • The tongue tip touches the back of the bottom front teeth
• ending position:
  • The lips round and the jaw drop less
  • The back of the tongue stretches up more

/ɔɪ/

• starting position:
  • The tongue is slightly lifted and shifted a bit back
• ending position:
  • The tongue comes forward, slightly touching the back of the bottom front teeth
  • The top front part of tongue arches up towards the roof of the mouth

/ju/

• starting position(y):
  • The jaw drops a little bit, the lips may be relaxed, or may begin rounding for the ending position
  • The tongue tips is down, lightly touching the back of the bottom front teeth
  • The middle front part of the tongue lifts and touches the roof of the mouth. It pushes forward against the roof of the mouth before pulling away
• ending position:
  • Release right into the position of /u/
  • The tongue remains touchings the back of the bottom front teeth
  • The back part of the tongue lifts towards the soft palate
  • The lips round