Pronunciation exercises for EAL students - no. 7

This blog is about word-final /k/ and /g/ and pre-fortis clipping.

1. I was glad to see the back of him.
2. A brig is a ship with two masts.
3. The duck on the river started quacking.
4. I can see you through a crack in the door.
5. D’you see the brick over there?
6. She dug around in her bag for some coins.
7. You don’t have to dig very deep to find out his name is Dick.
8. What a massive crag this is.
9. Brazil is in a different league.
10. Many people lack adequate arrangements.
11. Does Britain still lag behind the rest of Europe?
12. It’s the best pig.
13. The explosion was caused by a gas leak.
14. Have a look at the menu and take your pick.
15. The wig has to be trimmed.
16. I have a snack in the basket.
17. You’ve got to wear a name tag in our company.
18. Can you pass me a tack, I want to fasten my name tag to the board.
19. Can you see anything in my bag?
20. The wick has to be trimmed.
21. The snag is that the job is not very well paid.

Pronunciation exercises for EAL students - no. 6

Today's blog contains practice sentences with word-final /t/ and /d/. In let the /e/ is shorter than in led, and in lent the /n/ is shorter than in lend. The same shortening applies to the /l/ in felt as opposed to felled. Here you go!

1. The new rate was a shock.
2. The new raid was a shock.
3. The police led the criminal out of the shop.
4. The police let the criminal out of the shop.
5. D'you know how to spell tight?
6. D'you know how to spell tide?
7. Our nanny hit the baby.
8. Our nanny hid the baby.
9. She sent me a lovely card.
10. She sent me a lovely cart.
11. I know she can ride well.
12. I know she can write well.
13. There's a drunk outside the house.
14. I don't like the sight of it.
15. Toddlers quickly learn bad words.
16. After he had felled the tree, he felt much better.
17. When you come round the bend slow down.
18. I'm particularly fond of the Times font.
19. She's hard on the outside, but she's got a heart of gold.
20. Is it Wates Grove or Wades Grove?

Pronunciation exercises for EAL students - no. 5

The following sentences contain words with word-final voiced or voiceless bilabial plosives, i.e. /p/ and /b/ as in lap - lab. Make sure the vowel in front of /p/ is shorter than in front of /b/. If the plosives are preceded by a sonorant, it's the latter which is shortened if /p/ follows.

1. The zoo assistant went over to the pub.
2. The zoo assistant went over to the pup.
3. Please, pass me the robe.
4. Please, pass me the rope.
5. The cat was sitting in my lab.
6. The cat was sitting in my lap.
7. This tribe is harmless.
8. I'm not going to watch the tripe that's on TV:.
9. There's a mop around the corner.
10. There's a mob around the corner.
11. Rip the flesh from the rib-cage.
12. The cop was young and eager to learn.
13. The cob was young and eager to learn.
14. I take a nap every afternoon.
15. The police will nab you for speeding.
16. He left his cap in a cab.
17. Watch out or I give you a bop on the nose.
18. At last I’m making a few bob.
19. I'll have the crab cake, please.
20. I don't believe all that crap.
21. It's not that simple.
22. The dove is a symbol of peace.
23. I've prepared an apple crumble.
24. Be careful or you'll crumple to the ground.
25. A tulip bulb is not a seed.
26. He drank the whiskey in one gulp. 

Interdental ell

I must admit it never occurred to me that there are people who stick their tongue tip out when they pronounce an ell. Browsing my video clips I found a short recording of a speech by Ed Miliband from 2011.

Watch his tongue as he pronounces the words "Labour" in the phrase "Labour's plan for Britain's future" and "Let's" in "Let's make it happen together". The /p/ of "plan" seems to block an interdental articulation.The film lags a bit behind the sound.