The Classification of English Vowel Phonemes. I. Questions on theory:

Tasks

I. Questions on theory:

1. What are the main principles of classification of English Vowel Phonemes?

2. What is a monophthong / a diphthong? Name English monophthongs and diphthongs.

3. Give a definition of all the classes of the English vowels according to the position of the bulk of the tongue. Bring examples.

4. Comment on the broad / narrow variations in the main tongue positions.

5. State the difference between checked / unchecked, long / short, lax / tense vowels.

II. Name all front vowels,

central vowels,

back-advanced vowels,

open vowels,

mid-open vowels.

III. Find the odd-one-out.

1. [i: I u A u:]

2. [E: A ea:]

3. [O O: e E: q]

4. [I u x q O A O: a:]

5. [O u u: a:]

6. [u: u O: O]

IV. Draw a chart on the Classification of English Vowel Phonemes.

V. Noughts and Crosses.

	e		u		i:		1) a sentence;
							2) a rhyme;
	O:		x		O		3) a proverb;
							4) an idiom.
	I		E:		A

Exercises

[i:]

I

1. Each 'man ·took his ·kit to the 'end of the quay.

2. I wish 'Eve could 'get them 'all to a gree.

3. It’s easier to 'speak than to read.

4. How many 'people have you in'vited to the meeting?

5. We don’t ex'pect to 'leave till this evening.

6. I should like to ·see some tweed, please.

7. I feel it my 'duty to 'speak to his teachers.

8. After reading for ·only 'three minutes | he fell into a 'deep sleep.

II

1. Heaby: It’s a fine ·piece of ·work, Jean.

Shields: Do you really mean that?

2. Green: Peter’s ·staying with us ·next week.

Beatty: Do ·bring him 'round to see us.

3. Heasley: When shall we meet you?

Stevens: After tea?

4. Evelyn: I’m afraid he’s 'not free this evening.

Freethy: When is he ·likely to be ·free?

5. Wheale: Your niece ·wants her shoes cleaned.

Stephen: Do I ·have to ·clean them ·for her?

6. Mead: Jean ·says she will see to it.

Beale: Does she mean it?

7. Deems: Good evening, Eve.

Leake: Hul lo, ·Keith. | Nice to see you.

8. Beasley: But I've been to ·Leeds.

Deane: Recently?

[I]

I

1. If you want this one | it’ll cost you triple.

2. He will get to the ·cinema with 'six ·minutes to spare.

3. It is im possible for him to 'get there in 'six minutes.

4. Jim ·seems 'ignorant of 'even the 'simplest ·facts of 'English history.

5. The building is ·situated near a 'big cliff.

6. Tim 'didn’t ·get there in winter, | did he?

7. When you’ve finished it | give me a ring.

8. It’s difficult to contra dict him.

II

1. Griffiths: The digging’s finished.

Whitwill: Is it? | All of it?

2. Hill: That big one’s his.

Gibson: Which one?

3. Lindsay: Jim ·thinks it’s mag nificent.

Wilton: Does he think ·so?

4. Mitchell: Who’s 'Lindon Simpson?

Grist: Who, did you ·say, | or how?

5. Mitton: Why is Jim giving up?

Gibb: Why is he ·giving ·up? | Business reasons.

6. Wilks: Whose responsi bility is it?

Miller: Whose responsi·bility? Why, Bill’s.

7. Dixon: But dare he risk it?

Digby: Dare he ·risk it? | He’s got to ·risk it.

8. Flynn: How ·many children has Jill?

Disney: How many? | Six, I think.

III

A Lawyer who was de'fending a man | said to the court:

“Your Honour, | I sub mit | that my client, Mr Pincher, | did not break into the 'house at all. He found the 'kitchen ·window open | and merely in'serted his right arm | and re moved a 'few insig'nificant things. Now, | Mr Pincher's ·arm is 'not him self, | and I fail to see | how you can punish the 'whole indi vidual | for an of fence | com mitted by ·only 'one of his limbs!”

The judge con'sidered this 'argument for a minute, | and then re plied:

“This argument is 'very ·well put. Following it logically | I sentence the de'fendant's arm | to 'six 'years’ im prisonment. Pincher can ac company it or not, as he chooses.”

Pincher smiled, | and with his lawyer’s as sistance | un screwed his arti'ficial arm, | and leaving it in the dock, | briskly 'walked out.

[e]

I

1. Lester: I can’t ·come before Wednesday.

Bedford: Be fore when?

2. Betts: We met him on the '10th of Sep tember.

Clement: You met him when?

3. Best: Wasn’t the pro'fessor’s 'lecture terrible!

Dennis: Wasn’t whose ·lecture ·terrible?

4. Belfitt: I shall never 'help him a gain.

Eddery: Never | is a very ·dangerous ·word to ·use.

5. Teggart: What a 'terrible essay!

Kent: Edgar ·doesn’t think it’s ·terrible.

6. Edney: 'Is your 'new 'dress red | or yellow?

Belle: Red. I ·thought you knew.

7. Welch: I’ve ·sent the ·text on to Leslie.

Fletcher: He won’t get it on Wednesday.

8. Preston: He sent his 'essay last Sep tember.

Leslie: You mean last No vember, | don’t you?

II

Mrs. Bennet: What d’you ·think I’d 'better ·do about 'these 'letters that have ·come for Lester?

Mr. Bennet: Can’t you re-ad dress them?

Mrs. Bennet: Yes, | but where to?

Mr. Bennet: Why not to Bedford?

Mrs. Bennet: He won’t be back there for ten days. He was going to Reading yesterday.

Mr. Bennet: Won’t Mr. 'Dennis have an ad·dress for ·sending stuff on?

Mrs. Bennet: He may, | but he’s apt to for get them, Lester says.

Mr. Bennet: Well, | does it matter? They’re only circulars, | aren’t they?

Mrs. Bennet: No; | this one ·looks as if it ·might be from ·Messrs 'Rendal & Berry. I know he was ex pecting to ·hear from ·them.

Mr. Bennet: Why 'didn’t the 'ass let them 'know where to send the letter?

Mrs. Bennet: He probably thought | it was safer to ·let it come here, | when he knew he was going to be in Reading or elsewhere.

[x]

I

1. Hammond: Can I 'offer you that ·badge?

Garret: I’ve already got one, as it happens.

2. Jackson: Is that ·Dan ·Radford?

Hampton: Yes, that’s the man.

3. Maxwell: Wasn’t it tragic about Bat Andrews?

Saxton: Yes, I was shocked to learn about the crash.

4. Barry: So you think ·Dan’ll manage to track them.

Hamilton: Dan’s ·always been very good at that sort of ·thing.

5. Allison: It’s an 'absolute scandal.

Gamble: Absolute ·scandal? ·Are you sure?

6. Adams: What’s 'happened to Jack?

Radford: Don’t worry. He failed his e xam.

7. Atkinson: What’s the matter?

Panton: Be careful. You nearly smashed my ·hand with that.

8. Mr Harris Jr.: Hu llo, Dad!

Mr Harris Sr.: Good morning, ·Sam.

II

Mab: There you ·are, Jack. I thought you ·might be here earlier. What ·happened to your train? Was it late?

Jack: No, I ·don’t think so; | ·just about on time. Which one did you think I was ·catching, ·then?

Mab: Wasn’t it the ·one that 'gets ·in at 'five ten?

Jack: No, that’s ·Saturday’s only. Hadn’t ·Ann told you?

Mab: Oh, of course she ·had; how silly of me to have for·gotten it. Anyway it 'doesn’t matter. What luck your ·managing to ·get a·way just ·now. How’s Ann?

Jack: Not too bad; a bit over·come by the heat.

Mab: Hasn’t it been awful. I hate storms, | but I was 'quite thankful to ·hear the ·thunder ·last night, | and after a shower | it hasn’t been quite so ·bad to day. I sup pose it’s been ·even worse with you.

Jack: Like an oven. I’ve been com pletely ·flattened out.

[a:]

I

1. Carson: Pass me that card, Bart.

Charley: Which ·card?

2. Barclay: What did Arthur ·do in Ghana?

Parkes: He worked on a farm.

3. Martin: I asked 'Archie yesterday.

Gardener: And‚ what was his answer?

4. Barton: Was Arnie’s 'car damaged?

Carter: Scarcely marked.

5. Parker: Shall I pass them to Martin?

Hart: Pass them to me, ‚rather.

6. Bartlett: Parker’s on the phone.

Hardy: Ask him a·bout my car.

7. Garth: Margie’s 'asked us to tea.

Parnell: How perfectly charming of her!

8. Margetts: Aren’t you 'Archibald Smart?

Smart: Well, if it isn’t old Margetts!

II

Barney: I say Arthur. Seen ·anything of 'Garth Rance ·recently?

Martin: Garth Lance?

Barney: No, Rance with an R.

Martin: Who’s 'Garth Rance, may I ask?

Barney: Don’t you re member? The man who 'gave you those driving lessons last March.

Martin: Oh, him. No, I’m af raid I haven’t. Why d’you ask? You don’t need more lessons, ·do you? I ·thought you passed your ·test.

Barney: 'So I did, later in March. No, I don’t ·need lessons. Margie ·does.

Martin: But didn’t you 'say your father was ·teaching her?

Barney: He was, | but he literally 'couldn’t 'stand the pace. Margie has no con·ception of speed, | and if you’d seen her 'tearing round Regents ·Park, | you’d have said she was com·peting in an 'inter'national car ·race, | rather than having ele mentary in'struction in ·handling our 'poor old car.

Martin: So Margie’s 'pretty confident, | is she?

Barney: Confident! | That’s putting it mildly. Anyway, | Father stood up to this ·hurricane ·treatment of the car rather well, actually. But when yesterday | dear old Margie | started taking the car to ·pieces, | Father 'threw in the sponge.

Martin: So that’s why you were ·asking about Garth ‚Rance. Let’s hope he’s 'fully in sured.

[O]

I

1. Hobbs: It’ll cost a 'lot of dollars.

Thomas: Obviously.

2. Cox: Where’s John’s copy?

Rodd: Don ·took it ·for him.

3. Bond: Dodd’s gene'rosity is as tounding.

Mock: Is it gene·rosity do you think?

4. Ross: ·Moll’s being very obstinate.

Croft: Then you be ·obstinate, | too.

5. Goble: What about ·Hobb’s offer?

Bonnett: Was it an ·offer in ·fact?

6. Collins: You’re a pompous ass, ·Tom.

Dodwell: Well, really, ·Rodge!

7. Boswell: I’ve for·gotten to buy a blotting-·pad.

Folliott: Well, ·need you bother about ·having ·any?

8. Golton: Tom’s having cocoa. What for you, ·Ron?

Nox: I’d pre fer a cup of coffee.

II

Oliver: Come and have some coffee.

Offord: What’s the time?

Oliver: Ten to four.

Offord: We shall have to be quick, ·then. I’ve got Mrs. 'Ockham ·coming to see me. Where are we going?

Oliver: Roger’s, I sup pose.

Offord: No, let’s go ·somewhere else. The coffee there’s getting 'worse and worse.

Oliver: You are too fussy, Offord. What about a ·place in Popham Street?

Offord: All right. Come on. Have I ·got my ·ciga rettes? Yes, | I’ve got them.

Oliver: Oh, ·that re minds me; | I don’t ·think I ·brought mine. I’ll just go back for them – I shan’t be a minute.

Offord: No, don’t bother. I’ve got enough for the present.

Oliver: Very well. Off we go, then.

[O:]

I

1. Your daughters are 'all tall.

2. This per formance 'always ‚draws a 'large audience.

3. Have you ·read the ex'traordinary ·story they are 'all talking a·bout?

4. That tall ·girl’s my daughter.

5. I a dore her 'more and more.

6. Could you 'show me the 'shortest ·way to the port?

7. I caught a cold | when I walked a·long the shore.

8. They can't ·afford to ·buy any more.

II

1. Morston: Mort was rather a bore to·night.

Gorton: Isn’t he always?

2. Thorner: We still ·need his sup port, | don’t we?

George: More than 'ever be fore.

3. Saunders: You haven’t ·brought e nough of them.

Mortimer: I shall be ·bringing some ·more ·later in the morning.

4. Porter: What an ex traordinary shawl!

Small: What’s ex traordinary about it?

5. Swan: Ac cording to George | they have re ported it.

Waters: It’s not im·portant, | is it?

6. Horner: Why, it’s ·Mr Corbett! | How are you?

Corbett: Good morning, Mr ·Horner. Fine, thank you.

7. Norton: It was your fault.

Dawson: My ·fault?

8. Lawton: I call on 'Gordon 'ev