Download recording English letters and sounds. English letters and sounds. We fix the result with tongue twisters

It seemed like an impenetrable jungle with 26 dangerous predators hiding in the wilds. However, now you will probably easily name and arrange all the letters in the correct order, and even flash a few facts that are far from known to every philologist.

After reading this article, the topic of English transcription and pronunciation will be transferred from the room of fear to the room of laughter. Today's program:

Getting rid of the fear of reading and the study of graphic symbols
. acquaintance, memorization and memorization of diphthongs, vowels and consonants (classification of sounds), arranged in unique tables
. pause for downloading and printing English transcriptions in pictures
. a clear and concise explanation of the use of English sounds by comparing them with Russian relatives
. consolidation of the material covered with a 10-minute video about English transcription

Are you still afraid? Then we are coming to you!

Graphic symbols of transcription in English

Before you plunge into the pool of English reading with your head, we strongly recommend that you heed the advice of experienced divers. Naturally, the child learns to sit first, and then to walk, and not vice versa - the same thing will happen to us: first learn to read the transcription, and then pronounce it (in the head or out loud). You should not get carried away only by reading, otherwise you risk digging into the jungle of theory and breaking away from practice.

First you need to learn and clarify all the questions regarding each transcription symbol. Then listen online as many examples as needed for a clear and precise idea of ​​how this symbol sounds in live speech. Learn strictly from examples of sounds not taken out of context (like Rian's "uh-uh" in the hit "Umbrella"), but in a specific combination of letters found in words. Then, first listen to each new word and only then check what you catch with your ears with the alphabetic dictionary transcription enclosed in square brackets. By the way, about them and other essential companions of transcription:

Square brackets. They signal that inside is exactly transcription.
For example, English is a word, and ["ɪŋglɪʃ] is its transcription;

‘ - main emphasis. Placed BEFORE the stressed vowel: around [əˈraʊnd];

, - secondary accent. Placed BEFORE the vowel: ["hæmˌbɜːgə];

: - vowel length.

The proposed option will seem at first glance not the fastest, but the wise one will not go uphill - the wise one will bypass the mountain. As a result, the time spent is converted into the comfort of speech perception: you no longer need to painfully strain your ears, trying to recognize unfamiliar sounds. And soon unfamiliar "squiggles" will acquire a meaningful sound. Isn't it magical? This is the secret of not only the correct pronunciation, but also the ease of listening to speech.

Foundation of English transcription

Since “it’s great that we are all here today” about the study of transcription, let's get to know it better. There are two types of transcription: phonetic and phonemic. You are mistaken if you think that you have taught/will learn phonetic transcription to a more familiar ear. She, as a rule, is of interest to serious uncles and aunts of linguists, our choice is the study of phonemes (sound language units). Simply put, if two sounds are very similar, but the difference between them can change the meaning of the word, then they form two different phonemes. In Russian, this is not so noticeable, because if you call a cat at least “cat”, even “koooooot”, he will still come, but the meaning of the word will not change. One phoneme for two different sounds. In English, the number will not work: "cot", "caught" and "coat" contain different phonemes. Why so many "smart letters"? In addition to the fact that dictionaries contain phonemic transcriptions, remember this and do not let yourself be confused:

Pope(dad, papal):
1) is a phonetic transcription, it is emphasized here that the first [p], unlike the second, is pronounced with aspiration (aspiration after consonants p, t, k before vowels);
2) is a dictionary (phonemic) transcription.

What else do you need to know about transcription? That there is a different syllable in it:

- open(there is no consonant after the vowel) - New
- closed(after the vowel there is a consonant) - York

- vowel: single - [e], diphthong - [ɔʊ], triphthong - [ɑiə]
- consonant:[d]

English vowel sounds (with online pronunciation)

There are fewer vowels in English than consonants, but more than diphthongs. This picture clearly shows the difference, for example, between the sounds [I] and. Anyone who has even heard of the existence of the imagination will distinguish between the words "fish" and "tree", which, like rebuses, contain the sounds mentioned. You can reread the rules as much as you like, or you can study the transcription in pictures in detail once, which visualizes examples of the use of sounds. For memory training, you can download and even print a picture, this option is provided. For audials, it is possible to hear every sound online in a word after clicking on the speaker icon.

English consonants

Consonant sounds in English are not twin brothers in Russian at all. The articulation of their creation is seriously different. However, we are here not to intimidate with smart words, but rather to make life easier for beginners in English, so we painted voiced consonants in purple, and deaf ones in blue. When forming the same plural of nouns, it is very important to feel and know the difference. 24 new words serve as a bonus to the learned sounds. We train visual memory and save English transcription in pictures for re-use when needed! Audials still click on the speaker icon under each letter to pronounce sounds in online transcription.

Diphthongs (double vowels) of English

And it would be scary from the presence of 8 diphthongs in English, if not for the wonderful pictures, thanks to which the study turns into an entertaining charade. It is enough to look at the picture, hold your eyes, voice the diphthong by pressing the speaker icon under the letter and practice correct pronunciation. Anyone who appreciates the creative approach to business is allowed to download a picture for a long memory!

From theory to practice
Some time will pass, the dictionary will be covered with a thick layer of dust or removed from the bookmarks (in the electronic version), because the translation of the necessary words is known, the sound is familiar - what other America can you discover there? Do not believe it, it is precisely the clarification of the transcription of what seems to you well-known words that is the very unplowed field that is worth crossing in order to improve the sound of speech.

Let's give an everyday example: the frequently used word "real" has a phonemic transcription a), b) or c)?
The first option is fictional and erroneous, the second and third are British and American pronunciations. What is the moral of this fable?

So that you are not painfully ashamed of your reading, we recommend that you at least briefly familiarize yourself with these tables as follows:
- read the line from left to right;
- listen to the perfect pronunciation of the sound;
- we take a mirror in our hand and train hard (you will surely like to train [æ] or [ð]).

Table of English sounds similar to Russian
These sounds in English transcription do not have to be explained on the fingers.

Sound	Example	Explanations
[ɑː]	car, far, garage	Sounds like a long "ahh". Remember the cartoon about Mowgli, where was the wise Kaa?
[ʌ]	up, but, love	Short sonorous "a". Something similar in Russian "ai".
[ɔː]	more, board, floor	Sounds like a long "oo". Imagine surprise.
[b]	book, board, tab	Russian energetic "b". When you are walking down the hallway in the dark and suddenly you stumble
[g]	green, grace, agree	Russian "g", but not as energetic.
[f]	forest, atmosphere, enough	Very energetic Russian "f".
[k]	kill, cord, school	Russian "k". Before a stressed vowel, it is pronounced aspirated (if you put your hand in front of your lips and say "keel", then your palm should feel your fresh breath)
[m]	mother, lamb	Russian "m".
[n]	nine, note, intrusion	Russian "n".
[p]	pub, gallop, open	Russian energetic "p". Before a stressed vowel - with aspiration.
[v]	vest, vocal, give	Russian "in".

Now let's look at some tricky examples in practice:

subtle - hardly distinguishable
"Suttle" and only like that, no "subtle" with a drum "b" in the middle.

palm - palm
Naturally, everyone wants to be under a palm tree, but here it does not smell like it. Not “palm”, not “by:lm”, but “pa:m”, as in “car” and “path”. In company with a palm turn out to be calm- "calm" and balm- "balm".

halt - stop
Drive away the analogy with the German "halt" - the correct pronunciation is "ho: lt".

won - won, won in the past from "win"
Wonderful if you pronounce "won" like "one" - .

of - preposition of belonging
Only a botanist would think of checking the sound of a two-letter word? Oh well. "Of" and no nails? Remember: "Of" is pronounced with "v" at the end. The full form is [ɔv], the reduced form is [əv]. Is always.

Table of English sounds that have something in common with Russian
These sounds cause the greatest temptation and at the same time danger: the relative similarity with the usual pronunciation in Russian threatens with an absolutely wrong sound. Pay enough attention and understand the differences well.

Sound	Example	Explanations
[i]	fit, bit, symbol	The middle between "s" and "i". Pronounced very briefly, as at the end of "apchi".
	cheese, tree, sea	What photographers ask us to say on camera. As in the Russian word "syyyr", but with a touching smile.
[ɒ]	hot body rock	Average between "o" and "a". That is, by no means the Vologda “o”.
[u]	cook, foot, woman	It looks like a Russian short "u", but it is easier to pronounce and the lips are slightly stretched. It turns out like "y" with a half smile. No pouty lips.
	true fool shoes	Like the previous sound, but longer.
[e]	get, bed, head	Intelligent "e". As in the Russian word "tin".
[ə]	about, until, alias	Average between unstressed "e" and "a".
[l]	let, laughter, illegal	Softened Russian "l". Something between the sound of the word "la" and "la".
[s]	stress, sunday, citizen	Muted Russian "s". He never whistles. Remember the song "Girl" by the Beatles? Now, if their famous inhalation “sssss” is pronounced with an exhalation and briefly, then you get beautiful English [s].
[z]	zero, cosmonaut, xenon	Everything is the same as about the sound [s], only loudly.
[t]	tree, trunk, receipt	Looks like Russian "t". But the tip of the tongue should not be put to the teeth, but to the tubercle behind the upper teeth.
[d]	drink, ad, diligent	Similarly: like the Russian "d", only the tip of the tongue rests on the tubercle immediately behind the upper teeth.
[ʃ]	ship, action, special	Between the Russian "sh" and "sh". Does not whistle, because the tongue does not rest with force on the teeth, but gently touches them.
[ʒ]	pleasure, visual, garage	Softened Russian "zh". Doesn't ring or whistle.
	jump, jungle, logic	We connect English [d] with [ ʒ ] and get a soft "j".
	inch, chance, catch	We connect English [t] with [ ʃ ] and get something similar to the Russian "h". As in the word "kitsch".
[j]	yes, yet, you	Average between "y" and "i".
[ɪə]	hear, fear, beer	It looks like the Russian "ie" with an accent on "i".
	air, hair, care	Russian "ea" with an accent on "e".
	make, tray, ace	Russian "ei" with an accent on "e". "I" is pronounced very short.
	hi, sky, bye	Russian "ai" with an accent on "a". "I" is pronounced very short.
[ɔɪ]	boy, joy, coin	Russian "oi" with an accent on "a". "I" is pronounced very short.
	how, cow, hour, our	Russian "au" with an accent on "a". "U" is pronounced very short.
	fire, wire	Russian "aye" with a strong accent on the first "a". Pronounced quickly and fluently.
	our flower	Russian "aua" with a strong accent on the first "a". Pronounced quickly and fluently.

were - were
"Were" is not the same as "where" - . Instead of a diphthong, we use a neutral vowel - , an abbreviated form -.

debt - debt and doubt - doubt
Fans of the group "No doubt" had more than a dozen years left to clarify how the name of their favorite group sounds right. "Debt" and "daubt" are not so easy to pronounce. In English, there is no such Russian-speaking phenomenon as stunning or voicing a consonant, but throw away their words for a sweet soul: it is pronounced and.

good - good, book - book and look - look
The double "o" does not become a long "y" in these words. Therefore, you should not copy the howl of wolves to the moon - speak correctly with a short vowel -,,.

Table of English sounds that have nothing to do with Russian
Practice well in pronouncing these sounds online, at least your speech apparatus should get used to playing them correctly.

Sound	Example	Explanations
[ɜː]	earn, her, first	If the Russian "o" wanted to become "ё", it would sound exactly like that. Something like the sound when children tease by sticking out their tongue. But you need to achieve this sound without protruding anything anywhere. To do this, silently prepare your mouth to pronounce "yo", and say "oo" out loud.
[əu]	go, joke, own	Between the Russian "ou" and "yo" (without "y") with an emphasis on the first sound. "U" is pronounced very short.
[æ]	cat, apple, compact	It is very important not to confuse this sound with [e], otherwise instead of “bad” (bad) you get “bed” (bed). You need to stretch your lips wide, lower your lower jaw and say “uh” from the heart.
[h]	hot, head, uphill	Every Russian man knows how to pronounce this sound. When they ask you to “come on, breathe,” then all the men begin to speak English, because they pronounce [h] exactly as they should: a slight exhalation, vaguely resembling an “x”.
[r]	red, random, orange	Russian bears are fluent in English [r]. Try to growl, bending your tongue up.
[w]	well, what, windows	Fold your lips into a tube and stretch sharply. And now the same thing, but with sound.
[ŋ]	strong, sing, sink	Children are scolded for talking with their mouths full. But if you listen to the sounds made, then there many consonants sound exactly like [ŋ] . Open your mouth and, without closing it, say "n".
[θ]	thanks, ethical	Stick your tongue between your teeth and say "s".
[ð]	they, there, others	Stick your tongue between your teeth and say "h". The best practice is to say "Is this" 100 times. Never later confuse "z" with [ð].

folk - people, folk
The letter "l" has become a victim and is not pronounced at all -.

comb - comb
No "comb" - only "koum". The English "m" and "b" are quite insidious guys who will mess things up more than once. Be alert!

won't - will not - short for "will not"
Were tormented by the question of how the cunning English distinguish between "want" and "won't" in oral speech? It’s just worth pronouncing the negation in the future tense correctly -. That's all the magic.

salmon - salmon
Not "Salmon" and certainly not "Solomon". Salmon is on your mind - as in "cat" and "apple".

Bonus for the most patient

The human brain is the eighth wonder of the world, the deep possibilities of which we can only guess so far. Something important for us now is known for certain: there is a speech center in the brain. There is no special center responsible for reading, but there is for speech. That is why we strongly recommend repeating the words out loud for the hundredth time. It is out loud, and not to yourself, because in this case, muscle memory is also connected. Naturally, words can "live and sound" in your head. The main thing is not to get stuck and stop at the stage of deciphering the transcription symbols, choosing the necessary rule for each sound. In this case, only the speed of a snail is ensured.

If the language is still alive after previous exercises, then we bring to your attention a video that is better to see once than to hear about it 100 times. All phonetic transcription of English in 10 minutes. Clear, concise and very clear.

It consists of 26 letters, with 44 sounds. Therefore, you need to clearly know how this or that sound is pronounced, because the sound of the same letter may differ. This happens according to a certain system, such rules of the basis of pronunciation are universal. To know them is to know the language.

Correct pronunciation of vowels

The sounds of the English language can be divided into vowels and consonants. There are several rules for reading and pronouncing vowels such as E, A, Y, U, I, O.

To better remember and understand how the sounds of the English language are read correctly, a table with examples and transcription for convenience in Russian letters will help you remember reading rules faster.

• the type of pronunciation is associated with the presence of an open syllable in the word. Any syllable that ends in a vowel is considered open, including if the vowel is not readable.
• type of pronunciation - consonant syllable.
• the type of pronunciation is a vowel with the letter “r”. The letter G determines the lingering sound of the vowel, which is at the root of the word.
• reading type - 2 vowels and the letter G between them. In this case, the letter G is not readable. And vowels have a special pronunciation.

How are consonants pronounced in English?

The pronunciation of consonants in English also has its own characteristics. To understand how to read the consonants of the English language correctly, transcription in Russian letters will help you.

The letters sh are read as w, ch as h, tch - h, ck - k, wh as yo (for example, what) or x (for example, xy), ng as n, q as kv, nk- as nk and wr as p , th is pronounced as with interdental vowels if they are at the beginning of a word, but as in pronouns, functional words, between vowels.

Diphthongs in English: pronunciation rules

There are also vowel sounds that combine with each other. They're called diphthongs and are pronounced according to special rules. Vowel sounds in English and their pronunciation often depend on whether they are at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a word.

The diphthong is read as "ay". It is expressed in writing by vowels "i" and "y" in an open syllable with stress, the combination of letters "ie" and "ye" at the end of the word, as well as "uy", "eye", "igh".

i - line [line]
y - fly [fly]
ie - tie [thai]
ye - dye [give]
uy - guy [guy]
eye - eyebrow [aibrov]
igh - knight [knight]

[ɔɪ] is read as Russian "oh". On the letter it is passed through "oi", "oy".

oi - noisy [noisy]
oy - annoy
reads like "hey".

In writing, it is conveyed by the letter "a" in an open stressed syllable, and by the letter combinations "ai", "ay", "ey", "ea", "ei".

a - save [save]
ai - main [main]
ay - tray [tray]
ey - gray [gray]
ea - great [great]
ei-eight

It reads like "ay". the "a" sound is longer than the "y" sound. The letter is transmitted through the letter combinations "ow", "ou".

ow - town [town]
ou - pound [pound]

[əu] is read as an average between the sound combinations "ou" and "eu". On the letter - the letter "o" in an open stressed syllable, and the letter combinations "ow", "ou", "oa", "o + ld", "o + ll"

o - bone [bone]
ow - snow [snow]
ou - soul [soul]
oa - coat [coat]
old - cold [cold]
oll - roller [roller]

[ɪə] is read as "ie", "and" is long, and "e" is short. The letter is transmitted by the letter combinations "ear", "eer", "ere", "ier".

ear - gear [gie]
eer - deer [dee]
ere - severe [sivie]
ier - fierce [fies]

[ɛə] reads "ea" or "ee". The sound is a clear "e" and the average between "e" and "a". The letter is transmitted using the letter combinations "are", "ear", "air".

are - care [kee]
Bear - bear [bee]]
air - repair [rapeer]]

It is read as "ue", while "y" is longer than "e". Transmitted by the letters "ue", "ure", "ou+r".

ue - cruel [cruel]
ure - sure [shue]
our - tour [tuer]]

Combination of vowels with consonants

In English, there is such a pattern when some vowels are combined with consonants. For example, the combination al, if it is before the letter k, and after - other consonants. A combination of letters wo, if the previous syllable contains consonants. Wa - if this combination comes before vowels at the end, in this case, the exception is r or if it is combined with consonants, for example, warm. The combination igh has already been described by us among diphthongs, as well as the combination qua, if it is before consonants other than r.

And do listening exercises. You will only listen to the correct pronunciation of real American English!

The English (British) pronunciation system has 44 sounds, which are divided into 24 consonants and 20 vowels, including 8 diphthongs. The following table lists individual English sounds and their corresponding English transcription marks, as well as examples of words in which they are pronounced.

Table of English sounds:

Consonants
[ f ] five	[ d ] do	[ v ] very	[ k ] key
[ θ ] thick	[ g ] gas	[ ð ] this	[ tʃ ] chin
[ s ] so	[ dʒ ] Jim	[ z ] zoo	[ m ] mother
[ ʃ ] ship	[ n ] no	[ ʒ ] pleasure	[ ŋ ] long
[ h ] horse	[ l ] less	[ p ] park	[ r ] river
[ b ] book	[ j ] yellow	[ t ] tea	[ w ] white
Vowel monophthongs
[ i: ] eat	[ ə ] paper	[ i ] it	[ ʌ ] cup
[ e ] pen	[ ʊ ] cook	[ æ ] bad	[ u: ] school
[ a: ] art	[ ɜ: ] girl	[ ɒ ] box	[ ɔ: ] all
Vowel diphthongs
[ ai ] like	[ eə ] air	[ aʊ ] house	[ ʊə ] poor
[ ɔi ] boy	[ əʊ ] home	[ ei ] lake	[ iə ] ear

Classification of English sounds

In accordance with the mechanics of education, English sounds are primarily divided into vowels and consonants phonemes. The pronunciation of vowels is associated with active vibration of the vocal cords and the free passage of exhaled air through all organs of speech. Consonants, on the contrary, are formed by overcoming various barriers, cracks and passages formed by the muscles of the vocal apparatus when the air stream exits.

Let us consider in more detail the classification of the sounds of the English language according to individual signs of articulation (the position of the speech organs when pronouncing sounds) and their comparison with Russian sounds.

English consonants

When pronouncing consonant sounds, the air on its way encounters various barriers formed by the active organs of speech: tongue, lips, teeth and alveoli.

If the organs of speech close in such a way that they completely block the passage for air, then we pronounce stop consonant. These consonants are also called explosive, since a small explosion is heard when the organs of speech are opened.

[ p ] , [ b ] , [ t ] , [ d ] , [ k ] , [ g ]
stop plosive English sounds

[ P ], [ b ], [ t ], [ d ], [ to ], [ G ]
occlusive explosive Russian sounds

If air passes out through the nasal cavity, then such occlusive sounds are called nasal.

[ n ] , [ m ] , [ ŋ ]
nasal occlusive English sounds

[ n ], [ m ]
nasal occlusive Russian sounds

If the organs of speech do not close completely, but leave a narrow passage - a gap for air, then we pronounce slotted consonant.

[ θ ] , [ ð ] , [ ʃ ] , [ ʒ ] , [ s ] , [ z ] , [ h ] , [ f ] , [ v ] , [ w ] , [ r ] , [ j ] , [ l ]
slotted english sounds

[ With ], [ h ], [ f ], [ in ], [ w ], [ sch ], [ and ], [ l ]
slotted russian sounds

Among the consonants are occlusive-slotted sounds. They are called so because the opening of the barrier in them is slow; the complete obstruction goes into the gap.

[ tʃ ] , [ dʒ ]
occlusive-slit english sounds

[ c ], [ h ]
occlusive-slit Russian sounds

An obstruction to the path of exhaled air can be formed by various organs of speech. If the lower lip approaches the upper, then there are labial consonants.

[ p ] , [ b ] , [ m ] , [ w ]
labial english sounds

[ P ], [ b ], [ m ]
lip-labial Russian sounds

If the lower lip touches the upper teeth, then such consonants are called labiodental.

[ f ] , [ v ]
labio-dental English sounds

[ f ], [ in ]
lip-tooth Russian sounds

If the tip of the tongue is between the lower and upper front teeth, then it is pronounced interdental consonant. There are no such sounds in Russian.

[ θ ] , [ ð ]
interdental English sounds

Russian consonants [ t ], [ d ], [ n ], [ l ] - dental, as the end of the tongue rises to the inner surface of the upper teeth. English consonants [ t ] , [ d ] , [ n ] , [ l ] , [ ŋ ] - alveolar, as the tip of the tongue touches or rises to the alveoli.

[ k ] , [ p ] , [ s ] , [ t ] , [ f ] , [ h ] , [ tʃ ] , [ ʃ ] , [ θ ]
voiceless consonants in English

[ to ], [ P ], [ With ], [ t ], [ f ], [ X ], [ h ], [ w ], [ sch ]
voiceless consonants of the Russian language

[ b ] , [ v ] , [ g ] , [ d ] , [ z ] , [ l ] , [ m ] , [ n ] , [ r ] , [ ʒ ] , [ dʒ ] , [ ð ]
voiced consonants in English

[ b ], [ in ], [ G ], [ d ], [ and ], [ h ], [ l ], [ m ], [ n ], [ R ], [ c ]
voiced consonants of the Russian language

English vowel sounds

To classify English vowels, the various positions of the tongue relative to the hard palate are considered, as well as which part of the tongue is involved in articulation and how high the back of the tongue rises to the hard palate.

Distinguish front vowels, when the tip of the tongue rests against the base of the lower teeth, and the back of the tongue comes quite close to the hard palate: the English vowel [ i:] and Russian [ and ].

If the tongue is pulled back and the tip of the tongue is lowered and the back of the tongue is raised to the soft palate, we pronounce back vowel sounds: English sound [ a:] and Russian sounds [ about ], [ at ].

According to the position of the lips rounded and undestroyed vowel sounds. For example, when pronouncing the Russian sound [ at] lips rounded and pushed forward: [ at] is a rounded vowel. When pronouncing [ and] lips slightly stretched, but not pushed forward: sound [ and] is an unrounded vowel.

The quality of a vowel depends on the tension of the muscles of the organs of speech: the more intense the articulation, the more distinct and brighter the sound. Accordingly, vowels are distinguished tense and relaxed. For example, the English vowel [ i:] is pronounced with more tension than [ i ] .

Pronunciation of English sounds

Referring to the contents of our guide to English phonetics, for each of the English sounds you will find a detailed description of the features of its pronunciation and articulation, ways of writing and sounding examples, as well as comparisons with other sounds and their Russian counterparts.

Good-good-good morning planet!

I don’t know about you, of course, but on my planet of English (called ) it’s morning right now. And I decided to write an important informational and practical article about English transcription on a peppy morning head. I don't think you mind.) Then we will begin the analysis of this simple, but often questionable topic.

Do you need an English transcription at all?

What do you say to that? .. If in the school curriculum in English it is passed and forced to learn, then of course you can’t get out! Speaking globally, then its absence when studying English will not affect the results and knowledge in any way.

BUT! Since our children are still learning English, it is a matter of honor to know what transcription is in it. This is about the same as it is important to know that there are 6 cases in Russian (and this, by the way, differs from English and many others). But after all, we can learn to speak and write words without thinking about which case to use in them ... "AND van R Odil D girl... Well, you understand me, I think.

Therefore, my verdict - we will study! But quickly and without any stretching for a year! Lesson or two - and "English transcription" will be the sweetest phrase in the world ...

In addition, having the ability to decipher English transcription, any student and adult will be able to read and pronounce any, even the most “terribly incomprehensible” word in the English dictionary !!!

Why was it invented?

They came up with it a very, very long time ago, while the British themselves, for themselves - when they realized that they themselves could not always understand how this or that word was read.

The fact is that in English there are, according to which you can read words correctly. For example, this rule: “In a closed syllable, the English letter “a” will be read like this (the words ba g, la ptop)» . But at the same time, there are so many exceptions to these rules that it is sometimes impossible to remember them (for example, we will take an exception to this rule with a word with a closed syllable t ask , in which the letter "a" is already read differently).

Well, they came up with such a thing as transcription, so that every English word can be read correctly, even without knowing the rules, but simply by owning a set of transcription icons.

Sometimes you may see two versions of the same icon, this is normal. Both of them have their place. My analogies with Russian letters are very conditional. The main thing here is to hear the sound and imitate it as accurately as possible.

Transcription icons for vowels

[i] or [ ı ] a sound similar to "and", but more abrupt and firm.

[e] a sound similar to "e", but more abrupt and firm.

[ ӕ ] a sound similar to "e", but wider.

[ ɔ ] or [ ɒ ] a sound similar to "o", but more abrupt and open.

[ ∧ ] a sound similar to "a", but more abrupt.

[u] or [ ʋ ] a sound similar to "y", but more abrupt.

[i:] a sound like a long "and".

[ ɔ: ] a sound like a long "o".

[ ɑ: ] a sound like a long and deep "a".

[u:] a sound like a long "u".

[ ə: ] or [ɜ:] a sound reminiscent of something between "o" and "e".

In English, there is one single transcription icon that denotes an unstressed vowel - [ə] . It is pronounced very briefly and indistinctly. Often we hear it at the end of words ending in unstressed vowels. Teacher , computer ...

Transcription icons for consonants

[p] a sound similar to "p".

[b] a sound similar to "b".

[t] a sound similar to "t".

[d] a sound similar to "d".

[k] a sound similar to "k".

[g] a sound similar to "g".

[f] a sound similar to "f".

[v] a sound similar to "v".

[s] a sound similar to "s".

[z] a sound similar to "z".

[m] sound like "m".

[n] a sound similar to "n".

[l] a sound similar to "l".

[h] a sound like an airy "x".

[ ʃ ] a sound similar to "u".

[tʃ] a sound similar to "h".

[ ʒ ] a sound similar to "g".

[dʒ] a sound similar to "j".

[r] a sound similar to "r".

[j] a sound similar to "y". Softens vowels, eg. [jɒ] [je] [ju:]

[w] the sound of the lips.

[ ŋ ] a sound similar to "n" pronounced through the nose.

[ θ ] dull interdental sound.

[ ð ] loud interdental sound.

Transcription icons for diphthongs (double sounds)

[aı] or [ai] a sound similar to "ay".

[eı] or [ei] sound like "hey".

[ ɔı ] or [ɔi] a sound like "oh".

[aʋ] or [au] a sound similar to "au".

[ əʋ ] or [ou] a sound like "oh".

[ ıə ] or [iə] a sound similar to "ee".

[ ʋə ] or [uə] a sound similar to "weh".

[eə] or [ εə ] a sound similar to "ah".

Practice time

Well, here we have examined with you all the signs of English transcription. Most of them, children and adults remember quite easily. Difficulties sometimes arise with icons denoting diphthongs or some sounds that are not at all like Russian. But this is quickly corrected if you immediately fix everything with good practice and exercises, which we will now do.

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Exercise 1

The first thing to do is to repeat the sound corresponding to a certain sign of the English transcription several times. Go in order (according to the list that I gave). Repeat one sound 3-5 times, while trying to associate a complex icon with an image. For example, repeating the sound [ ӕ ] , imagine a cat, a hat or any other image, but only let this image correspond to the word that in English is pronounced with this sound. For example, I had an image of a bag with such a brand icon in my head.))

Well, how? Difficult? If yes, then I will share with you my ideas regarding the most "intractable" signs of transcription. Please do not judge strictly my clumsy pictures. I swear, in my imagination they look much prettier)).

Icon [ ʋ ] — foot-heel image.

The word foot [fʋt].

Icon [ ɜ: ] - bird image.

The word bird [b ɜ: d] .

Icon [ ʃ ] - an image of a shoe.

The word shoe [ʃu:] .

Icon [tʃ]- an image of a chicken.

The word is chick [tʃık].

Icon [dʒ]— an image of a page in a textbook.

The word page .

Icon [j]- an image of a tick, the correct answer.

The word yes.

Icon [ ŋ ] - the image of a long and uneven road.

The word is long.

Icon [ θ ] - an image of the number three.

The word three [θri:] .

Icon [ ð ] - an image of a mother with a baby.

The word mother.

Exercise 2

• Now we will read with you simple words with different sounds. Your task is to look at the word, listen to its pronunciation, repeat it, and then guess which transcription icon from the ones below corresponds to the sound in the word (the necessary vowels or combinations will be underlined).

[ ı ] [e] [ ӕ ] [ ɒ ] [ ∧ ] [ ʋ ] [i:][ ɔ: ] [ ɑ: ] [u:] [ɜ:]

b ird	f a mile	c oo l
p i g	b u ter	f irst
d o ll	ea t	s i t
l a st	b e d	c ar
a pple	cl o.k.	m e n
d augh ter	p u t	cl ea n
d o doctor	fr uit	k i tchen
d ar k	g ir l	d inner
d oor	trolley-b us	c a p
f oo t	b oo k	b a ll

• Now you will see other words that you will also need to listen to and repeat, and then select the required transcription sign from the ones below, which corresponds to a particular sound (the desired consonants or combinations will be underlined in the words).

[p] [b][t] [d][k] [g][f] [v][s] [z][m] [n]

[l][h] [ ʃ ] [tʃ] [ ʒ ] [dʒ] [r][j] [w][ ŋ ] [ θ ] [ ð ]

bet w een	very	w indow
village	s treet	z.oo
th in	th en	tea cher
s ugar	tele Ph one	f iv e
hundre d	mus t	low t
midd le	nu m ber	present
b lack	k itten	give
knife	h orse	room
pi nk	spon ge	ki ng
pa ge	facto r y	y ou

• The following words contain diphthongs. We listen, repeat and select the desired transcription sign for underlined letters and letter combinations.

[aı] [eı] [ ɔı ] [aʋ] [ əʋ ] [ ıə ] [ ʋə ] [eə]

f ear	n a me	beh i nd
wardr o be	ch air	t oh ne
p oor	c a ke	t ow n
h ere	t our	c oi n
br ow n	th about se	h are
Jul y	b oy	t a ble
tr ou sers	yell ow	b i-ke
c are	n ear	s o

• The final exercise in this section is to choose the correct transcription for a word from the two proposed. The scheme of work is the same: we listen, repeat, and then choose.

cup[kʌp] or [kӕp]

twelve[tvelv] or [twelv]

month[mɑ:nθ] or [mʌnθ]

rain[raın] or [reın]

farm[fɜ:m] or [fɑːm]

large[lɑːʒ] or [lɑːdʒ]

spoon[spuːn] or [spɔ:n]

fair[feə] or [fıə]

say[seɪ] or [seə]

now[nəʋ] or [naʊ]

June[tʃ uːn] or [dʒuːn]

Exercise 3

Well, it's time to write the transcription of the words ourselves. I think you will succeed! A day or two - and the topic of English transcription will become as easy for you as you never even dreamed of)). Let me remind you once again that unstressed syllables are often denoted as [ ə ] .

after, box, write, with, open,

season, shut, round, height, number,

shirt, plus, jam, song, yogurt, hate

Exercise 4

This exercise is to practice reading a lot of English words by transcription. For children, the best option here would be cards with English words and transcriptions for them. Some authors (for example, Nosova, Epanova) specially develop such cards - after all, they help not only to consolidate the learned signs of transcription, but also to easily replenish their vocabulary. Here are some interesting cards I found in the store labyrinth. Here are the most basic topics and words:

Set "Wild Animals"

Set "Fruits"

Set "Man"

Set "Professions"

Set "School"

Set "House"

Well, I did it, friends!

And you? Did you manage? If you have any questions, be sure to ask me. I will try to answer them.

And yet - on the right in the sidebar of my site you can find a convenient service "Online Transcription"- enter any English word in the field and get its transcription. Enjoy!

In addition, I invite you to my tasty newsletter (you can subscribe to it at the end of this article - after the tutor selection form)! The most useful and interesting about English and not only...

Answers to the exercises:

b ir d [ɜ:]	f a mily [ɕ]	c oo l[u:]
p i g[ı]	b u ter [∧]	f ir st [ɜ:]
d o ll [ɔ:]	ea t[i:]	s i t[ı]
l a st [ɑ:]	b e d [e]	c ar [ ɑ: ]
a pple [ɕ]	cl o ck [ɒ]	m e n [e]
d augh ter [ɔ:]	p u t [ʋ]	cl ea n[i:]
d o ctor [ɒ]	fr ui t[u:]	k i tchen [ı]
d ar k [ɑ:]	g ir l [ɜ:]	d i ner [ı]
d oor [ ɔ: ]	trolley-b u s[∧]	c a p[ɕ]
f oo t [ʋ]	b oo k[ʋ]	b a ll [ɔ:]

bet w een [w]	v ery[v]	w indow[w]
v illa ge[v] [dʒ]	s treet[s]	z oo[z]
th in[θ]	th en [ð]	tea ch er [tʃ]
s ugar [ʃ]	tele ph one[f]	f i v e[f][v]
hundre d[d]	mus t[t]	low t[t]
midd le[l]	nu m ber[m]	p resent [p]
b lack [b]	k itten [k]	g ive [g]
kn ife[n]	h orse[h]	r oom[r]
pi n k[ŋ]	spon ge[dʒ]	ki ng [ ŋ ]
pa ge[dʒ]	facto r y[r]	y ou[j]

f ear [ ıə ]	n a me [eı]	beh i nd [aı]
wardr o be [əʋ]	ch air[eə]	t o ne [əʋ]
p oor [ ʋə ]	c a ke [eı]	t ow n[aʋ]
h ere [ ıə ]	t our [ ʋə ]	c oi n [ɔı]
br ow n[aʋ]	th o se [əʋ]	h are[eə]
Jul y[aı]	b oy [ ɔı ]	t a ble [eı]
tr ou sers [aʋ]	yell ow [ əʋ ]	b i ke [aı]
c are[eə]	n ear [ ıə ]	s o [ əʋ ]

[ˈɑːftə], [bɒks], [raɪt], [wɪð], [ˈəʊpən],

[ˈsiːzn], [ʃʌt], [raʊnd], [tɔːl], [ˈnʌmbə],

[ʃɜːt], [plʌs], [dʒæm], [sɒŋ], [ˈjɒɡət], [heɪt]

The sounds that represent are 44 English phonemes, which are divided into two categories: consonants and vowels. Since sounds cannot be written down, graphemes (letters or combinations of letters) are used to convey sounds in writing.

English alphabet

There are 26 letters in English. The standard one starts with the letter a and ends with the letter z.

When classifying alphabetic characters, they distinguish:

• 5 pure vowels: a, e, i, o, u;
• 19 pure consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z;
• 2 semivowels: y, w.

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Features of English consonants

A consonant combination is a set of two or three consonant letters that retain their original sound when pronounced. Such sets occur either at the beginning or at the end of a word. For example, the word brave, in which both "b" and "r" are pronounced, is the initial combination. In the word bank "-nk" is the final combination.

Classification:

1. Initial combinations are classified into sets with "l", "r", and "s". In "l" the combination ends with "l". An example would be the letters "bl" in the word blind. Similarly, the final sound in "r" in combination with "r" when "br" and "cr", for example, in the words bridge, crane. On the contrary, in "s" it starts with s, "st" and "sn" - stap, snail.
2. The final combinations are grouped into sets with "s", "l" and "n": -st, -sk, -ld, -nd, -nk. Examples, first, desk, gold, sand, sink.

Digraphs

Consonant digraphs refer to a set of consonants that form one sound. Some digraphs are both at the beginning and at the end of the word - "sh", "ch" and "th". There are also strict initial and final digraphs - "kn-" and "-ck".

Examples of digraphs:

Ch-	-ch
Kn-	- ck
Ph-	-sh
Sh-	-ss
Th-	-th
wh-	-tch
Wr-

Features of digraphs:

Table of pronunciation of English consonants

b	b	bag, band, cab	bag, band, cab
d	d	dad, did, lady, odd [ɒd]	dead, did, lady, od
f	f, ph, sometimes gh	fable , fact , if [ɪf], off [ɒf], photo , glyph	fable, fact, if, of, foutow, glyph
	g	give , flag	givew, flag
	h	hold, ham	hold, ham
j	usually represented by y, but sometimes by other vowels	yellow, yes, young, neuron, cube	Yelow, ies, yang, n (b) yueron, k (b) yu: b - the sound j is similar to the vowel sound i:.
k	k, c, q, que, ck, sometimes ch	cat, kill, queen, skin, thick [θɪk], chaos	kat, kil, qui:n, sik, keyos
l	l	lane, clip, bell, milk, sould	lane, clip, bel, milk, sould - has two sound options: pure /l/ before a vowel, “darkened” /ɫ/ before a consonant or at the end of a word
m	m	man, them [ðem], moon	man, zem, mu:n
n	n	nest, sun	nest, san
ŋ	ng	ring, sing, finger [ŋ] is sometimes followed by the sound [g]. [ŋ] if "ng" is at the end of a word or a related word (sing, singer, thing), to "-ing", which translates verbs into participles or gerunds. [ŋg], if "ng" is not at the end of a word or in related words, also in comparative degrees (longer, longest).	/ring/, /sing/, /finge/
p	p	pen, spin, tip, happy	pen, spin, type, happy
r	r	rat, reply, rainbow,	rat, ripple, rainbow - movement of the tongue close to the alveolar ridge, but without touching it
s	s, sometimes c	see, city, pass, lesson	si:, pa: s, forest
ʃ	sh, si, ti, sometimes s	she [ʃi:], crash , sheep [ʃi:p], sure [ʃʊə], session , emotion [ɪməʊʃn], leash	shi:, crash, shi:p, shue, session, imashn, li:sh
t	t	taste, sting	test, sting
tʃ	ch, sometimes t	chair [ʧɛə], nature teach beach	t che e, ney t che, ti: t h, bi: t h
θ	th	thing [θɪŋ], teeth, Athens [æθɪnz[	t sing, ti: t s, et sinz - voiceless fricative
ð	th	this [ðɪs], mother	d sis, ma d ze - voiced fricative
v	v, sometimes f	voice, five, of [ɔv]	voice, five, ov
w	w, sometimes u	wet, window, queen	y in em, y in indeu, ku in i: n - [w] is similar to
z	z	zoo, lazy	zu: lazy
ʒ	g, si, z, sometimes s	genre [ʒɑːŋr], pleasure, beige, seizure, vision	genre e, plezhe, beizh, b:zhe, vision
dʒ	j, sometimes g, dg, d	gin [ʤɪn], joy [ʤɔɪ], edge	gin, joy, edge

English vowels

Each English vowel is pronounced in three ways:

1. like a long sound;
2. like a short sound;
3. as a neutral vowel (schwa).

In the English alphabet, there are 5 vowels, but sometimes y becomes a vowel and is pronounced like i, and w replaces u, for example, in the digraph ow.

Rules for reading vowels

Short vowels, which are characterized by a "short" sound, appear when there is one vowel in a word, either at the beginning of a word or between two consonants. For example, if, elk, hop, fan. A typical short vowel pattern is consonant+vowel+consonant (CHS).

Words are taught as families that represent groups of words with a common pattern, such as in the pattern "-ag" - bag, wag, tag or "-at" - cat, bat, hat.

vowels:

Sound	Letter	Examples
[æ]	a	rag, sag, ram, jam, gap, sap mat
[ɛ]	e	hen, pen, wet, bet, let
[ɪ]	i	pig, wig, dig, pin, win, tin, tin, bit
[ɒ]	o	hop, pop, top, hot, pot, lot
[ʌ]	u	bug, lug, tug, hut, but, cut

vowels:

Sound	Writing	Examples
A	ai, ay, a+consonant+e	name, mail, gray, ace
E	e, ee, ea, y, ie ,ei, i+consonant+e	he, deep, beast, dandy, thief, receive, elite
I	i, i+gn, igh, y, i+ld, i+nd	mine, sign, high, sky, wild, kind
O	o+consonant +e, oa, ow, o+ll, ld	tone, road, note, know, roll, bold
U	ew, ue, u+consonant+e	few, due, tune

The vowel sound in unstressed syllables is expressed by the abbreviated neutral sound ("schwa"), the phonemic symbol /ə/, especially if syllabic consonants are not used.

For example:

• a in about, around, approve, above [ə bʌv];
• e in accident, mother, taken, camera ;
• i c, family, lentil, officer pencil ;
• o in memory, common, freedom, purpose, London;
• u in supply, industry, suggest, difficult, succeed, minimum ;
• and even y in sibyl;
• schwa appears in function words: to, from, are.

Features of vowel sounds in English

Vowels are divided into monophthongs, diphthongs or triphthongs. A monophthong is when there is one vowel in a syllable, a diphthong is when there are two vowels in a syllable.

Let's take a closer look:

1. Monophthongs are pure and stable vowels., whose acoustic characteristics (timbre) do not change during the time they are pronounced.
2. - a sound formed by a combination of two adjacent vowels in one syllable. Technically, the tongue (or other parts of the speech apparatus) moves when a vowel is pronounced - the first position is stronger than the second. In the transcription of a diphthong, the first character is the starting point of the body of the language, the second character is the direction of movement. For example, you should know that in /aj/ the body of the tongue is in the bottom center position represented by /a/ and immediately starts moving up and forward to the position for /i/.
3. Diphthongs are often formed when separate vowels work together in rapid conversation.. Usually (in the speaker's speech) the body of the tongue does not have time to get to the position /i/. Therefore, the diphthong often ends closer to /ɪ/ or even to /e/. In the diphthong /aw/, the body of the tongue moves from the lower center position /a/, then moves up and back to the position /u/. Although single diphthongs are also distinguished, which are heard as separate vowel sounds (phonemes).
4. English also has triphthongs.(combinations of three adjacent vowels), including three sound types, for example, fire /fʌɪə/, flower /flaʊər/. But in any case, all diphthongs and triphthongs are formed from monophthongs.

Table of pronunciation of simple English vowels

All vowels are formed from only 12 monophthongs. Each, regardless of spelling, is pronounced using some combination of these sounds.

The table shows examples of simple English vowels with Russian pronunciation:

[ɪ]	pit, kiss, busy	pete, kitty, beezy
[e]	egg, let, red	eg, years, red
[æ]	apple, travel, mad	apple, travel, mead
[ɒ]	not, rock, copy	music, rock, copy
[ʌ]	cup, son, money	cap, san, mani
[ʊ]	look, foot, could	bow, foot, cool
[ə]	away, away	hey, hey
	be, meet, read	bi:, mi:t, ri:d
[ɑ:]	arm, car, father	a:m, ka:, fa:dze
[ɔ:]	door, saw, pause	to:, from:, to: from
[ɜ:]	turn, girl, learn	cho:n, gyo:l, le:n
	blue, food, too	blu:, foo:d, tu:

Diphthong pronunciation table

	day, pain, rein	dei, pein, rein
	cow, know	kou, know
	wise, island	visa, island
	now, trout	naw, trout
[ɔɪ]	noise, coins	noiz, coin
[ɪə]	near, hear	nee, hie
[ɛə]	where, air	uh uh uh
[ʊə]	pure, tourist	p (b) yue, tu e rist

Learn the transcription of English words

Consider some features of English transcription:

There are a large number of videos online on the Internet to listen to, and you can also practice using exercises.