MODULE A: THE SOUNDS OF ENGLISH

WORD STRESS INDICATORS IN DICTIONARIES

Let’s begin with an obvious remark: if a word is monosyllabic, then it does not have a stress
indicator in the dictionary. Stress indicators are used only for words with more than one syllable.

Stress
The traditional way of indicating stress in dictionaries is by means of a high stress mark (like an
apostrophe) BEFORE the stressed syllable. For example:

- on the first syllable:

satellite /ˈsætəlaɪt/ painstaking /ˈpeɪnzteɪkɪŋ/

- on the last syllable:

control /kənˈtrəʊl/ event /ɪˈvent/

- in mid-word position:

comparative /kəmˈpærətɪv/ gesticulate /dʒesˈtɪkjʊleɪt/

This method is used, for example, by the MacMillan Dictionary, the Oxford Advanced Learners the
Oxford Dictionary Online – which also provide audios for each word listed – and by most bilingual
Italian-English dictionaries. However, it is better not to use bilingual dictionaries to check
pronunciation.

N.B. What we are discussing here is normal stress patterns, but these may change if a more specific
emphasis is required. For example, the words ‘thirteen’, ‘fourteen’ etc. are usually stressed on the
second syllable, but in specific circumstances the stress may shift to the first syllable, for example
“You misunderstood me – I said THIRteen, not FOURteen”.

Note also that what we discuss in this module is primary stress (the main stress of the word), not
secondary stress. This question is relevant for longer words, for example opportunistic has the
secondary stress, indicated by a low stress mark, on the first syllable:

/ˌɒpətju:ˈnɪstɪk/
WORD STRESS EXERCISE (1)

Indicate where the primary stress falls in the following words. For proper nouns, for example n.23
and 38, you could try the Oxford Advanced Learner’s at
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english

1. technique 2. event
3. capitalism 4. develop
5. inadequate 6. comfortable
7. percentage 8. centimetre
9. interesting 10.variety / society / anxiety
11. engine 12. report
13. category 14. vinegar
15. effort 16. syringe
17. police 18. Catholic
19. adjective 20. component
21. ignorance* 22. machine
23. Ian (McEwan) 24. accompany
25. afternoon 26. Milan
27. lunatic 28. July
29. (an) essay 30. character
31. absurd 32. origin
33. Halloween 34. calendar
35. hemisphere / atmosphere 36. talented
37. balloon 38. Marilyn Monroe
39. advertise 40. Macbeth
41. Andrea** 42. Nicola
43. narrator 44. influencer
45. perseverance 46. result

*The stress is on the first vowel (ignorance), but the verb (ignore) is stressed on the second. This is
anomalous because nouns ending with the suffixes -ance and -ence generally have the same stress
as the related verb (if there is one), for example: accept/acceptance, insure/insurance,
resist/resistance, insist/insistence

**Here’s an example of how to pronounce this name on Craig Ferguson’s Late, Late Show, at 0.44
and 1.01. The interviewee is the actress Andrea Riseborough:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=figSpmr0AJw
Rhoticity
Your understanding of English pronunciation will greatly improve if you learn to distinguish
between rhotic and non-rhotic varieties of English:

- A rhotic variety is one in which the letter ‘r’ is always pronounced, for example standard
American:

Jon Hamm Big Questions 0-1.16

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuujCvqRWiE

Note that Hamm always pronounces the letter ‘r’, whatever its position in the word.

years, teacher, early, very, first grade production, sort of, throughout, theatre, more, car, work

- A non-rhotic variety – for example RP – is one in which the letter ‘r’ is pronounced only
before a phonetic vowel.

What is a phonetic vowel? Phonetic vowels are those which are produced in speech: get, sing,
potato. They are to be distinguished from vowels which are silent (predominantly the letter ‘e’):
made, meme, leisure, watched, smoked, giraffe, village, colleague, tongue, unique, guarantee: these
vowels are orthographic but not phonetic.

The rapper and actor Riz Ahmed is from London: London English is a non-rhotic variety of English

Riz Ahmed: rapper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5W8x4Q7N9c

Interview with rapper and actor Riz Ahmed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRevOsgY40&t=14s 0.00-0.13, 1.38-2.42

Here I have highlighted the instances where Ahmed pronounces the letter ‘r’ before a phonetic
vowel:

0.00-0.13: The first time I left London was at the age of 2 to go to Pakistan to be circumsised. Yeah,
we make a whole song and dance about it. That’s my first memory, still traumatised.

(As a Muslim, do you get stopped at airports?)

1.38-2.42: I don’t get stopped in the US, because I’ve got a visa, but I get stopped in the UK before
I board the plane. What’s funny is that the neighbourhood that Heathrow airport is in is a heavily
south-Asian neighbourhood, so the kids working there are like often fans of mine, so the kids that
pull me aside to search me are also like asking me for selfies while they’re swabbing me for
explosives and stuff, or you know going through my underpants and like quoting my raps back at
me. So quite a surreal experience, but I guess that speaks to the kind of dichotomy insider-outsider
status that I know I’ve felt all my life.

(What movies make you cry?)

What movie doesn’t make me cry, man? I’m an actor, you know, I’m just this far away from crying
most of the time. This interview’s been emotional … ET. ET made me cry a lot. I relate to the alien.
If you’re a child of immigrants you relate to the alien, on ET. They’re coming to take me, they say I
can’t stay here, they’re gonna burst into our homes and take us away. I was ET in that film.

Notice, however, that when the letter ‘r’ is not before a phonetic vowel – that is, when the letter ‘r’
is before a silent vowel (more) or before a consonant (board) or at the end of a word (insider) –
Ahmed does not produce it. Here I have highlighted the instances where Ahmed does not pronounce
the letter ‘r’:

0.00-0.13: The first time I left London was at the age of 2 to go to Pakistan to be circumsised. Yeah,
we make a whole song and dance about it. That’s my first memory, still traumatised.

1.38-2.42: I don’t get stopped in the US, because I’ve got a visa, but I get stopped in the UK before
I board the plane. What’s funny is that the neighbourhood that Heathrow airport is in is a heavily
south-Asian neighbourhood, so the kids working there are like often fans of mine, so the kids that
pull me aside to search me are also like asking me for selfies while they’re swabbing me for
explosives and stuff, or you know going through my underpants and like quoting my raps back at
me. So quite a surreal experience, but I guess that speaks to the kind of dichotomy and the insider-
outsider status that I know I’ve felt all my life.

What movie doesn’t make me cry, man? I’m an actor, you know, I’m this far away from crying
most of the time. This interview’s been emotional. ET. ET made me cry a lot. I relate to the alien. If
you’re a child of immigrants you relate to the alien, on ET. They’re coming to take me, they say I
can’t stay here, they’re gonna burst into our homes and take us away. I was ET in that film.

So, Ahmed would produce the ‘r’ of staring, because it is before a phonetic vowel, but he would not
produce the ‘r’ in stare, stared, stares (because it is before a silent vowel) or in start or starve
(because it is before a consonant) or in star (because it is at the end of a word).

The main rhotic varieties of English are Standard American, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, the West
Country of England (for example Cornwall, Dorset, Devon).
The main non-rhotic varieties of English are RP, all varieties spoken in England apart from the
West Country, Welsh, Australian, New Zealand, South African.

A rhotic or a non-rhotic accent? Daniel Craig (from 0.35):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-wt-Ouj1cY

Craig’s accent is non-rhotic because he does not produce /r/ in the following cases:

years, rare air, opportunity, career, clearly, terms, bitter, person, (takes) over
Craig hails from working-class Liverpool but his accent is RP.

SCHWA /ə/
Schwa is far and away the most common phonetic vowel in English. It occurs in all sorts of words,
and may be fixed or variable:

-Fixed schwas. Fixed schwas are always pronounced, and are therefore always present in the
phonemic transcription provided by dictionaries:

again /əˈɡen/ alert /əˈlɜ:t/

effort /ˈefət/ compass /ˈkʌmpəs/ Christopher /ˈkrɪstəfə/

banana /bəˈnɑːnə/ Madonna /məˈdɒnə/ assessment /əˈsesmənt/

-Variable schwas. These may or may not be present in the pronunciation. It often depends upon
how quickly the word in question is pronounced. For example, mid-word schwa usually disappears
in spontaneous speech, e.g.:

preposterous /prɪˈpɒst(ə)rəs/ reasonable /ˈriːz(ə)nəbəl/ restaurant /ˈrest(ə)rɒnt/, average

/ˈæv(ə)rɪdʒ/, Deborah /ˈdeb(ə)rə/, marvellous /ˈmɑːv(ə)ləs/, national /ˈnæʃ(ə)nəl/, Canberra
/ˈkænb(ə)rə/

The way dictionaries deal with these cases varies: some dictionaries place this ‘disappearing schwa’
in brackets (as above), some dictionaries use a superscript, for example /ˈriːz ənəbəl/, some
dictionaries eliminate the schwa completely - /ˈnæʃnəl/ - while others consider the schwa to be
fixed, i.e., /ˈnæʃənəl/.

-Schwas in grammar words

Note also that in normal speech, the vowels of ‘grammar words’ such as and, but, that, just, of, as,
her, for, them, have, did, do, will, shall and also can are almost always schwas, though in these
cases it is the pure vowel pronunciation (/ænd/ /bʌt/ /ðæt/ /ðem/ etc.) which is listed in dictionaries.
For example, in the sentence ‘I told them to leave at once’, the vowels of them, to and at will almost
certainly be schwas. However, if for reasons of emphasis you decide to stress a grammar word, then
the vowel remains ‘pure’, e.g. ‘I told THEM to leave, not YOU’: with this type of stress, the vowel
of them is /e/, and the vowel of you is /u:/.

Carry on Cleo Infamy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBtOpA7x3LM from 0.40

Infamy! Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me! (= Ce l’hanno tutti con me!)
In the word infamy the second vowel is a fixed schwa, and the word for has the variable schwa
usually found in grammar words. The result is that infamy and in for me sound identical, at least in
non-rhotic varieties of English.

Schwas in grammar words:

 as soon as possible, not as tall as you

 she’s taller than me
 are you sure that he knows?
 Laurel and Hardy, Romeo and Juliet, War and Peace, fish and chips, rock and roll, Mum and
Dad
 cup of tea (cuppa), House of Cards, son of a bitch
 for good (= for ever), time for lunch,
 it’s ten to eight, sent to prison, to be or not to be, I’ve got to go (gotta go)
 from bad to worse, a postcard from Jill, he’s from Barcelona
 naughty but nice, she was disappointed but she took it well
 if you can’t beat them join them, let them go
 I was going over the speed limit
 Can you let me know when she comes?
 Shall I call a taxi?
 He’d have been really mad, what have you done?

BUT prepositions at the end of a sentence tend not to have vowel reduction:

 Who were you talking to? You don’t have to.

 Where are you from?
 Who are you waiting for? Who’s the present for?

GOLDEN RULE
In most varieties of English (New Zealand is the most salient exception), stressed vowels cannot
be pronounced with a schwa. For example in the words treacherous, cinnamon (=cannella) and
Agatha there are two fixed schwas, and in Jerusalem there are three fixed schwas, but the stressed
vowel always remains ‘pure’: /ˈtretʃərəs/, /ˈsɪnəmən/, /ˈægəθə/, /dʒəˈruːsələm/
WORD STRESS EXERCISE (2)

Indicate where the primary stress falls in the following words.

1. unique 2. (electrical) appliance

3. recipe 4. Canberra
5. interview (noun and verb) 6. canal
7. Protestant 8. (drug, telly, e-mail) addict
9. applicant 10. personnel vs personal
11. Romeo and Juliet 12. Catholicism
13. princess (2 possible stresses) 14. insurance
15. Himalayas 16. Canterbury
17. orchestra 18. Niagara Falls
19. horizon 20. UFO, SMS, BBC
21. reservoir 22. Aladdin
23. Japan 24. necessary
25. subsequent 26. (to/a) comment
27. invalid (this depends on the meaning) 28. midday
29. Amazon 30. Arabic vs Arabian
31. hyena 32. hotel
33. infamous 34. acronym
35. kilometre 36. margarine
37. dessert vs (a) desert 38. hypocrite vs hypocritical
39. image 40. maintenance
41. manipulate 42. tourism
43. colleague 44. e-mail
45. sleep in, take off, get off on (phrasal verbs) 46. a friend of hers
47. (to) vary

*See n.21 of Stress Exercise 1. This too is anomalous: maintenance but to maintain.

Anglicisms in Italian: some anglicisms have developed a different stress in Italian, e.g., Macbeth,
influencer, email, turnover, background, hamburger, cheeseburger, teenager, download
Note that Virginia Raggi’s pronunciation of law is off-centre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm8pzqlzWl4&t=55s
0.50, 1.20, 1.34

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tMDqCXOA4Y
0.55

The pronunciation should be /ɔː/. Try not to make the same mistake!

Phonetic transcription 1

1 /səˈvaɪvəl skɪlz/
2 /ˈfɜːðə ˈdeɪtə/
3 /ˈpʌblɪk ˈlaɪbrəri/
4 /jɔː ˈθɜːtɪəθ ænɪˈvɜːsəri/
5 /tʃaɪˈniːz ˈkælɪndə/
6 /ˈfɔːlti ˈkiːbɔːd/
7 /ˈnæʃnəl pɑːk/
8 /ˈjuːsfəl ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
9 /ɪnˈtʃɑːntɪŋ ˈsiːnəri/
10 /kəˈneɪdɪən ˈlɪtrətʃə/
11 /ˈtjuːzdei ɑːftəˈnuːn/
12 /ˈʌtə ˈrʌbɪʃ/
13 /ˈeɪnʃənt ˈbɪldɪŋz/
14 /əˈprɒksɪmət ˈfɪɡəz/
15 /ˈpɪkləd ˈvedʒtəbəlz/
16 /ˈfɔːwəd pɑːs/
17 /ɑːˈtɪstɪk ˈherɪtɪdʒ/
18 /ˈiːstə selɪˈbreɪʃənz/
19 /ˈfebjʊeri ɪɡˈzæmz/
20 /ænˈtiːk ˈfɜːnɪtʃə/
21 /maɪld ˈklaɪmət/
22 /fəˈmɪlɪə ˈfeɪsɪz/
23 /ˈsɜːfɪs ˈeəriə/
24 /frəm bæd tə wɜːs/
25 /ˈnɪkələs ˈnɪkəlbi/
26 /ˈleʒəli wɔːk/
27 /dʒɔːdʒ ˈkluːni/
28 /ˈkeɪbəl kɑː/
29 /ˈplezənt ɪkˈspɪərɪəns/
30 /ˈtreʒə hʌnt/

Key to phonetic transcription 1

1. survival skills
2. further data
3. public library
4. your thirtieth anniversary
5. Chinese calendar
6. faulty keyboard
7. national park
8. useful criticism
9. enchanting scenery
10. Canadian literature
11. Tuesday afternoon
12. utter rubbish
13. ancient buildings
14. approximate figures
15. pickled vegetables
16. forward pass
17. artistic heritage
18. Easter celebrations
19. February exams
20. antique furniture
21. mild climate
22. familiar faces
23. surface area
24. from bad to worse
25. Nicholas Nickleby
26. leisurely walk
27. George Clooney
28. cable car
29. pleasant experience
30. treasure hunt

Second rhoticity test:

Listen to the comedian John Bishop. Does he have a rhotic or a non-rhotic accent?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9yAJKcIVxk

The answer is non-rhotic, because Bishop does not produce /r/ before a consonant or at the end of a
word (0-1.20):

twenty-four, silver, water, yard, spare, clipboard

Don’t be deceived by the way he produces /r/, i.e., with a flap when it follows a consonant and
precedes a vowel (fridge, great, bring). The quality of a person’s /r/ has nothing to do with
rhoticity. Bishop produces /r/ before a phonetic vowel (fridge, direct from, great, rid, rubbish,
bring, ring, pressed, rang), but so do all speakers of English, so from the point of view of rhoticity
this is irrelevant.

He produces the flapped /r/ – represented phonetically as [ɾ] – because he is a Liverpudlian (from
Liverpool). This sound is not particularly common in varieties of native English around the world,
but it is salient in Liverpool, in Birmingham in Scotland and in South Africa.

More examples of Liverpool accents:

Joanne Anderson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlcovXnGWwE

Jodie Comer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74G0h_Rf9B4

Phonetic transcription 2

1. /ɪkˈstrɔːdənri lʌk/
2./krɒsˈkʌntrɪ ˈskiːɪŋ/
3./ləˈbɒrətri tekˈnɪʃən/
4./θɜːtiˈwʌn ˈpæsɪndʒəz/
5./ˈreɪdɪəu ˈsaɪləns/
6./hɔːs ˈreɪsɪz/
7./jʌŋ skwɒd/
8. /ˈtʃeɪmbər əv ˈkɒmɜːs/
9./feə heə/
10./ˈləʊkəl əˈmiːnətiz/
11./haɪ ˈɔːltə/
12./pɪˈdestrɪən ˈpriːsɪŋkt/
13./ɪntəˈnæʃnəl əˈfeəz/
14./ˈflɒrəntaɪn ˈɑːkɪtektʃə/
15./ˈeɪtɪəθ ˈbɜːθdeɪ/
16/ˈtəʊtəli ɪnˈækjʊrət/
17./ˈhɔːntɪd ˈkɑːsəl/
18./fɔːˈmɪdəbəl əˈpəʊnənts/
19./ˈəʊʃən ˈlaɪnə/
20./ˈfjuːər ɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz/
21./dʒuːˈlaɪ ənd ˈɔːɡəst/
22./ˈbɒtəld ˈwɔːtə/
23./ˈbrekfəst ˈsɪərɪəl/
24./pəˈsɪfɪk ˈaɪlənd/
25./rəʊst pəˈteɪtəʊz/
26./ˈsentrəl ˈlʌndən/
27./ˈdeɪli ruːˈtiːn/
28./ˈpɒpjʊlər ɪkˈskɜːʃən/
29./ˈəʊpənɪŋ ˈaʊəz/
30./ˈstʌnɪŋ vjuːz/

Key to phonetic transcription 2

1. extraordinary luck
2. cross-country skiing
3. laboratory technician
4. thirty-one passengers
5. radio silence
6. horse races
7. young squad
8. Chamber of Commerce
9. fair hair
10. local amenities
11. high altar
12. pedestrian precinct
13. international affairs
14. Florentine architecture
15. eightieth birthday
16. totally inaccurate
17. haunted castle
18. formidable opponents
19. ocean liner
20. fewer opportunities
21. July and August
22. bottled water
23. breakfast cereal
24. Pacific island
25. roast potatoes
26. central London
27. daily routine
28. popular excursion
29. opening hours
30. stunning views

Phonetic transcription 3

1./ˈselɪbreɪtɪd ˈsɜːdʒən/
2./ˈdʒɪɡsɔː ˈpʌzəl/
3./bæŋk ˈhɒlədeɪ/
4./ˈveərɪəs aɪˈtɪnəreriz /
5./ˈkʌltʃərəl ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/
6./medɪˈiːvəl ˈfɔːtrɪsɪz/
7./ˈblækbəri paɪ/
8./ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl ˈfeɪzɪz/
9./ˈkəʊstəl rɪˈzɔːt/
10./brɪdʒ əv saɪz/
11./ˈwʊstəʃɪə sɔːs/
12./fɜːst kəˈmju:nɪən/
13./rɪˈlɪdʒəs ˈɪmɪdʒɪz/
14./ˈiːɡə ˈbiːvə/
15./beə nɪˈsesɪtɪz/
16./ˈɡaɪdɪd ˈmɪsaɪl/
17./niː ˈɪndʒəri/
18./ˈeɪprəl ðə θɜːˈtiːnθ/
19./sɜːtʃ ˈendʒɪn/
20./ˈblɪsfəli ˈpiːsfəl/
21./kɑː ˈseɪlzmən/
22./ˈneɪtʃə rɪˈzɜːv/
23./əˈnɔɪɪŋ ˈɪəreɪk/
24./ˈsɒkə ˈtɔːnəmənt/
25./fruːt dʒuːs/
26./kəˈrʌpt reɪˈʒiːm/
27./ˈmaʊntɪn ˈvɪlɪdʒɪz/
28./lɑːdʒ ˈɔːfənɪdʒ/
29./ˈrɑːðər əˈrɪdʒənəl/
30./kɑːr ɪnˈʃʊərəns/

Key to phonetic transcription 3

1. celebrated surgeon
2. jigsaw puzzle
3. bank holiday
4. various itineraries
5. cultural initiative
6. medieval fortresses
7. blackberry pie
8. unusual phases
9. coastal resort
10. Bridge of Sighs
11. Worcestershire sauce*
12. first communion
13. religious images
14. eager beaver
15. bare (bear) necessities**
16. guided missile
17. knee injury
18. April the thirteenth
19. search engine
20. blissfully peaceful
21. car salesman/salesmen
22. nature reserve
23. annoying earache
24. soccer tournament
25. fruit juice
26. corrupt regime
27. mountain villages
28. large orphanage
29. rather original
30. car insurance

* An Italian pronouncing Worcestershire sauce:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qK68MJdb1I

* The bare necessities / the bear necessities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o&t=86s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuudWztVX9o

Former British prime minister Theresa May pronouncing /ɑː/:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfFKf4jFBBU

2.05 it affects the future of our country … it is about what kind of country we are, and about our
faith in our democracy.

It is clear that in this case the words are and our are homophones.

Note also her RP pronunciation of pass and scenario (2.22), further examples of /ɑː/.

Reginald D. Hunter, a comedian from the southern states of America, talks about British ‘arse’ and
American ‘ass’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o6c8gGrKwk

Variable schwas in action

The Tonight Show: Jimmy Fallon interviews RP speaker Kit Harington, one of the stars in Game of
Thrones. Harington recounts the story of how he blabbed about being alive in the next season of
Game of Thrones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn8ptplqQ38

0.45 to 3.00
The presence of fixed schwas in the interview

You can’t tell your mum, you can’t tell your dad, you can’t tell your brother, you can’t tell your
friends, no-one. No-one knew .. I told mum and dad straight away. It’s mum and dad! No-one else,
well, my girlfriend knew, a few people knew quite quickly … but they were all very trusted people.
No member of the public, no stranger- well actually that’s not strictly true … Well ok, one
policeman knew … There’s a story behind it in that I was going down- I was driving back from my
parents’ house and I was driving too fast actually, I was being a bit naughty, I was going over the
speed limit, and I feel the sirens go off behind me. And this policeman comes up, pulls me over and
I a bit sheepishly said ‘Really sorry, I wasn’t looking at the clock, and he said ‘Do you realise how
fast you were going and that’s a bookable offence?’ And I said ‘Yes, I’m very very sorry, sir.’ And
he said ‘Look, there’s two ways we could do this: you can either follow me back to the police
station now and I book you in, or you can tell me whether you live in the next series of Game of
Thrones.
Yeah, and I laughed, like you’re all laughing and his face was just … and he said ‘I have to tell you,
whether I take you into the police station depends on what your answer is’. So I looked at him and
went ‘I’m alive next season.’ And he goes, he says:
‘On your way Lord Commander. On your way Lord Commander, keep your speed down this far
south of the wall’. Isn’t that brilliant?
… Well, that got tricky as well, because you know Jon Snow’s a character around which lots of
other characters’ storylines pivot around…
The presence of variable schwas in grammar words in the interview with Kit Harington

You can’t tell your mum, you can’t tell your dad, you can’t tell your brother, you can’t tell your
friends, no-one. No-one knew .. I told mum and dad straightaway. It’s mum and dad! No-one else,
well, my girlfriend knew, a few people knew quite quickly … but they were all very trusted people.
No member of the public, no stranger- well actually that’s not strictly true … Well ok, one
policeman knew … There’s a story behind it in that I was going down- I was driving back from my
parents’ house and I was driving too fast actually, I was being a bit naughty, I was going over the
speed limit, and I feel the sirens go off behind me. And this policeman comes up, pulls me over and
I a bit sheepishly said ‘Really sorry, I wasn’t looking at the clock, and he said ‘Do you realise how
fast you were going and that’s a bookable offence?’ And I said ‘Yes, I’m very very sorry, sir.’ And
he said ‘Look, there’s two ways we could do this: you can either follow me back to the police
station now and I book you in, or you can tell me whether you live in the next series of Game of
Thrones.
Yeah, and I laughed, like you’re all laughing and his face was just …and he said ‘I have to tell you,
whether I take you into the police station depends on what your answer is’. So I looked at him and
went ‘I’m alive next season.’ And he goes, he says: ‘On your way Lord Commander. On your way
Lord Commander, keep the speed down this far south of the wall’. Isn’t that brilliant?
…Well, that got tricky as well, because you know Jon Snow’s a character around which lots of
other characters’ storylines pivot around…

Singers and schwas

For reasons of emphasis, singers do not always respect schwas. In the following clips, listen to what
happens to the fixed schwa in the word angel, which in normal speech is pronounced /ˈeɪndʒəl/ (see
your dictionaries):

U2 – Angel of Harlem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biNvjeHYGt8

The Eurythmics - Must be talking to an angel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVjVYjKtLeM

The respective singers clearly use the pronunciation /ˈeɪndʒel/, though Bono uses /ˈeɪndʒəl/ within
the sequence ‘angel of Harlem’.

For a similar scenario see:

TakeThat - Patience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpa-GQBe4ok
‘TRANSLATE’ THE FOLLOWING WORDS INTO NORMAL SPELLING.

Phonetic transcription 4

1./ɒnˈlaɪn ˈbæŋkɪŋ/
2./ˈspeɪʃəs ənd ˈkʌmftəbəl/
3./ fəˈsɪlɪtiz fə ˈtʃɪldrən/
4./əˈvɔɪdəbəl ˈerə/
5./fɪʃ ˈfɪŋɡəz/
6./ˈtæləntɪd ˈdɔːtə/
7./ruːm ˈtemprətʃə/
8./hjuː ˈlɒri/
9./vɑːst əˈreɪ/
10./ˈɒprə ˈsiːzən/
11./ˈnɔɪzi ˈneɪbəz/
12./ʌnəˈtendɪd kɑː pɑːk/
13./fəʊtəˈgræfɪk ɪˈkwɪpmənt/
14./ˈkæntəbri kəˈθiːdrəl/
15./ˈtemprəri daɪˈvɜːʃən/
16. /ˈɡluːtən friː ˈmenjuː/
17./ɒsˈtreɪliən ˈkʌzən/
18./ˈeɪʒən kəˈmjuːnɪti/
19./ðə ˈbudər əv səˈbɜːbɪə/*
20./juːˈnaɪtɪd ˈjʊərəp/
21./əʊˈeɪsɪs əv kɑːm
22./ˈpɒkɪt ˈdaɪəlɪŋ/ /bʌt ˈdaɪəlɪŋ/
23./pɔːtʃʊˈɡiːz ɡests/
24./ˈdʒuːɪʃ trəˈdɪʃən/
25./wɜːst əv ɔːl/
26./ɪkˈsepʃənəl ˈkwɒlɪtɪz/
27./ˈsuːðɪŋ ˈsɔːnə/
28./peər əv ˈsɪzəz/
29./ spɑː rɪˈzɔːt/
30./ˈkrɪsməs iːv/

Key to phonetic transcription 4

1 online banking
2 spacious and comfortable
3 facilities for children
4 avoidable error
5 fish fingers
6 talented daughter
7 room temperature (temperatura ambiente)
8 Hugh Laurie
9 vast array
10 opera season
11 noisy neighbours
12 unattended carpark / car park
13 photographic equipment
14 Canterbury cathedral
15 temporary diversion
16 gluten-free menu
17 Australian cousin
18 Asian community
19 The Buddha of Suburbia* (a novel by Hanif Kureishi)
20 united Europe
21 oasis of calm
22 pocket dialling butt dialling
23 Portuguese guests
24 Jewish tradition
25 worst of all
26 exceptional qualities
27 soothing sauna
28 pair of scissors
29 spa resort
30 Christmas Eve

Long vowel or short vowel: /u:/ or /u/?

Try to distinguish between the long vowel /u:/ and the short vowel /u/.
Note that the short vowel /u/ is often represented as /ʊ/ in EFL materials, but that the long vowel is
always represented as /u:/. Two of the words listed can have either pronunciation in RP.

1. moon
2. foot
3. fool
4. saloon
5. mood
 6. good
7. shook
8. choose
9. sugar
10. soon
11. tool
12. pull
13. Hugh / Hughes
14. room
15. youtube
16. food
17. hood
18. approve
19. boot
20. root
21. nephew
22. zoom
23. crook
24. canoe
25. gloomy
26. manoeuvre
27. minute (= tiny)
28. wood
29. wool
30. shoot
31. soot (=fuliggine)
32. shrewd
33. queue
34. pursue
35. Worcester
36. curfew
37. broom
38. (Wayne) Rooney
39. route
40. suit
41. fruit juice
42. loose / lose
43. (Penelope) Cruz
44. (Tom) Cruise, crews
45. gobbledegook

Long vowel or short vowel? /u:/ or /u/?

Solutions

1. moon /u:/
2. foot /u/
3. fool /u:/
 4. saloon /u:/
5. mood /u:/
6. good /u/
7. shook /u/
8. choose /u:/
9. sugar /u/
10. soon /u:/
11. tool /u:/
12. pull /u/
13. Hugh /u:/
14. room /u:/ OR /u/
15. youtube /u:/ x2
16. food /u:/
17. hood /u/
18. approve /u:/
19. boot /u:/
20. root /u:/
21. nephew /u:/
22. zoom /u:/
23. crook /u/
24. canoe /u:/
25. gloomy /u:/
26. manoeuvre /u:/
27. minute /u:/
28. wood /u/
29. wool /u/
30. shoot /u:/
31. soot /u/ (=fuliggine)
32. shrewd /u:/
33. queue /u:/
34. pursue /u:/
35. Worcester /u/
36. curfew /u:/
37. broom /u:/ OR /u/
38. Rooney /u:/
39. route /u:/ US /raut/
40. suit /u:/
41. fruit juice /u:/ x2
42. loose / lose /u:/ loose (adjective) = /lu:s/ lose (verb) = /lu:z/
43. (Penelope) Cruz /u:/
44. (Tom) Cruise, crews /u:/
45. gobbledegook /u:/

Another rhoticity test

An interview with the actor Allen Leech. Has he a rhotic or a non-rhotic accent? 0.50-1.45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpCC7u90Zz0

The answer is rhotic, because Leech pronounces the letter ‘r’ not only before a phonetic vowel but
also before a consonant and at the end of a word:

mother, learnt, thirteen, organ, four hundred, first verse; support.

However, the ‘r’ is not produced fully in there and (creased) over. During the lesson, one of you
suggested the word orchestra, which would probably be a good example though I can’t hear it in
the clip. In passing, note his southern Irish pronunciation of thought. Leech is from Dublin.

The linking /r/

In the phonetic transcription exercises 2 and 3 you will have noticed the insertion of the sound /r/ as
a superscript, for instance

/ˈtʃeɪmbər əv ˈkɒmɜːs/, /ˈfjuːər ɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz/, /ˈrɑːðər əˈrɪdʒənəl/

As we have already discussed, in non-rhotic varieties of English a word-final orthographic ‘r’ (ever,
for, teacher and also stare because the ‘e’ is silent) is generally not pronounced, but it is magically
resurrected if the following word begins with a vowel: for ever and ever; don’t stare at them,
sooner or later, more and more.

Last lesson we listened to the non-rhotic speaker Kit Harington, who produces linking /r/
systematically:
-no member of the public (1.15)
-pulls me over and I (1.40)
-like you’re all laughing and his face was just … and he said ‘I have to tell you, whether I take you
into the police station depends on what your answer is’ (2.14-2.22).

However, if there is a pause between the two words, then the /r/ is not produced, for example ‘Jon
Snow’s a character … around which…’ (2.55). A further example is when Daniel Craig says rare
air (0.55) in the clip we examined in a previous lesson, where he does not pronounce the second ‘r’
in rare. The reason for this is that Craig produces these two words rather slowly, perhaps because
rare air is not a particularly common experession, and perhaps because if he had inserted the
linking /r/, the result would have sounded like ‘rare rare’, which might have been hard to understand
for the audience.
Indeed the linking /r/ can occasionally cause confusion among native and non-native speakers of
English, so for example ‘Jennifer Aniston’ might be understood as ‘Jennifer Raniston’, ‘Mr Reeves’
as ‘Mr Eves’ and ‘another alley’ (vicolo) as ‘another rally’.
What is striking, however, is that Riz Ahmed, another non-rhotic speaker that we listened to a few
lessons back, does not produce linking /r/ systematically, perhaps because he is a speaker of (non-
rhotic) ‘multi-cultural London English’, a recent variety of London which has been influenced by
African, Indian and West Indian varieties of English:
-search me are also like asking (1.58)
-swabbing me for explosives (2.02)
-insider-outsider status (2.13)
-this far away (2.21)

I have emphasised that the linking /r/ is a feature of non-rhotic varieties of English. Does this mean
that the linking /r/ is absent in rhotic varieties? The answer is yes, as a phenomenon it is absent,
simply because it doesn’t make sense to hypothesise a linking /r/ with reference to a variety in
which the letter ‘r’ is always pronounced.

Phonetic transcription 5

1./ strəˈtiːdʒɪk pəˈzɪʃən/

2./ spɔɪlt fə tʃɔɪs/
3./ˈdrɑːmər ɪn njuː jɔːk/
4./səˈraʊndɪŋ ˈkʌntrisaɪd/
5./ˈpiːnʌt ˈbʌtə/
6./jiːst ˈekstrækt/
7./ˈɪnflaɪt mæɡəˈziːn/
8./ˈrɪəli ɪɡˈzɔːstɪd/
9./lɔːntʃ ə ˈprɒdʌkt/
10./faɪˈnænʃəl kənˈsʌltənt/
11./left ˈlʌɡɪdʒ/
12./ˈbrɪtɪʃ ˈbrɔːdkɑːstɪŋ kɔːpəˈreɪʃən/
13./naɪˈjæɡrə fɔːlz/
14./θruː ðə ˈɡreɪpvaɪn/
15./ˈliːnɪənt ɪɡˈzæmɪnə/
16./ˈwiːpɪŋ ˈwɪləʊ/
17./hɑːd ˈʃəʊldə/
18./ˈstrenjʊəs haɪk/
19./ˈbɑːθruːm ˈmɪrə/
20./ˈsætəlaɪt tiːˈviː/
21./ˈkaʊnsəl əv trent/
22./ˈtʃeri ˈɔːtʃədz/
23./hɪˈstɒrɪkəl ˈsɔːsɪz/
24./hɑːfˈbɔːd reɪts/
25./ˈmʌltɪpleks ˈsɪnəmə/
26./rɪˈnaʊnd ˈsaɪəntɪst/
27./ɒn ði əˈdʒendə/
28./ˈbɪznɪs klɑːs/
29./rɪˈsiːt əv ˈpeɪmənt/
30./pɜːsəˈnel ˈmænɪdʒə/

Key to phonetic transcription 5

1 strategic position
2 spoilt for choice
3 drama in New York
4 surrounding countryside
5 peanut butter
6 yeast extract
7 inflight magazine
8 really exhausted
9 launch a product
10 financial consultant
11 left luggage
12 British Broadcasting Corporation
13 Niagara Falls
14 through the grapevine*
15 lenient examiner
16 weeping willow
17 hard shoulder
18 strenuous hike
19 bathroom mirror
20 satellite tv
21 council of Trent
22 cherry orchards
23 historical sources
24 half-board rates
25 multiplex cinema
26 renowned scientist
27 on the agenda = all’ordine del giorno
28 business class
29 receipt of payment
30 personnel manager

*Marvin Gaye I heard it through the grapevine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajBdDM2qdg

At 0.48 the lyrics include ‘dontcha know that…’ instead of the standard ‘Don’t you know that…’.

This reflects not only the frequent reduction – in many varieties of English – of /ju:/ to /jə/, but also the fact that the
combination /tj/ is frequently realised as /tʃ/: For examples see transcription questions 1.10, 1.20, 2.14, 3.5, 3.22, 4.7,
4.23. My surname is often pronounced /ˈstʃuwət/.
In the same way /dj/ is often realised as /dʒ/, for example duke, during, residue. The other day my sister told me she was
planning to watch the film The Last Duel, but I understood The Last Jewel…

The intrusive /r/

In non-rhotic varieties of English, a mysterious /r/ can follow word-final /ə/ and /ɔː/ if the next word
begins with a vowel:

Word-final /ə/ + vowel:

-I’ll put the pasta on /aɪl put ðə ˈpæstər ɒn/

-media attention /ˈmi:dɪər əˈtenʃən/

-a panda in a cage /ə ˈpændər ɪn ə keɪdʒ/

-Australia and New Zealand /ɒˈstreɪlɪər ənd nju ˈzi:lənd/

-Jessica and Chris /ˈdʒesɪkər ənd krɪs/

Word-final /ɔː/ + vowel:

-we saw an interesting film /wi: sɔ:r ən ˈɪntrəstɪŋ fɪlm/

-the law of the jungle /ðə lɔ:r əv ðə ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/

-raw eggs /rɔːr egz/

Intrusive /r/ can even appear within a single word:

-awe-inspiring /ˈɔːrɪnspaɪrɪŋ/

-drawing /ˈdrɔːrɪŋ/

In our exercises so far we have seen two examples of this at Transcription 4, n.19 ( The Buddha of
Suburbia) and Transcription 5, n.3 (drama in New York)

This intrusive /r/ has developed by analogy with the linking /r/:
-doctor of philosophy, teacher of French; Buddha of Suburbia

Many British people frown upon intrusive /r/, and television newscasters tend to avoid it.
The intrusive /r/ is not generally present in rhotic varieties. Consequently, and paradoxically, rhotic
speakers – who always pronounce the letter ‘r’ – sometimes accuse non-rhotic speakers of
producing /r/ excessively!

Like the linking /r/, the intrusive /r/ can cause some confusion among rhotic speakers of English and
among non-native speakers of English, so for example in conversation ‘Laura Ashley’ (an important
chain of stores selling primarily clothes and furnishings) might be construed as ‘Laura Rashley’,
and ‘Julia ached all over’ as ‘Julia raked (rastrellò) all over’.

Pronunciation of (i) third person singular forms, (ii) plural forms, (iii) Saxon
genitive forms: /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/?

Premise: before we examine endings in –s, let me refresh your memory about the pronunciation of
regular past tense forms. If the final sound of the base form is /d/ or /t/, then an extra syllable is
added, for example ‘ended, loaded, persuaded, waited, started, invited’ are all have an extra
syllable. If the final sound of the base form is not /d/ or /t/, then there is not an extra syllable, e.g.,
‘watched, wished, called, listened, measured, smoked, judged, taped, faced, missed, annoyed,
allowed’.

Now let’s go back to endings in –s.

Rule 1: when the letter ‘s’ is word-final in the cases (i), (ii) and (iii) above, it is pronounced:
 /s/ after a voiceless consonant (consonante sorda), for example, /p/, /t/, /k/:, steps, flats,
Rick’s
 /z/ after a voiced consonant (consonante sonora), for example /b/, /d/, /m/, /n/: jobs, reads,
tons, seems, John’s
 /z/ after a (phonetic) vowel: days, goes, knows, Elena’s

Rule 2: if a word has the ending ‘-es’ in the spelling, then the final syllable is pronounced /ɪz/ after:
- /tʃ/ churches, witches, watches, fetches
- /ʃ/ crashes, dishes, wishes, washes
- /ʤ/ judges, bridges, sledges, hedges, ages, cages, villages
- /s/ releases, nurses, glasses, juices, races, notices, pieces; /ks/ fixes, boxes
- /z/ sizes, mazes, amazes, whizzes, surprises, teases, cheeses, pauses

In all other cases of final ‘-es’ in the spelling, the /ɪ/ is not present:
vibes, shades, miles, hires, times, Jones, types, tapes, antiques, mosques, cares, goes, frescoes,
tastes, plates, sites, bathes, loves, raves, lives, knives, plagues, rogues, owes, eyes

Pronounce the following words:

Plural nouns: telephones, breezes, games, whales, fetishes, doves, tubes, losses, switches, races,
sides, fares, leagues, bridges, phases, wives, voices, aches, planes, beaches, miles, cures, apes,
hikes, fines, taxes, ogres, cages, roles, goodbyes
Verbs in the third person singular: soothes, reduces, saves, catches, decides, takes, freezes, mates,
rises, waves, ages, chases, bakes, dines, blames, bathes, itches, stares, bites, dates, jokes, crashes,
realises, fades

N.B. A consequence of this situation is that, for example, (i) tastes and guides are monosyllabic, but
tasted and guided are bisyllabic, (ii) chases and amazes are bisyllabic, but chased and amazed are
monosyllabic.

Rule 3: almost the same rule as Rule 2 above applies to the pronunciation of the Saxon genitive,
whether ‘-es’ is present or absent: /ɪz/ is used after final /tʃ/, /ʃ/, /ʤ/ (and after final /ʒ/, though this
is extremely rare), /z/ and /s/:
- /tʃ/ Mitch’s job, Ibrahimović’s best goals, John Malkovich’s performance, Judy Dench’s
best films, witch’s brew, that bitch’s brother, the Catholic Church’s doctrines
- /ʃ/ Hamish’s brother, George Bush’s policies, the parish’s magazine
- /ʤ/ Nicholas Cage’s latest film, the judge’s decision, George’s bike
- /z/ Maz’s brother, Liz’s passport, St James’s Gate*
- /s/ the boss’s son, Chris’s house, Tess’s generosity, Micky Mouse’s adventures,
Venice’s canals, Florence’s theatres
- /ʒ/ Raj’s flatmates

In all other cases the /ɪ/ is not present:

Dave’s girlfriend; Ruth’s pictures, Philip Roth’s novels, at death’s door, the Earth’s surface;
Philip’s computer; London’s theatres, a stone’s throw; Rome’s restaurants, Tom’s family; Cardiff’s
pubs, a dog’s dinner

Exercise: Colin Firth’s brother, Liz’s sister, Cameron Diaz’s car, The Clash’s hit singles, Van
Gogh’s paintings, Macbeth’s wife, Johnny Cash’s music, Black Sabbath’s greatest hits, Ken
Loach’s best films, Jesus’s miracles, Tom Cruise’s house, Will Smith’s earnings

When a name already ends with the letter ‘s’, /ɪz/ is normally pronounced, whatever the spelling:

Richard Curtis’ films / Richard Curtis’s films

Marcus’ memoirs / Marcus’s memoirs
Francis’ cat / Francis’s cat
Inverness’ churches / Inverness’s churches
Ben Nevis’ ridges / Ben Nevis’s ridges

Finally, note also the case of acronyms ending in ‘s’, for example SMS. The plural is SMS’s,
pronounced with /ɪ/: /eseˈmesɪz/

*For the location of St James’s Gate see:

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James%27s_Gate_Brewery#/media/File:St._James's_Gate_Brewery,_Dublin,_Ireland.j
pg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James%27s_Gate#/media/File:St._James's_Gate.JPG
https://www.guide-ireland.com/tourist-attractions/st-james-gate/

Phonetic transcription 6

1./ˈhɒstaɪl ˈklaɪmət/
2./ˈwaɪndɪŋ pɑːθ/
3./məˈmentəs ɪˈvent/
4./ˈjuːən məˈɡreɡə/
5./ˈɡreɪpfruːt dʒuːs/
6./ˈnʌθɪŋ tə dɪˈkleə/
7./ɪˈməʊʃənəl ˈbæɡɪdʒ/
8./stʌft ˈəʊbəʒiːnz/
9./ˈsɔːlzbri plein/
10./pres rɪˈliːsɪz/
11./ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ reɪs/
12./ɪnkənˈviːnɪənt əˈpɔɪntmənt/
13./ˈmæsɑːʒ ˈpɑːlə/
14./ˈkʌrənt əˈkaʊnt/
15./ˈʃʌtəl ˈsɜːvɪs/
16./ˈedɪnbrə ˈkɑːsəl/
17./ˈhiːθrəʊ ˈtɜːmɪnəl fɔː/
18./ˈkrɪsməs ˈkrækəz/
19./ˈʃʊɡəfriː ˈbɪskɪts/
20./bæŋk ˈtʃɑːdʒɪz/
21./tʊər ˈɒpəreɪtə/
22./ði ˈʌmptiːnθ ˈtaɪm/
23./beə wɪð miː/
24./ʃɔːt ˈsɜːkɪt/
25./ʃruːd dɪˈsɪʒən/
26./ˈdʒuːljəs ˈsiːzə/
27./ɪlɪzəˈbiːθən ˈθɪətə/
28./ˈwembliː əˈriːnə/
29./ˈwɔːtə ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ/
30./ˈkɔːtruːm ɪnˈtɜːprətə/
Key to phonetic transcription 6

1. hostile climate
2. winding path
3. momentous event
4. Ewan McGregor
5. grapefruit juice
6. nothing to declare
7. emotional baggage
8. stuffed aubergines
9. Salisbury Plain
10. press releases
11. exciting race
12. inconvenient appointment
13. massage parlour
14. current account
15. shuttle service
16. Edinburgh castle
17. Heathrow terminal 4
18. Christmas crackers
19. sugar-free biscuits
20. bank charges
21. tour operator
22. the umpteenth time
23. bear with me
24. short circuit
25. shrewd decision
26. Julius Caesar
27. Elizabethan theatre
28. Wembley Arena
29. water shortage
30. courtroom interpreter

/ʌ/ or /u/?

Last lesson we studied the vowel /ʌ/, which is part of RP (listen again to the clip of Theresa May,
for example customs at 0.27, government at 0.31, unable at 1.08, and of Kit Harington, for example
brother, mum, public), and is also part of accents across the south of England (listen to the clip of
Riz Ahmed, who is not an RP speaker but who is from London, for example, stuff at 0.20, trouble at
0.24, one at 0.26, muck at 0.28).
You may also have noticed that John Bishop, the comedian from Liverpool, uses /u/ rather than /ʌ/,
e.g., (turned) up at the dump, rubbish). Listen also to the the following clips.

-A clip from an interview with Tom Hopper 1.10-1.40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B106eIovsxY

So, I’ve not worked with Michelle before either, and when she- I mean it’s written in the script that
she does this voice, and I wasn’t really expecting Michelle – you know, not having done any
comedy before really either – to sort of be funny, you know. I sort of made this instant judgement
and then, she comes on set and she’s doing this voice and she is just hilarious, like she smashes out
the part.

He produces /u/ in, does, done, funny, judgement

Tom Hopper is from Leicestershire.

-A clip from an interview with singer Cheryl Cole 0-0.35

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjQPD5VUNxs

She produces /u/ in snuggly jumper, cup of tea, dull, love, snuggly clothes,

Cheryl Cole is a Geordie, i.e., she is from the north-east of England, and she has a Geordie accent.

-A clip from an interview with the English singer Sam Fender at 30.40-31.10. He’s discussing his
new album and his low self-esteem when he was younger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmBwCzsFlB8

He produces /u/ in stuff, comes, does, done.

Sam Fender is also a Geordie, and has a Geordie accent.

So what’s the deal? Within England (England, not Britain), people hailing from south of the town of
Coventry tend to produce /ʌ/ rather than /u/, whereas people from Coventry and north of Coventry
tend to produce /u/ rather than /ʌ/.
However, RP speakers – wherever they are from – produce /ʌ/ (remember that RP is a social accent
rather than a regional accent). So for example both Daniel Craig and John Bishop are from
Liverpool, but Craig speaks RP while Bishop has a distinctly Scouse accent.
Phonetic transcription 7

1./saʊθ kəˈrɪə/
2./ˈvæljʊəbəl ˈpraɪzɪz/
3./ ʌnˈɜːnd ˈɪnkʌm/
4./bɜːst ˈtaɪə/
5./ˈmembər əv ˈpɑːləmənt/
6./ˈwaɪdspred ˈflʌdɪŋ/
7./ˈnjuːklɪər ˈenədʒi/
8./əˈfɔːdəbəl ˈpraɪsɪz/
9./nɔːˈwiːdʒən əkɒməˈdeɪʃən/
10./ˈdʒækɪt pəˈteɪtəʊz/
11./ˈdjʊəl ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/
12./ˈbaɪsɪkəl ˈhaɪə/
13./ˈkɒlɪflaʊə tʃiːz/
14./ˈwɪndskriːn ˈwaɪpə/
15./ðə ˈjuːʒʊəl səˈluːʃən/
16./ə ˈnɜːsɪz ˈweɪdʒɪz/
17./suːˈpɜːb jɒt/
18./kiːʃ ləˈreɪn/
19./ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd ˈspiːʃiːz/
20./smuːð ˈɒpəreɪtə/
21./ˈpɪrɪəd ət jeɪl/
22./ˈsliːpɪŋ pəˈliːsmən/
23./aɪl pʊt jə θruː/
24./ˈtiːðɪŋ ˈprɒbləmz/
25./ˈrəʊlɪŋ ˈʃʌtə/
26./ˈhendrɪksɪz ˈdʒiːnɪəs/
27./ˈpɒthəʊlɪŋ ɪnˈθjuːzɪæst/
28./ˈpɑːsli ənd seɪdʒ/
29./ˈsiːzənz ˈɡriːtɪŋz/
30./ʌnˈsetəld det/

Key to phonetic transcription 7

 1. South Korea
2. valuable prizes
3. unearned income = rendita income = reddito
4. burst tyre (American: tire)
5. member of parliament
6. widespread flooding
7. nuclear energy
8. affordable prices
9. Norwegian accommodation
10. jacket potatoes
11. dual citizenship
12. bicycle hire
13. cauliflower cheese
14. windscreen wiper
15. the usual solution
16. a nurse’s wages
17. superb yacht
18. quiche lorraine
19. endangered species
20. smooth operator*
21. period at Yale
22. sleeping policemen
23. I’ll put you through
24. teething problems
25. rolling shutter
26. Hendrix’s genius
27. potholing enthusiast**
28. parsley and sage***
29. season’s greetings
30. unsettled debt

*Sade Smooth Operator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMMKSa8DBME

**For the mother of all potholes, click on this link to the film Sanctum:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgW7L2uq2VM

***Simon and Garfunkel Scarborough Fair: examples of herbs! (n.28)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BakWVXHSug

The glottal stop

On today’s menu is the glottal stop [ʔ], which most often replaces /t/, particularly in British
varieties of English. It is especially audible when it occurs in intervocalic position. The glottal stop
symbol occurs within square brackets because it is not a phoneme (I’ll clarify what phonemes are in
a later lesson).

Listen to this interview (0.35-2.30) with the singer Adele, who has a broad London accent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16cH5a16Oig&list=RD16cH5a16Oig&t=89

You may have noticed that Adele produces a glottalised sound in, for example, the words totally,
twitter and excited. This is the glottal stop [ʔ], which most often replaces /t/, particularly in British
varieties of English. It is especially audible when it occurs in intervocalic position. The glottal stop
symbol occurs within square brackets because it is not a phoneme (I’ll clarify what phonemes are in
a later lesson).

Adele: intervocalic glottal stop within a single word and between different words

Yeah, the other day, I’m so jetlagged. I’m so jetlagged. You might ask me a question in a minute
and I’ll start talking about something totally random. I might fall asleep. I wouldn’t do that, I won’t
do that. Just wake me up if I do.

Yeah, we did an advert that started here in the UK, and it was during a programme called X-Factor,
that we have. And yeah, it just came on, it was like a black screen with white writing, just with the
lyrics of the bit of the first verse of Hello, and it ended with three dots, as in ‘to be continued’. And
I mean I was watching it, I like X-Factor, so we were watching it, and I just like shit myself, I
absolutely lost the plot when it came on and I got really excited as if it wasn’t me as well and then
afterwards, I’m very new to like being on social media, and afterwards I was like- tried to check
Twitter but I didn’t have a Twitter account, so I just saw what was on there if you’re not on there.

I do have one but I don’t have access to it, I don’t even know the password so I can’t log in to look
at stuff. So I was just looking at what was there [as] if, like, your grandad looked on Twitter, sort of
like that. And there was like two tweets and I was like oh my God, no-one likes it, no-one cares.
And then my boyfriend, who does have a Twitter account, was like laughing, just going through it
all. It just exploded, and that was like eight weeks ago, it wasn’t that long ago, that it happened.
Since then so much has happened, so it was great the advert.

‘Cos I might say something stupid. You’ll learn, during our conversations, that every now and then
I say something stupid.

Listen for further examples of intervocalic glottal stop in the clips of Riz Ahmed (ethnicity at 1.35,
quite a surreal experience at 2.08, but I at 2.10), Kit Harington (straightaway at 0.53) Tom Hopper
(2 examples of great at; 4 examples of sort of; written (1.18), Cheryl Cole (part of x2. 0.20) and
Sam Fender (defeated at 33.37, no matter how at 34.03, fighting at 34.38).

The intervocalic glottal stop is generally associated with fairly informal speech, and occurs all over
England, Scotland and Wales, but it is not a feature of RP. Note for example that (see previous
lessons) Daniel Craig does not produce it (opportunity, bitter), and neither does Theresa May
(threaten, British, article, matters). Indeed as prime minister it is practically unthinkable that she
would do so.

More to come!
Phonetic transcription 8

1./ˈplɔːzɪbəl ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/
2./ˈbrəʊkən θəˈmɒmɪtə/
3./ˈtəʊkən ˈdʒestʃə/
4./səˈspɪʃəs ˈpækɪdʒ/
5./ˈbevərɪdʒɪz ənd snæks/
6./stɑːf kænˈtiːn/
7./ˈrekləs ˈdraɪvəz/
8./ˈfɒrən ˈpɒləsi/
9./ˈkeɪtərɪŋ fɜːm/
10./rekrɪˈeɪʃənəl ækˈtɪvətiz/
11./ˈkʌləfəl ˈkʊʃən/
12./nɔɪz pəˈluːʃən/
13./ˈkrɒkəri ənd ˈkʌtləri/
14./ˈwɪʃfəl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
15./kliːn ˈlɪnən/
16./ˈbrɔːdə kliːənˈtel/
17./kənˈvɪktɪd əv ˈmænslɔːtə/
18./ˈrɪɡərəs ˈtreɪnə/
19./ˈhɑːdbɔɪld eɡz/
20./tɪnd spəˈɡeti/
21./wɜːld wɔː tuː/
22./ˈʃɜːlɒk həʊmz/
23./θɜːtiˈfɔː ˈjʊərəʊz/
24./məˈtɜːnɪti liːv/
25./laɪt bʌlb/
26./ˈkɒntæktləs trænˈzækʃənz/
27./ˈelənə ˈrɪgbi/
28./ðə ˈneɪkɪd aɪ/
29./ˈdʒentəl pəsˈweɪʒən/
30./ˈwʌðərɪŋ haɪts/
Key to phonetic transcription 8

1. plausible alternative
2. broken thermometer
3. token gesture
4. suspicious package
5. beverages and snacks
6. staff canteen
7. reckless drivers
8. foreign policy
9. catering firm
10. recreational activities
11. colourful cushion
12. noise pollution
13. crockery and cutlery
14. wishful thinking
15. clean linen
16. broader clientele
17. convicted of manslaughter
18. rigorous trainer
19. hardboiled eggs
20. tinned spaghetti
21. World War II
22. Sherlock Holmes
23. thirty-four euros
24. maternity leave
25. light bulb
26. contactless transactions
27. Eleanor Rigby*
28. the naked eye
29. gentle persuasion
30. Wuthering Heights

* Eleanor Rigby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuS5NuXRb5Y

Phonetic transcription 9
1./əˈpɔːlɪŋ njuːz/
2./ˈpliːnəri ˈseʃən/
3./ˈrʌʃən ˈkɒliːɡ/
4./ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/
5./ˈkɪərə ˈnaɪtli/
6./ɡlɑːs ˈsiːlɪŋ/
7./biːn ðeə dʌn ðæt/
8./praɪd ənd ˈpredʒʊdɪs/
9./ˈdiːmənz ənd ˈəʊɡəz/
10./juːl lɒg/
11./ˈlɔɪəl ˈfɒləʊə/
12./ˈhʌriːd kənkˈluːʒən/
13./prɪˈpɒstərəs ˈnəʊʃən/
14./ˈfæbjʊləs ˈdʒʊəlz/
15./ˈtʌtʃi ˈsʌbdʒekt/
16./ˈsaʊə ɡreɪps/
17./sənt ˈpiːtəz skweə/
18./ɪnˈdʒɔɪ ði ˈɒprə/
19./ˈeɪkɪŋ lɪmz/
20./ɪnˈtɜːnəl ˈkɔːtjɑːd/
21./ˈweɪnɪŋ ɪmˈjuːnɪti/
22./ˈhʌntɪŋ ˈsiːzən/
23./brɔːd ˈæksent/
24./ˈwɜːði əˈpəʊnənt/
25./bəʊ ənd ˈærəʊz/
26. /ˈkʌmpəs pɔɪnts/
27./ˈfjʊərɪəs raʊ/
28./blæk ˈpʊdɪŋ/
29./ˈfeərɪteɪl ˈkærəktə/
30./ˈʃɪəldɪŋ ˈprəugræm/

Key to phonetic transcription 9

1. appalling news
2. plenary session
3. Russian colleague
4. carbon footprint
 5. Keira Knightley
6. glass ceiling
7. been there, done that
8. Pride and Prejudice
9. demons and ogres
10. Yule log
11. loyal follower
12. hurried conclusion
13. preposterous notion
14. fabulous jewels
15. touchy subject
16. sour grapes
17. Saint Peter’s Square
18. enjoy the opera
19. aching limbs
20. internal courtyard
21. waning immunity
22. hunting season
23. broad accent
24. worthy opponent
25. bow and arrows
26. compass points
27. furious row
28. black pudding
29. fairy-tale character
30. shielding programme

Listen to Rishi Sunak’s opening speech as conservative leader and prime minister:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w40k3fdqatc

Try to analyse Sunak’s pronunciation in terms of rhotic vs non-rhotic, /u/ or /ʌ/ in words like
brother and sunny, the presence or absence of schwa in grammar words, and finally in terms of the
presence or absence of the intervocalic glottal stop. Note also how he pronounces our (compare it
with Theresa May’s pronunciation of it) and children.

-non-rhotic
service, circumstances, honoured, parliamentary, leader, conservative, serve the party, our party,
together, overcome, better…future, work, deliver

-/ʌ/
Truss, public, under, humbled, love, country, utmost, overcome

-no intervocalic glottal stop: party, greatest, united, stability, unity, priority, better, humility,
British).
Sunak is a speaker of RP, though the way he produces children /ˈtʃuldrən/ is not, strictly speaking,
RP, since dictionaries give /ˈtʃɪldrən/. This variation suggests that he is from the south of England.

Note also that his pronunciation of our sounds like hour /auə/: our children and our grandchildren
(unlike Theresa May who produces /ɑː/). Both are used in RP.

How do you know that Sunak is adopting a formal tone in this speech?

- the absence of intervocalic glottal stop

- several cases where the vowel of a grammar word is not reduced to schwa: dignity and
grace, home and abroad, conservative and unionist, a great country, a profound economic
challenge, stability and unity (remember that grammar words occurring at the end of a
phrase never feature reduction in RP: …give back to the country I owe so much to. (0.36))

- fewer contractions than usual: she has led, I am humbled, it is the greatest, there is no
doubt, I will make it, we will overcome, I will serve, I will work

Some lexis: my utmost priority; I pledge; day in day out

Now listen to the Glaswegian singer Lewis Capaldi in the following clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDLmZT5gErA 3.10-3.55

Trancript:
If you’re looking for chips and you don’t wanna put proper trousers on, this is the place for you.
Myself, Diane Abbot, the archbishop of Canterbury, half the cast of East Enders, and Vladimir
Putin himself are the only people I’m aware of that have a pizza named after them. And this is it
here, it’s a pizza, it’s definitely a pizza. L.C., my initials. Let’s get that in the oven, mate.
Sometimes someone comes up and they say ‘Oh Lewis, can I get an autograph? Can you get a
picture with my daughter, please? Picture of my daughter? She’s not been very well’. You just need
to go ‘Get lost’, cos sometimes you’re sick of it. ‘Get lost, you and your daughter. You think I care?
Bye’.
I think being Scottish, you don’t get your ideas above your station. That’s me.

He produces the intervocalic glottal stop six times (excluding repetitions): try to identify them.

Here they are:

If you’re looking for chips and you don’t wanna put proper trousers on, this is the place for you.
Myself, Diane Abbot, the archbishop of Canterbury, half the cast of East Enders, and Vladimir
Putin himself are the only people I’m aware of that have a pizza named after them. And this is it
here, it’s a pizza, it’s definitely a pizza. L.C., my initials. Let’s get that in the oven, mate.
Sometimes someone comes up and they say ‘Oh Lewis, can I get an autograph? Can you get a
picture with my daughter, please? Picture of my daughter? She’s not been very well’. You just need
to go ‘Get lost’, ‘cos sometimes you’re sick of it. ‘Get lost, you and your daughter. You think I
care? Bye’.
I think being Scottish, you don’t get your ideas above your station. That’s me.

You will have noticed that Sunak and Capaldi are like chalk and cheese…

PRONUNCIATION AND MEANING

Find the pronunciation (and meaning) of the following words in the dictionary.

1. height 2. parents
3. monkey / donkey 4. (to) construe
5. raspberry, Cranberries 6. marquee
7. thermometer 8. shire; Yorkshire, Hampshire
9. foreign(-er) 10. beard
11. (to / a) purchase 12. threaten
13. (Peter/Archangel) Gabriel 14. remembered, tortured, registered
15. thesis / theory / theoretical 16. amateur
17. mountain / fountain 18. cupboard
19. iron 20. desperate
21.nuisance 22. christening
23. aisle / isle 24. plumber
25.Citroen 26. tortoise
27.Ursula 28. gorgeous
29. a pint of bitter 30. evil
31. choir 32. Warsaw
33. tomb 34. drought
35. honourable* 36. (to / a) comb
37. exam 38. hierarchy / hierarchical
39. celery 40. whole / hole
41. Graham 42. paracetamol**
43. draughty 44. mortgage
45. Barbara 46. guinea pig
47. racism 48. excerpt
49. whistled 50. gorilla
51. territory 52. towards
53. Camilla, vanilla 54. naked, crooked, wretched
55. wicked, learned (dotto), the aged, supposedly 56. confetti
57. spaghetti 58. incognito
59. cognoscenti 60. sotto voce

*silent initial ‘h’: an honest hour for an honourable heir (erede)

*Terrible English joke:
-What happened to all the aspirins in the jungle?
-Parrots ate ‘em all. (remember that ate can be pronounced /et/)

Glottal stop (2)

Last lesson some of you noticed that Lewis Capaldi produces glottal stops not only intervocalically
but also at the end of a word (mate) and before a consonant (definitely). This happens consistently
in varieties of English all over the world, even in RP, in both formal and informal speech.

Listen again to the interview (0.35-2.30) with Adele:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16cH5a16Oig&list=RD16cH5a16Oig&t=89

Glottal stop at the end of a word and/or before a consonant

Yeah, the other day, I’m so jetlagged. I’m so jetlagged. You might ask me a question in a minute
and I’ll start talking about something totally random. I might fall asleep. I wouldn’t do that, I won’t
do that. Just wake me up if I do.

Yeah, we did an advert that started here in the UK, and it was during a programme called X-Factor,
that we have. And yeah, it just came on, it was like a black screen with white writing, just with the
lyrics of the bit of the first verse of Hello, and it ended with three dots, as in ‘to be continued’. And
I mean I was watching it, I like X-Factor, so we were watching it, and I just like shit myself, I
absolutely lost the plot when it came on and I got really excited as if it wasn’t me as well and then
afterwards, I’m very new to like being on social media, and afterwards I was like- tried to check
Twitter but I didn’t have a Twitter account, so I just saw what was on there if you’re not on there.

I do have one but I don’t have access to it, I don’t even know the password so I can’t log in to look
at stuff. So I was just looking at what was there [as] if, like, your grandad looked on Twitter, sort of
like that. And there was like two tweets and I was like oh my God, no-one likes it, no-one cares.
And then my boyfriend, who does have a Twitter account, was like laughing, just going through it
all. It just exploded, and that was like eight weeks ago, it wasn’t that long ago, that it happened.
Since then so much has happened, so it was great the advert.

‘Cos I might say something stupid. You’ll learn, during our conversations, that every now and then
I say something stupid.
Some other examples of glottal stop replacing /t/ before a consonant within a single word:
Gatwick, department, lightning, ditzy, absolutely, outfit, platform.

So the glottal stop, like the schwa, is extremely common. However, glottal stop does not replace /t/
(i) at the beginning of word: tall, Titanic, tara, taboo, totally
(ii) in a stressed syllable: stupid, opportunity, guitar, pretend, itinerary, Titanic

So in the word teetotaller, the first ‘t’ is not glottalised because it’s at the beginning of a word, and
the second ‘t’ is not glottalised because it’s in a stressed syllable /ti:ˈtəutələ/. However, the
intervocalic third ‘t’ could well be glottalised in informal discourse.

Phonetic transcription 10

1./kʌps ənd ˈsɔːsəz/

2./graɪm ˈɑːtɪst/
3./ˈfəʊldəbəl ˈsmɑːtfəʊn/
4./ˈɔːkwəd pɔːz/
5./ˈkruːʃəl ˈbreɪkθruː/
6./spaɪk ɪn ʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/
7./rɪˈtaɪəd ˈbɪldə/
8./əˈnʌðə jɪə/
9./ˈdaʊntən ˈæbi/
10./ˈsentə kɔːt/
11./ðə ˈbɒsɪz ˈməʊbaɪl/
12./ˈsʌbɜːbz əv ˈwɔːsɔː/
13./ˈbenədɪkt ˈkʌmbəbætʃ/
14./ˈlɔːfəl eə/
15./ˈɡrenɪtʃ ˈvɪlɪdʒ/
16./blʌd ˈpreʃə/
17./ˈplaʊmənz lʌntʃ/
18./pɜːl ˈnekləs/
19./ˈdʌbəlgleɪzd ˈwɪndəʊz/
20./mɑːd baɪ ˈvaɪələns/
21./ˈməʊɪŋ ðə lɔːn/
22./wɪðˈaʊt ˈwɔːnɪŋ/
23./stɜːn ɪkˈspreʃən/
24./ˈrɒbət ˈredfəd/
25./peɪtrɪˈɒtɪk ˈænθəm/
26./ˈsɪərɪəs draʊt/
27./prɪˈkɔːʃənəri ˈmeʒəz/
28./ˈpru:vən træk ˈrekɔːd/
29./kɔːz fə kənˈsɜːn/
30./ˈkrɪsməs ˈpæntəmaɪm/

Key to phonetic transcription 10

1.cups and saucers

2.grime artist
3.foldable smartphone
4.awkward pause
5.crucial breakthrough
6.spike in unemployment
7.retired builder
8.another year
9.Downton Abbey
10.centre court
11.the boss’s mobile
12.suburbs of Warsaw
13.Benedict Cumberbatch
14.lawful heir
15.Greenwich Village
16.blood pressure
17.ploughman’s lunch
18.pearl necklace
19.double-glazed windows
20.marred by violence
21.trimming the hedge
22.without warning
23.stern expression
24.Robert Redford
25.patriotic anthem
26.serious drought
27.precautionary measures
28.proven track record
29.cause for concern
30.Christmas pantomime*

*Christmas pantomime: Cinderella

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adb3Sfo__nE
Phonetic transcription 11

1./ækts əv ˈsæbətɑːʒ/
2./pəˈfɔːməns ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ drʌgz/
3. /baɪˈɒlədʒi ˈkɒnfərəns/
4./ˈhɪdɪəs ˈtrɔːmə/
5./ bɪˈzɑː dɪˈsɪʒən/
6./ˈbʊʃɪz ədˈvaɪzəz/
7./frəˈnetɪk ˈrɪðəm/
8./ˈkænbərər ənd ˈædəleɪd/
9./ˈfəʊtəʊ buːð/
10./ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒɪŋ ˈfaɪndɪŋz/
11./ʌnɪkˈsplɔːd ˈterətri/
12./ˈfɔːti wɪŋks/
13./gaɪ fɔːks/
14./ˈθʌrə rɪˈvjuː/
15./wɪski ˈtʃeɪsə/
16./ˈaʊtbreɪk əv pleɪɡ/
17./ˈiːɡəlaɪd ˈstjuːdənt/
18./ˈrɪəʃɔːrɪŋ ˈwɜːdz/
19./ˈliːəm ˈniːsən/
20./ˈrɑːzbəri ˈjɒɡət/
21./ˈniːdəl ənd θred/
22./ə ˈfɜːðə ˈsetbæk/
23./ˈlʌfbrə ˈkɒlɪdʒ/
24./ˈeɪprəl fuːlz deɪ/
25./ˈleʒəli strəʊl/
26./ˈtʃælɪndʒɪŋ ˈbaʊndəriz/
27./ˈendləs ˈskwɒbəlz/
28./ˈtʃɪəfəl ˈpʌblɪkən/
29./ə ˈθaʊzənd kwɪd/
30./ði ˈeɪnʃənt ˈmærɪnə/

Key to phonetic transcription 11

1.acts of sabotage
2.performance-enhancing drugs
3.biology conference
4.hideous trauma
5.bizarre decision
6.Bush’s advisors
7.frenetic rhythm
8.Canberra and Adelaide
9.photo booth
10.encouraging findings
11.unexplored territory
12.forty winks
13.Guy Fawkes
14.thorough review
15.whisky chaser
16.outbreak of plague
17.eagle-eyed student
18.reassuring words
19.Liam Neeson
20.raspberry yogurt
21.needle and thread
22.a further setback
23.Loughborough College
24.April Fool’s Day
25.leisurely stroll
26.challenging boundaries
27.endless squabbles
28.cheerful publican
29.a thousand quid
30.the ancient mariner

Try to find the pronunciation of the following London stations

1. Shepherd’s Bush
2. Tottenham Court Road
3. Euston Square
4. Gloucester Road
5. Charing Cross
6. Oxford Circus
7. Saint Pancras
8. Clapham Common
9. Stamford Brook
10. Leicester Square
11. Worcester Park
12. Greenwich
13. Waterloo
14. Borough
15. Warwick Avenue
16. Brondesbury Park
17. Loughborough Junction
 18. Bow Church
19. Regents Park
20. Chiswick Park
21. Reading (outside London)

*Nursery rhyme: Oranges and Lemons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OzHAAfdqcc

MOCK TEST 10.11.22

For reasons of time I have included only 15 questions of transcription in the mock test, but in the
proper test you will have 25.

-STRESS EXERCISE

1.ESSAY (as noun)

2.PERCENTAGE
3.SUBSEQUENT
4.ALADDIN
5.MAINTENANCE

-TRANSCRIPTION EXERCISE

1./ɪnɔːɡjʊˈreɪʃən ˈserəməni/
2./ðə ˈtemz ˈbriːzɪz/
3./əˈreɪ əv əˈtrækʃənz/
4./ˈneɪtʃər ɔː ˈnɜːtʃə/
5./rʌf ˈestɪmət/
6./ˈtrʌbəl ənd straɪf/
7./ˈtaɪdəl weɪv/
8./ˈɒnərəbəl ˈwɒrɪə/
9./ˈjɔːkʃə ˈterɪə/
10./ˈkæməflɑːʒ ˈjuːnɪfɔːm/
11./ˈmæzɪz ˈmemwɑːz/
12./ˈhɑːtwɔːmɪŋ ˈwelkəm/
 13./ˈtʌtʃɪŋ ˈθɔːt/
14./ˈfænsi ˈpraɪsɪz/
15./ˈsʌðən ˈkʌmfət/

Key to mock test

STRESS EXERCISE

1.ESSAY
2.PERCENTAGE
3.SUBSEQUENT
4.ALADDIN
5.MAINTENANCE

TRANSCRIPTION EXERCISE

1. inauguration ceremony
2. the Thames breezes (OR Thames’s OR Thames’)
3. array of attractions
4. nature or nurture
5. rough estimate
6. trouble and strife
7. tidal wave
8. honourable warrior
9. Yorkshire terrier
10.camouflage uniform
11.Maz’s memoirs
12.heartwarming welcome
13.touching thought
14.fancy prices
15.southern comfort*

*Southern Comfort
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Comfort

See the file ‘Corrections mock test’ to understand better how I mark the test.
Phonetic transcription 12

1./krɒs maɪ hɑːt/

2./ˈkɒstli ˈmɔːgɪdʒ/
3./ˈkrɒswɜːd ˈpʌzəl/
4./ˈdeɪlaɪt ˈrɒbəri/
5./ˈsʌðən ˈpɔːtʃəgəl/
6./əˈfɪʃəl əˈpruːvəl/
7./ˈtʃɑːlzɪz rɪˈsɜːtʃ/
8./kəmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən ˈtʃænəlz/
9./ˈfeəli ˈjuːsləs/
10./ˈpɑːsəl dɪˈlɪvəri/
11./kəmˈpliːt ˈsɪləbəs/
12./ˈɜːdʒənt ˈplʌmɪŋ/
13./ˈkrɪstʃən feɪθ/
14./ˈhaɪləndz əv ˈskɒtlənd/
15./ˈtemprətʃər ənd ˈnɔːzɪə/
16./rɔːr ˈʌnjənz/
17./rɪˈvɜːs gɪə/
18./ˈpri:vɪəs ˈsentʃəri/
19./ˈɔːsəm əˈmiːnɪtiz/
20./ˈdʒɜːni tə dʒəˈruːsələm/
21./ˈkwɒlɪti əˈʃʊərəns/
22./mjuːˈzɪəmz əv ˈkɔːnwəl/
23./sɔːlt ˈwɔːtə/
24./ˈrɪðəm ənd bluːz/
25./nəˈtɪvɪti ˈpleɪ/
26./njuː ˈziːlənd ˈmaʊriz/
27./juːnɪˈvɜːsɪti ˈkæmpəs/
28./ˈstrætfəd əˈpɒn ˈeɪvən/
29./kəˈmɜːʃəl trænˈzækʃən/
30./frentʃ ˈvɪnjədz/

Key to phonetic transcription 12

1.cross my heart*
2.costly mortgage
3.crossword puzzle
4.daylight robbery
5.southern Portugal
6.official approval
7.Charles’s research
8.communication channels
9.fairly useless
10.parcel delivery
11.complete syllabus
12.urgent plumbing
13.Christian faith
14.Highlands of Scotland
15.temperature and nausea
16.raw onions
17.reverse gear
18.previous century
19.awesome amenities
20.journey to Jerusalem
21.quality assurance
22.museums of Cornwall
23.salt water
24.rhythm and blues
25.nativity play
26.New Zealand Maoris
27.university campus
28.Stratford-upon-Avon
29.commercial transaction
30.French vineyards

*Check out this expression in The Jungle Book at 2.55:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpC4a6jCxSA
Here’s another example from an old Elvis Presley film. Not great cinema but Elvis is Elvis…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kplNburKbRA
Phonetic transcription 13

1./ˈsɜːtʃɪŋ ˈkwestʃən/
2./pleɪ ðə ˈmɑːtə/
3./ˈɑːktɪk ˈmʌŋkɪz/
4./ˈtʃærɪtəbəl ɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən/
5./bɪˈhaɪnd kləuzd dɔːz/
6./ˈsaundpruːf buːð/
7./ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ ˈbæriə/
8./əz fɑːr əz ˈpɒsəbəl/
9./ˈtʃɪldrənz ˈkwaɪə/
10./frəm ðə ˈhɔːsɪz mauθ/
11./ˈsɒləm vau/
12./blaɪð dɪsrɪˈɡɑːd/
13./θɜːˈtiːn ˈkæʒuəltiz/
14./pəˈfɔːmɪŋ ɑːts/
15./ˈpɔɪntləs spekjuˈleɪʃən/
16./ˈreɪʃəl ˈtenʃən/
17./ʃeəd ˈkɒntent/
18./ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ ˈpɜːfjuːm/
19./ˈri:dʒənəl ˈɡʌvənəz/
20./bɔːd ənd ˈlɒdʒɪŋ/
21./ˈauəli reɪt/
22./ˈmænɪdʒmənt kəˈmɪti/
23./ˈwɒʃɪŋ fəˈsɪlɪtiz/
24./bɒləˈneɪz sɔːs/
25./maɪ ˈdiːpɪst ˈsɪmpəθi/
26./ˈmɪlətri pɜːsəˈnel/
27./ðə maɪstrəuz ˈrepətwɑː/
28./ˈhektɪk ˈʃedʒuːl/
29./kweɪnt ˈkɒtɪdʒ/
30./ˈklɪfhæŋər ˈendɪŋ/

Key to phonetic transcription 13

1.searching question
2.play the martyr
3.Arctic Monkeys
4.charitable institution
5.behind closed doors
6.soundproof booth
7.language barrier
8.as far as possible
9.children’s choir
10.from the horse’s mouth
11.solemn vow
12.blithe disregard
13.thirteen casualties
14.performing arts
15.pointless speculation
16.racial tension
17.shared content
18.lingering perfume
19.regional governors
20.board and lodging
21.hourly rate
22.management committee
23.washing facilities
24.bolognese sauce
25.my deepest sympathy
26.military personnel
27.the maestro’s repertoire
28.hectic schedule
29.quaint cottage
30.cliffhanger ending

Singing accents

Notice the marked differences between Elton John’s speaking voice (= Received Pronunciation)
and his singing voice, paying particular to attention to his production of RP /ɒ/ and /aɪ/:
Elton John on his glasses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03qQTUbo7Wg

Pay particular attention to the following two vowels:

/ɒ/
-John, on, constant, because, song, God

/aɪ/
-eyes, eyesight, right, goodbye, times, white

Elton John: Your Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee6pty2r0Lo

It’s a little bit funny, this feeling inside

I’m not one of those who can easily hide
Don’t have much money but, boy, if I did,
I’d buy a big house where we both could live.

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no

Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it’s not much but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one’s for you

And you can tell everybody that this is your song

It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind, I hope you don’t mind
That I’ve put down into words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

I sat on the roof and picked up the moss

Well a few of the verses, well they’ve got me quite cross
But the sun’s been quite kind while I wrote this song
It’s for people like you that they keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do

You see, I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway the thing is, what I really mean is
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

And you can tell everybody that this is your song …

Elton John’s singing pronunciation of RP /ɒ/ is a sound close to /ɑ:/, which corresponds to the
pronunciation of standard American: check Jon Hamm’s realisation of job, college, scholarship,
opportunity, Los Angeles, got a job. You’ll notice also that Elton John produces a sound
approximating to /d/ when the letter ‘t’ appears in intervocalic position (forgetting, sweetest). These
correspond to standard American usage.
However, it’s not all standard American. Elton John’s singing accent is non-rhotic (your, words,
world, forgotten), and his pronunciation of RP /aɪ/ corresponds to something like /æ:/, which is
again not part of standard American. Check Jon Hamm’s realisation of shy, myself, five, my, high
(school), right, where the realisation of /aɪ/ is similar to RP.

Jon Hamm Big Questions 0-1.30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuujCvqRWiE

So why does Elton John, like so many other singers, use a ‘half-American’ accent in his songs?

Now listen to Feel by Robbie Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_-XychEyz8 and note his

pronunciation of:

contact, god, wanna

laugh, after
hand, understand

These all sound like standard American aside from the non-rhoticity of understand. Like Elton
John, Williams’ singing accent is also non-rhotic: either, her, scare and, like Elton John, he too
produces /æ:/ in die and life. Also worth noting is his non-British realisation of love (/lʌv/ in RP)
as /lɜːv/. Compare Elton John’s realisation of this word in Can you feel the love tonight? (0.50)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTtgVSxfr5M

So, to recap: we hear what sounds like a hybrid of standard American and RP, but there are some
words like die and love whose pronunciation doesn’t fit either of these varieties.

Why then do so many singers produce /læ:f/ and /lɜːv/?

You might find some help in the following clips.

Forrest Gump (1994): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqOnkiQRCUU

You will notice some features of standard American pronunciation (God, box of chocolates), but
more importantly you can hear:

(i) a number of examples of RP/standard American /aɪ/ produced as /æ:/:

-dying, time, life

(ii) non-rhoticity
-sweetheart, part (non-rhotic)

Driving Miss Daisy (1989): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ3wXC5jqKE

-/aɪ/ produced as /æ:/: high-strung, likes, come by, like, thirty-five, my, time, driving, eyes
-non-rhoticity: working, morning, store, flower-bed, pictures, turning, door, Georgia, for, turn

-/ʌ/ realised as /ɜ:/ strung, love, hush up

Both of these films are set mainly in Georgia, one of the southern states of America. Rock and pop
music have their origins in the blues, soul, gospel and rock and roll, whose roots are to a large
extent in the southern states of America. Many of the sounds of black music were inherited by the
Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who etc., and are still present in popular music today.

In passing, notice the (dialectal) quadruple negative produced by the driver in Driving Miss Daisy
1.30: ‘Ain’t nobody never given me no book before Miss Daisy’

Now listen to Ellie Goulding’s modern version of Your Song and compare it with the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EAyEWjnn6U

It could be that the predilection for southern states pronunciation in rock and pop music is slowly
fading among British singers.

Phonetic transcription 14

1./ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ ˈmætəz/
2./ˈmɔːɡɪdʒ reɪts/
3./vəˈniːʃən ˈtʃɜːtʃɪz/
4./ˈɒrɪndʒ skwɒʃ/
5./ˈbjuːti ˈpɑ:lə/
6./ˈdju:bɪəs əˈsʌmpʃən/
7./ˈhju:mən rɪˈsɔːsɪz/
8./luːs tʃeɪndʒ/
9./əˈdʒɜːn ə ˈmiːtɪŋ/
10./peər ˈɔːtʃəd/
11./ðə bəʊ belz/
12./ˈhju:mænɪtiz ˈfækəlti/
13./ˈbrəʊkən ˈʃʌtə/
14./ʃɑːp klɔː/
15./ˈstɜːlɪŋ ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl/
16./dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ ˈkɜːnəl/
17./ˈpeɪpəbæk ɪnˈsaɪkləpi:dɪə/
18./ʃruːd ˈbɪznɪzwɪmɪn/
19./hjuːdʒ ˈdʒɪɡsɔː/
20./ˈeksəsaɪz jɑːd/
21./ˈmaɪnər ˈeɪlmənt/
22./ vɪˈenəz ˈnaɪtlaɪf/
23./ˈbæflɪŋ ˈɑːnsə/
24./bruːs ˈwɪlɪsɪz kəˈrɪə/
25./ˈru:θləs əˈpreʃən/
26./ˈeksɪt ˈstrætədʒi/
27./ˈweðə ˈfɔːkɑːst/
28./rɪˈvaɪzɪŋ fər ɪɡˈzæmz/
29./dʒɔːdʒ ˈɔːwel/
30./pəˈrentəl ˈgaɪdəns/

Key to phonetic transcription 14

1.language matters
2.mortgage rates
3.Venetian churches
4.orange squash
5.beauty parlour
6.dubious assumption
7.human resources
8.loose change
9.adjourn a meeting
10.pear orchard
11.the Bow Bells
12.humanities faculty
13.broken shutter
14.sharp claw
15.sterling example
16.demanding colonel
17.paperback encyclopedia
18.shrewd businesswomen
19.huge jigsaw
20.exercise yard
21.minor ailment
22.Vienna’s nightlife
23.baffling answer
24.Bruce Willis’s career OR Bruce Willis’ career
25.ruthless oppression
26.exit strategy
27.weather forecast
28.revising for exams
29.George Orwell
30.parental guidance
Phonetic transcription 15

1./rɪˈdi:mɪŋ ˈfi:tʃə/
2./ən ˈæksɪdənt əˈkɜːd/
3./ʌnˈlaɪkli ˈautkʌm/
4./ðə ˈprɪnsesɪz ˈlɔːjəz/
5./eθˈnɪsəti ˈɪʃuːz/
6./ɪˈfektɪv dɪˈterənt/
7./ˈtəʊtəl dɪsəˈreɪ/
8./ʌnˈi:zi ˈætməsfɪə/
9./əˈweənəs kæmˈpeɪn/
10./səˈblaɪm pəˈfɔːməns/
11./ˈhaɪər edʒuˈkeɪʃən/
12./ˈɡeərɪʃ ˈkʌləz/
13./sku:l feɪt/
14./səbˈstænʃəl rɪˈwɔːd/
15./streŋθ ənd ˈstæmɪnə/
16./ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbəl sɪtjuˈeɪʃən/
17./ˈwustəʃɪə pəˈliːs/
18./ˈsmuːðə ˈsɜːfɪs/
19./ˈbɔːdə ˈgɑ:dz/
20./raɪs ˈpudɪŋ/
21./ˈɪnfəməs ˈkrɪmɪnəl/
22./fəˈtiːɡ ənd ˈbreθləsnəs/
23./ˈdɔːmɪtri taun/
24./ˈdænjəl kreɪg/
25./ˈræfəl ˈtɪkɪt/
26./ˈspiːdi rɪˈkʌvəri/
27./ˈfɔːmə ˈpjuːpəlz
28./ˈpreʃəs pəˈzeʃən/
29./ði ˈaʊtə ˈhebrɪdiz/
30./kəmˈpliːtli ˈhæməd/

Key to phonetic transcription 15

1.redeeming feature
2.an accident occurred
3.unlikely outcome
4.the princess’s lawyers OR the princess’ lawyers
5.ethnicity issues
6.effective deterrent
7.total disarray
8.uneasy atmosphere
9.awareness campaign
10.sublime performance
11.higher education
12.garish colours
13.school fete
14.substantial reward
15.strength and stamina
16.unmanageable situation
17.Worcestershire police
18.smoother surface
19.border guards
20.rice pudding
21.infamous criminal
22.fatigue and breathlessness
23.dormitory town
24.Daniel Craig
25.raffle ticket
26.speedy recovery
27.former pupils
28.precious possession
29.the Outer Hebrides
30.completely hammered
Phonetic transcription 16

1./wʌns ɪn ə waɪl/
2./ˈægəθə ˈkrɪsti/
3./ˈsɪəriːz əv eseˈmesɪz/
4./ˈkɒtən bʌd/
5./pəˈreɪd əv səˈlebrətiz/
6./lɔ: r ɪnˈfɔːsmənt/
7./ˈθʌrə sɜːtʃ/
8. /ðə fiːst əv ˈstiːvən/
9./wɪŋ ˈmɪrə/
10./ˈbʊkəbəl əˈfens/
11./ˈeɪdʒənsi fi:z/
12./prəˈfeʃnəl ˈdju:ti:z/
13./drɑːft ˈgɪnɪs/
14./ˈneɪbəhud wɒtʃ/
15./ˈnɔːts ənd ˈkrɒsɪs/
16./hʌŋˈgeərɪən ˈfɪzɪsɪst/
17./ˈkʌntri ɪˈsteɪt/
18./ˈwɒʃɪŋ ˈpaudə/
19./kənˈstrʌkt ə ˈrezəvwɑː/
20./dɪsˈjuːzd ˈweəhaʊs/
21./ˈhəʊpləs ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz/
22./ˈtɒməsɪz pəˈzeʃenz/
23./ˈwɪəri ənd ˈdʒetlægd/
24./ˈlɪtərəri ˈʒɒnrə/
25./kəˈmemərətɪv plɑːk/
26./ˈtʃɑːdʒɪz əv ˈbaɪəs/
27./ˈtæklɪŋ ɪˈlɪtərəsi/
28./ˈiːstən ˈɪŋɡlənd/
29./ˈdʒenrəl prækˈtɪʃənə/
30./ˈhevɪli ˈpreɡnənt/

Key to phonetic transcription 16

1.once in a while
2.Agatha Christie
3.series of SMSs (SMSes)
4.cotton bud
5.parade of celebrities
6.law enforcement
7.thorough search
8. the feast of Stephen*
9.wing mirror
10.bookable offence
11.agency fees
12.professional duties
13.draught Guinness
14.neigbourhood watch
15.noughts and crosses
16.Hungarian physicist
17.country estate
18.washing powder
19.construct a reservoir
20.disused warehouse
21.hopeless circumstances
22.Thomas’s possessions OR Thomas’ possessions
23.weary and jetlagged
24.literary genre
25.commemorative plaque
26.charges of bias
27.tackling illiteracy
28.eastern England
29.general practitioner
30.heavily pregnant

*Check out the first verse of the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQVUMG6LZGM
Phonetic transcription 17

1./ɪksˈpəuʒə tə ˈsʌnlaɪt/
2./ˈɒkjupaɪd ˈterətriz/
3./pətˈrɪʃə ənd ˈpætrɪk/
4./kəˈrɪzmər ənd tʃɑːm/
5./ˈveərɪəs ˈtʃiːzɪz/
6./ˈneɪzəl swɒb/
7./ænˈtiːk ˈvɑːz/
8./ðə ˈtemz ˈvæli/
9./rɪˈkʌvəri fʌnd/
10./ˈækjərət ˈmeʒəmənt/
11./ˈwɜ:kɪŋ əˈbrɔːd/
12./ˈtʃɜːtʃɪz əv ˈmɔːltə/
13./pəˈli:s ˈhedkwɔːtəz/
14./ˈfɪlθi spʌndʒ/
15./ðə bɜ:θ əv ˈviːnəs/ (4 words)
16./ˈtɪpɪkəl ˈfiːtʃə/
17./set ðəm friː/
18./ˈmɑːtɪn ˈluθ:ə kɪŋ/
19./ˈɡlɒstəʃə ˈkɒtɪdʒɪz/
20./hə θɜ:d ˈælbəm/
21./ðə ˈhʌŋgə geɪms/
22./ˈəʊʃən ˈsaɪənsɪz/
23./ˈvækju:m ˈkliːnə/
24./ˈkærəl ˈsɪŋəz/
25./ˈfɔːlɪŋ ɪˈmɪʃənz/
26./ˈrɑːðə rɒŋˈfutɪd/
27./ˈkɔːpərəl ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/
28./rɪˈtaɪəd pɒlɪˈtɪʃən/
29./ˈəʊzəʊn ˈleɪə/
30./ˈdʒeɪsən ˈsteɪθəm/

Key to phonetic transcription 17

1.exposure to sunlight
2.occupied territories
3.Patricia and Patrick
4.charisma and charm
5.various cheeses
6.nasal swab
7.antique vase
8.the Thames valley
9.recovery fund
10.accurate measurement
11.working abroad
12.churches of Malta
13.police headquarters
14.filthy sponge
15.the birth of Venus
16.typical feature
17.set them free
18.Martin Luther King
19.Gloucestershire cottages
20.her third album
21.The Hunger Games
22.ocean sciences
23.vacuum cleaner
24.carol singers
25.falling emissions
26.rather wrongfooted (piuttosto spiazzato)
27.corporal punishment
28.retired politician
29.ozone layer
30.Jason Statham