A A m m e e r r i i c c a a n n A A c c c c e e n n t t P P r r o o g g r r a a m m Updated: April 13, 2005 I. Vowel System − /i/ Z When saying /i/, the tongue is curved high in the front, and the lips are pulled back slightly. This vowel is long and tense. Glide the tongue slightly up and forward as you say /i/. Z • Possible Spellings  ea, e, ei, ee, ie, i, e-e, ey • Words  mean, tease, creep, scream, sweet, squeeze, meteor, seek, sweep, deal, dear, meal, wheat, treat, deep, street, leader, feed, neat, keep, appear, deceive, leap, speed. Z • Sentences  They appeared to deceive the mean leader. Z  We gave treats to the dear child. Z  He gave a piercing scream in his sleep. Z  You were sweet to keep this meal warm. Z  Keep feeding the sheep. Z American Accent Program cta_link 2 − // Z When saying //, the tongue is high in the front, and the lips are pulled back slightly. This vowel is short and relaxed. Z • Possible Spellings  e, i, y • Words  Mr., mill, brick, brittle, which, blizzard, whip, win, tip, blink, blister, wish, skipper, lick, slim, wind, in, quilt, hit, slick, limp, quick, stick, pretty. Z • Sentences  The brittle sticks broke in the wind. Z  Which skipper do you think will win? Z  The blizzard whipped through the little village. Z  The blister on my finger is beginning to sting. Z  Did you give the picture to your sister? Z American Accent Program cta_link 3 − // Z When saying //, curve the tongue about halfway up in front, and pull the lips back slightly. The vowel is long and tense. As you say it, glide the tongue up and forward, dropping the jaw slightly. Z • Possible Spellings  ei, a, ai, a-e, ay • Words  major, tailor, frame, quake, stale, waken, maid, taper, maim, brave, brain, braille, whale, trait, brake, quail, debate, Dave, taste, blame, wave, waste, daze, dainty. Z • Sentences  The bike’s frame and brakes were in good shape. Z  Dave tasted the stale cookies. Z  The major was afraid to wait anywhere nearby. Z  The tailor waved at the train. Z  Airmail goes by plane. Z American Accent Program cta_link 4 − /ε/ Z When saying /ε/, the tongue is curved up in the front, and the lips are pulled back slightly. This is a short, relaxed vowel. Z • Possible Spellings  e, ea, ue • Words  mend, test, quest, western, guess, letter, wet, smell, then, death, spend, left, when, breath, bless, went, well, shell, ten, blend, question, slept, wrench, dense. Z • Sentences  I sent ten letters to residents. Z  The test went better than ever. Z  Kenneth slept well when he spent the night. Z  Mend the fence when it isn’t wet. Z  The hen laid her eggs in her nest in the shed. Z American Accent Program cta_link 5 − /æ/ Z When saying /æ/, the tongue should be lower and pushed forward slightly. Drop your lower jaw and pull your lips back slightly. This vowel is short and relaxed. Z • Possible Spellings  a • Words  match, hat, grab, wag, batch, slash, rat, pat, cab, quack, packet, flag, tackle, crash, brag, pack, jacket, crack, taffy, half, slack, flask, map, axe. Z • Sentences  Pack the flag in the bag. Z  Grab your hat and jacket. Z  The fishing tackle was stashed in my backpack. Z  Ask Jack to share his snack. Z  I ate half a package of crackers. Z American Accent Program cta_link 6 − /α/ Z When saying /α/, the lips are relaxed, the jaw is lowered, and the tongue is in the bottom of the mouth. This is a short, relaxed vowel. Z • Possible Spellings  a, o • Words  trot, smock, sob, bother, not, follow, blot, swamp, bronze, chop, dodge, lock, drop, bomb, dollar, dock, cop, prom, stopper, mob, stock, wobble, spot, blonde. Z • Sentences  The cop followed the blonde. Z  Stop on the dock by the Dodge. Z  I will not bother to blot up the spot. Z  The fox trotted down the rocky trail. Z  They dropped the dollar on the spot. Z American Accent Program cta_link 7 − // Z When saying //, the lips are slightly rounded, and the tongue is low in the mouth, being slightly pulled back, and is higher in the back than in the front. This vowel is short and relaxed. Z • Possible Spellings  ou, au, aw, a + l (as in “tall”), o + g (as in “fog”) • Words  pause, ought, tall, brawl, dawn, cough, moth, small, walk, raw, jaw, jaunt, taught, caught, lawn, bald, dog, claw, fought, call, boss, straw, fall, paw. Z • Sentences  The bald man caught a cough. Z  We ought to take a long walk at dawn. Z  I got a small cut on my jaw in a brawl. Z  The tall man paused and thought. Z  The small dog fought bravely. Z American Accent Program cta_link 8 − // Z When saying //, the lips are relaxed, the jaws are open slightly, and the tongue is in the bottom of the mouth. This is a short, relaxed vowel. Z • Possible Spellings  u, o, oo, ou • Words  muscle, shut, jump, bucket, cup, plus, tusk, thumb, blood, won, wonder, hug, tug, hum, blush, rust, stuck, plug, mutt, dump, rub, fun, trust, suffer. Z • Sentences  I wonder how you stuck your thumb. Z  The couple’s trust won much admiration. Z  Give me another cup of punch. Z  Your method is enough to make me wonder. Z  The truck was stuck in the mud. Z American Accent Program cta_link 9 − /o/ Z When saying /o/, the tongue should be high in the back, and the lips should be rounded. This is a glide and as you say it, your lips should become slightly rounded and your tongue should move back and up. This vowel is long and tense. Z • Possible Spellings  o, ow, oa, ou o-e (as in “home”) • Words  mold, hope, won’t, swollen, coal, most, toad, smoke, dome, bowl, cold, soul, token, smolder, quote, hoax, told, loan, suppose, broke, code, show, nose, cone. Z • Sentences  I hope the quote is the most economical. Z  The coal smoked and smoldered. Z  I told, you she broke the bowl. Z  Won’t the cold slow the game? Z  Show your swollen nose to the doctor. Z American Accent Program cta_link 10 [...]... American Accent Program 16 cta_link / / /Z / is the /r/ sounds that are “colored” by the vowel which precedes it Words father, brother, mother, higher, other, direr, water, luckier, slower, power, shower, tower / / /Z / is the /r/ sounds that are “colored” by the vowel which precedes it Words hurt, purse, hurry, burn, stir, jerk, dirt, shirt, work, word, worth, firm American Accent Program 17 cta_link... merchants to raise money Z At the seminar in Rome, I’m sharing a room with Pam Z American Accent Program 19 cta_link Sam sailed home from Guam in September Z The rambunctious boys made a clamor in the lumberyard Z Jim had to memorize the game plan Z I come when I hear Mom scream my name Z American Accent Program 20 cta_link /p/ Z Voiceless The lips are held together A small amount of air builds up in... prospect of possible unemployment by April Z American Accent Program 21 cta_link The cop cried “stop” and leapt from the housetop Z Chip always kept the torn-up map Z Adding ripe apples to that lumpy soup would help Z Wrap up that chapter so we can keep our appointment Z The shortstop was a country bumpkin from upstate Z American Accent Program 22 cta_link /b/ Z Voiced The lips are held together A... Ben’s book described the habitual behavior of baboons Z American Accent Program 23 cta_link The liberal Mr Cobb doesn’t like people who blab Z Babs wants to sublet her mountain cabin Z I obtained the four wine goblets February tenth Z Rub out the cobweb in the cabinet Z The gabardine fabric was drab and shabby Z American Accent Program 24 cta_link /f/ Z Voiceless The cutting edge of the upper teeth... the beautiful island of Fiji Z American Accent Program 25 cta_link His philosophy has a profound effect on his followers Z Buffalo beef is stiff and tough Z It’s a relief to know Jeff is not deaf Z I cut the ruffles off the cuffs myself Z The referee will scoff if you offer him a payoff Z The deficit was offset by profits from staff Z American Accent Program 26 cta_link /v/ Z Voiced The cutting edge... to avoid this village Z American Accent Program 27 cta_link Evelyn’s lover arrived at seven with caviar and liver pate Z We swerved off the pavement into the river Z The average citizen is too far removed from government Z Beverly’s lively behavior makes her a maverick wherever she travels Z When they paved the avenue, they uncovered the cavity Z American Accent Program 28 cta_link / /Z Voiceless The... thirty-first telethon for orthopedic diseases Z American Accent Program 29 cta_link Keith is a southpaw athlete from Duluth Z The ruthless judge sentenced the youth to death Z Kenneth studied math, and graduated fifth in this Dartmouth class Z Ethel Smith is a faithful Methodist Z The sleuth found a path beneath the phone booth Z American Accent Program 30 cta_link / /Z Voiced The tip of the tongue is placed... Orient Z Let this oil soothe and smooth your skin while you bathe Z American Accent Program 31 cta_link Don’t bother with the other calls now Z My mother would rather withdraw from the club altogether Z The heather I planted couldn’t withstand southern weather Z I gather your brother weathered another crisis Z American Accent Program 32 cta_link /n/ Z Voiced Start voicing as the tongue tip makes contact... continental breakfast included one bun and coffee Z American Accent Program 33 cta_link The bananas were green, so I made raisin bread instead Z It began to rain again at noon The marathon will begin this afternoon downtown Z The marathon will begin this afternoon downtown Z The telephone number of the Vatican is unlisted Z American Accent Program 34 cta_link /l/ Z Voiced The tongue tip is placed on the... sauerkraut for dinner? Z The grout in the shower is coming out Z The brown mouse scurried away soundlessly Z Give a loud shout if you catch a trout Z Now we must plow and plant sunflowers Z American Accent Program 14 cta_link / /Z When saying / /, start with the mouth open and the tongue down as though to say / / As you say / /, bring the lower jaw up and the body of the tongue up and forward As always, . sweet to keep this meal warm. Z  Keep feeding the sheep. Z American Accent Program cta_link 2 − // Z When saying //, the tongue is high. beginning to sting. Z  Did you give the picture to your sister? Z American Accent Program cta_link 3 − // Z When saying //, curve the tongue about