Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking

Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking

Learning the schwa & the four most problematic

pronunciations for native Spanish speakers

Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking

Agenda

The schwa

The big 5

mind body unison

Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking

What’s the schwa?The schwa, in fact, is the most frequently occurring sound in spoken English, but many speakers-even native-born American English speakers-may not be technically familiar with it. Learning to use the schwa is critical in helping you to improve your accent.

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What is the schwa?

1. A mid-central neutral vowel, typically occurring in unstressed syllables, as the final vowel of English sofa.

2. The symbol (ə ) used to represent an unstressed neutral vowel and, in some systems of phonetic transcription, a stressed mid-central vowel, as in but.

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Student Senate

Constitution Obama

President independence

Decision about

Syllable mountain

What do these words have in common?

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The schwa

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Obamə

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Studǝnt Senǝte

Constitutiǝn Obamǝ

Presidǝnt independǝnce

Decisiǝn ǝbout

Syllǝble mountǝn

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In order to identify the schwa we need to do three

things

1. identify the syllǝbles

2. identify the stressed syllǝble

3. insert the schwa when necessary

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Let’s practiceTomorrow təˈmɒrəʊ banana bəˈnɑːnə

Summer ˈsuməʳ focusˈfəʊkəs

Pupil ˈpjuːpəl survive sərˈvaɪv

Wizard ? Measure ?

Theatre ? pupil ?

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Tricks

the: iː + consonants ə + vowels

thə cat thə director thə clothes

Thiː əgreementthiː interview thiː egg

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TricksA - ə or eɪ

Ə dog ə bear ə guy

or with (eɪ)

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ION endings: stress before the last syllable and the schwa in +ion

Negotiation participation

Constitution potion

Allusion recreation

Conclusion salivation

Miscommunication transition

Notion vision

Tricks

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The big 5

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Examples:

Schoolsprite stop signI’m so sorry to stop spending small time with Sal. Strip spoon scold Cereal snake scaredSell Steve the seven shares of stock Saturday Sally.

1. A tendency to add the prefix “eh” to some words beginning with S, especially when S is followed by another consonant.

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2. The ʤ sound

J

¡Uff no me sale!

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beginning middle end

Job manager badge

Genuine suggestion George

Giant ages range

Gin language wedge

Jury budget stage

Generation project beige

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3. Is it Z or S?

Tricks: handout

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4. ʃ or “sh” for Y as in yogurt

Yoga youtube yahoo

Yoda yo-yo yellow

Yankee yacht Yogi

Yogurt yuck yummy

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5.

WOULD

Argentine Spanish Speakers Speaking

Thanks for your time & Have a nice day!