Unit 5: Lyric Diction

English Vowel: A

Pronounced as in 'calm,' 'psalm,' and 'palm'.

English Vowel: ӕ

Used in words like 'cat,' 'rap,' and 'sat' when followed by a consonant.

English Vowel: ə (schwa)

Found in unstressed syllables, such as in 'canary'.

English Vowel: ɔ

Appears in words like 'fall,' 'saw,' and 'daughter'.

English Vowel: eI

A diphthong found in words like 'faith,' 'tail,' and 'hail'.

English Vowel: E

As in 'bed,' 'felt,' and 'head'; short vowels.

English Vowel: iɚ

Used in 'dear,' 'hear,' and 'clear'.

English Vowel: ɝ

As in 'earth' and 'early' for stressed syllables.

English Vowel: ɚ

As in 'father' and 'better' when followed by 'r' in unstressed 'er'.

English Consonant: B

Always pronounced 'b' as in 'bought'.

English Consonant: C

Pronounced 'k' before 'a,' 'o,' 'u,' and a consonant.

English Consonant: s

As in 'century'; occurs when followed by 'e,' 'i,' or 'y'.

English Consonant: dʒ

As in 'George' and 'gist'; occurs before 'e' or 'i'.

German Vowel: A (closed)

As in 'vater,' 'saal,' and 'mahl'.

German Vowel: æ

Used before one consonant in 'wär'.

German Vowel: I

As in 'Bibel,' 'Liebe,' and 'vier'.

German Consonant: B

Always pronounced 'b' as in 'Buch'.

German Consonant: tsch

As in 'deutsch'; occurs in the same element.

Mixed Vowel: y

With 'i' as in 'yarn'.

Mixed Vowel: œ

As in 'Göttlich'; used before two consonants.

English Vowel: A

Pronounced as in 'calm,' 'psalm,' and 'palm'. This vowel sound is characterized by its open, back position in the mouth and can be represented as 'ah,' commonly found in various dialects.

English Vowel: ӕ

Used in words like 'cat,' 'rap,' and 'sat' when followed by a consonant. This vowel represents a near-open front unrounded vowel sound, distinguishing it from other similar vowel sounds.

English Vowel: ə (schwa)

Found in unstressed syllables, such as in 'canary' and 'sofa'. The schwa sound is an unstressed, neutral vowel and is the most common vowel sound in the English language.

English Vowel: ɔ

Appears in words like 'fall,' 'saw,' and 'daughter'. This vowel sound is an open-mid back rounded vowel, often represented in various accents depending on regional pronunciation.

English Vowel: eI

A diphthong found in words like 'faith,' 'tail,' and 'hail'. This sound consists of a glide from an open-mid front unrounded vowel to a close front unrounded vowel, representing a transition between two distinct vowel sounds.

English Vowel: E

As in 'bed,' 'felt,' and 'head'; these are considered short vowels. This vowel is an open-mid front unrounded vowel and is prominent in various English dialects.

English Vowel: iɚ

Used in words like 'dear,' 'hear,' and 'clear'. This sound is characterized by the combination of the vowel sound and the following 'r', making it a rhotacized vowel sound commonly found in American English.

English Vowel: ɝ

As in 'earth' and 'early' for stressed syllables. This sound is a stressed version of the schwa, featuring the rhotacized vowel that adds depth to pronunciation in stressed syllables.

English Vowel: ɚ

As in 'father' and 'better' when followed by 'r' in unstressed 'er'. This vowel sound represents an unstressed rhotacized vowel, often used in final syllable positions.

English Consonant: B

Always pronounced as 'b' in words like 'bought'. This consonant sound is a voiced bilabial stop, produced by pressing both lips together and releasing them to create sound.

English Consonant: C

Pronounced as 'k' before 'a,' 'o,' 'u,' and a consonant, as in 'cat,' 'cot,' 'cup,' and 'clear'. Additionally, 'C' can be pronounced as 's' depending on the following vowel.

English Consonant: s

As in 'century'; occurs when 's' is followed by 'e,' 'i,' or 'y', resulting in a soft 's' sound. This softening occurs due to the fronting of the tongue during pronunciation.

English Consonant: dʒ

As in 'George' and 'gist'; occurs before 'e' or 'i' and is classified as a voiced postalveolar affricate, combining both a stop and a fricative sound.

German Vowel: A (closed)

As in 'vater,' 'saal,' and 'mahl'. This vowel is pronounced as a long, open-back unrounded vowel, distinctly different from the English 'A' and critical to German phonetics.

German Vowel: æ

Used before one consonant in 'wär'. This vowel represents a near-open front unrounded vowel, which is essential for differentiating similar-sounding words in German.

German Vowel: I

As in 'Bibel,' 'Liebe,' and 'vier'. This sound functions as a close front unrounded vowel, akin to the English 'ee', providing clarity in pronunciation.

German Consonant: B

Always pronounced as 'b' in words like 'Buch'. This voiced bilabial stop maintains its sound regardless of surrounding vowels.

German Consonant: tsch

As in 'deutsch'; this combination represents a voiceless postalveolar affricate and is key to producing clear, distinct sounds in German.

Mixed Vowel: y

With 'i' in words like 'yarn'. This vowel sound blends the sounds typically associated with 'i' and creates a unique sound that varies in production.

Mixed Vowel: œ

As in 'Göttlich'; used before two consonants. This sound represents a rounded front vowel, important for achieving nuanced pronunciation in certain contexts.

English Vowel: A

Pronounced as in 'calm,' 'psalm,' and 'palm.' This vowel represents an open back unrounded vowel sound, typically characterized by a more extended duration in stressed syllables across various English dialects.

English Vowel: ӕ

Used in words like 'cat,' 'rap,' and 'sat' when followed by a consonant. This vowel sound is known as a near-open front unrounded vowel, crucial for differentiating short vowel sounds in English.

English Vowel: ə (schwa)

Found in unstressed syllables, such as in 'canary' and 'sofa.' The schwa is an unstressed and mid-central vowel sound, recognized as the most common vowel sound in English, often occurring in non-prominent syllables.

English Vowel: ɔ

Appears in words like 'fall,' 'saw,' and 'daughter.' It is characterized as an open-mid back rounded vowel, which can vary slightly in pronunciation depending on the accent, particularly in regional English.

English Vowel: eI

A diphthong found in words like 'faith,' 'tail,' and 'hail.' This sound transitions from an open-mid front unrounded vowel to a close front unrounded vowel, representing a smooth glide between two vowel qualities.

English Vowel: E

As in 'bed,' 'felt,' and 'head'; these are considered short vowels. This open-mid front unrounded vowel plays a vital role in the phonetic structure of English, appearing frequently in unstressed syllables.

English Vowel: iɚ

Used in words like 'dear,' 'hear,' and 'clear.' This sound combines the vowel with the following 'r', creating a rhotacized vowel sound that is prevalent in American English, affecting the quality of surrounding sounds.

English Vowel: ɝ

As in 'earth' and 'early' for stressed syllables. This sound represents a stressed rhotacized vowel that enhances the depth of pronunciation in stress patterns, providing clarity and emphasis in speech.

English Vowel: ɚ

As in 'father' and 'better' when followed by 'r' in unstressed 'er'. This vowel represents an unstressed rhotacized vowel, often appearing in final positions and contributing to the distinctive r-colored sound of American English.

English Consonant: B

Always pronounced as 'b' in words like 'bought.' This voiced bilabial stop is produced by bringing both lips together and releasing them, making it fundamental in distinguishing voiced and voiceless sounds.

English Consonant: C

Pronounced 'k' before 'a,' 'o,' 'u,' and a consonant, as in 'cat,' 'cot,' 'cup,' and 'clear.' This letter can also represent a soft 's' sound before 'e,' 'i,' or 'y', adding complexity to English spelling and pronunciation rules.

English Consonant: s

As in 'century'; occurs when 's' is followed by 'e,' 'i,' or 'y', resulting in a soft 's' sound. This phonetic change is essential in understanding the articulation and phonetic environment of English consonant sounds.

English Consonant: dʒ

As in 'George' and 'gist'; occurs before 'e' or 'i' and is classified as a voiced postalveolar affricate. This sound is characterized by a combination of a stop and a fricative, vital for producing distinct sounds in modern English.

German Vowel: A (closed)

As in 'vater,' 'saal,' and 'mahl.' This vowel sound is a long, open-back unrounded vowel, critical for the pronunciation of many German words and key to understanding German phonetic principles.

German Vowel: æ

Used before one consonant in 'wär'. This near-open front unrounded vowel is significant in German vocabulary, helping to create distinctions between words that might otherwise sound similar.

German Vowel: I

As in 'Bibel,' 'Liebe,' and 'vier'. This close front unrounded vowel is akin to the English 'ee' sound, playing an important role in clarity and distinction in the German language.

German Consonant: B

Always pronounced as 'b' in words like 'Buch'. This voiced bilabial stop maintains its sound quality across contexts, making it straightforward for learners of German.

German Consonant: tsch

As in 'deutsch'; this combination represents a voiced postalveolar affricate, essential for mastering accurate pronunciation in German.

Mixed Vowel: y

With 'i' in words like 'yarn'. This sound blends the characteristics of 'i' to create a unique vowel sound that varies in usage, particularly in dialectal differences.

Mixed Vowel: œ

As in 'Göttlich'; used before two consonants. This rounded front vowel sound is crucial in achieving precise pronunciation in various linguistic contexts.

German Vowel: A (closed)

This vowel is pronounced as a long, open-back unrounded vowel sound, similar to the English words 'father' or 'car'. It's critical in words like 'vater' (father), 'saal' (hall), and 'mahl' (meal), signifying the importance of vowel length and quality in German pronunciation.

German Vowel: æ

This vowel is used before a single consonant in words like 'wär' (was). It represents a near-open front unrounded vowel sound and is essential in differentiating meanings in German words, providing clarity in uninterrupted speech.

German Vowel: I

Pronounced as a close front unrounded vowel, akin to 'ee' in English, this sound appears in words like 'Bibel' (Bible), 'Liebe' (love), and 'vier' (four). It plays a significant role in maintaining distinct pronunciations, essential for clear communication in German.

German Consonant: B

Always articulated as 'b' in the German language, as seen in 'Buch' (book). This voiced bilabial stop is produced by bringing both lips together and is consistent across various contexts, providing a reliable phonetic understanding for learners.

German Consonant: tsch

This combination represents a voiced postalveolar affricate and is exemplified in the word 'deutsch' (German). It is crucial for the production of clear and distinct sounds in the German language, making it a key component for effective communication.

German Vowel: O (closed)

This vowel can be found in words like 'so' (so) and 'rot' (red), pronounced as a close-mid back rounded vowel. Understanding this vowel is vital as it is commonly used in everyday German, affecting both vowel length and sound quality.

German Vowel: u

As seen in words like 'gut' (good) and 'hund' (dog), this vowel is pronounced as a close back rounded vowel sound. Mastering this sound is important for learners as it prevents confusion with similarly pronounced vowels.

German Diphthong: au

This diphthong appears in words like 'Haus' (house) and 'Gau' (district), combining two vowel sounds, moving from an open front to a close back rounded vowel. It's essential for providing a distinctly flowing sound characteristic in the German language.

German Diphthong: ei

Found in words like 'mein' (my) and 'stein' (stone), this diphthong blends the sounds of 'a' and 'i', resulting in a transition that is crucial for accurate pronunciation, particularly in correctly understanding meanings.

German Consonant: D

Typically rendered as 'd' in words like 'das' (the) and 'doch' (but), this voiced alveolar stop is a fundamental consonant that learners need to become familiar with to understand sentence structure and flow in German.

German Consonant: Z

Represented as 'ts' in words like 'zwei' (two) and 'zum' (to the), this consonant represents a voiceless dental fricative, providing a distinctive sound that is vital for clear diction in everyday conversations.

German Vowel: e (unaccented)

Often found in unstressed syllables, this vowel can be pronounced as a schwa sound ('ə') in words like 'bitte' (please). Understanding when to apply this vowel sound is crucial for maintaining natural fluency in speech.

German Vowel: ö

As in 'schön' (beautiful) and 'hölzern' (wooden), this vowel is a rounded front vowel that plays a significant role in creating precise pronunciation in German, showcasing the nuances that differentiate similar vowel sounds.

German Consonant: R

Usually pronounced with a uvular fricative ('ʁ') as in 'rot' (red) and 'Rinder' (cattle), mastering this sound is essential as it affects the flow and rhythm of German speech, representing a unique characteristic of the language.

German Consonant: L

Pronounced similarly to the English 'l' in words like 'Lampe' (lamp) and 'laufen' (to run). This lateral consonant is important for learners to practice, ensuring consistent clarity in articulation.

German Consonant: M

Always pronounced as 'm' as in 'Mutter' (mother), this consonant sound is a voiced bilabial nasal, serving as a simple yet essential building block for constructing many German words.

German Consonant: N

As seen in 'Nacht' (night) and 'nicht' (not), this sound is a voiced alveolar nasal, which is fundamental for assembling word structures and enhancing oral fluency in German.

German Consonant: F

Articulated as 'f' in words like 'Fisch' (fish) and 'frei' (free), this voiceless labiodental fricative contributes to the variety of sounds used in the German language, enhancing phonetic diversity.

German Consonant: V

Typically pronounced as 'f' in German words like 'viel' (much), this is an important feature to note for learners as it differentiates from English where 'v' retains its voiced sound.

German Consonant: S

Pronounced as 'z' when followed by 'e', 'i', or 'y' as in 'Sie' (you) and 'Satz' (sentence). This adjustment provides essential pronunciation rules that aid in mastering the flow of the German language.

German Vowel: A (closed)

Pronounced as a long, open-back unrounded vowel sound, similar to the English vowel in 'father.' It appears in words such as 'vater' (father), 'saal' (hall), and 'mahl' (meal), emphasizing the importance of vowel length and quality in German pronunciation.

German Vowel: æ

This vowel is utilized before a single consonant, as seen in 'wär' (was). It represents a near-open front unrounded vowel sound, which is crucial for differentiating meanings in German vocabulary.

German Vowel: I

This sound is pronounced as a close front unrounded vowel, analogous to the 'ee' in English, which appears in words like 'Bibel' (Bible), 'Liebe' (love), and 'vier' (four). Its clarity is essential for maintaining distinct pronunciations in spoken German.

German Consonant: B

Always articulated as 'b' in words such as 'Buch' (book). This voiced bilabial stop is produced by bringing both lips together and is consistent across various contexts, providing learners a reliable phonetic understanding.

German Consonant: tsch

This combination represents a voiced postalveolar affricate, exemplified in the word 'deutsch' (German). It is essential for producing clear and distinct sounds in the German language, aiding in effective communication.

German Vowel: O (closed)

The vowel sound can be found in words like 'so' (so) and 'rot' (red), pronounced as a close-mid back rounded vowel. Understanding this vowel's pronunciation is vital, as it is commonly used in everyday German speech, affecting clarity and meaning.

German Vowel: u

This vowel, seen in words like 'gut' (good) and 'hund' (dog), is pronounced as a close back rounded vowel. Mastering this sound helps prevent confusion with similarly pronounced vowels, establishing accurate communication.

German Diphthong: au

This diphthong appears in words such as 'Haus' (house) and 'Gau' (district), combining two vowel sounds that transition from an open front to a close back rounded vowel. This is essential for achieving the distinct flow characteristic of German pronunciation.

German Diphthong: ei

Found in words like 'mein' (my) and 'stein' (stone), this diphthong blends the sounds of 'a' and 'i', resulting in a transition important for accurate pronunciation and comprehension of meanings.

German Consonant: D

Typically pronounced as 'd' in words like 'das' (the) and 'doch' (but), this voiced alveolar stop is fundamental for learners to recognize as it enhances their understanding of sentence structure and flow in German.

German Consonant: Z

Represented as 'ts' in words such as 'zwei' (two) and 'zum' (to the), this consonant signifies a voiceless dental fricative, a distinctive sound vital for clear diction in everyday German conversations.

German Vowel: e (unaccented)

Often found in unstressed syllables, this vowel may be pronounced as a schwa ('ə') in words like 'bitte' (please). It's important for learners to understand how to apply this vowel sound for natural fluency.

German Vowel: ö

Pronounced as in 'schön' (beautiful) and 'hölzern' (wooden), this sound is a rounded front vowel that plays a significant role in accurate German pronunciation, differentiating between similar vowel sounds.

German Consonant: R

Usually pronounced with a uvular fricative ('ʁ'), seen in words like 'rot' (red) and 'Rinder' (cattle). Mastery of this sound is crucial, as it influences the rhythm of German speech, representing a unique characteristic of the language.

German Consonant: L

Pronounced similarly to the English 'l' in words like 'Lampe' (lamp) and 'laufen' (to run). This lateral consonant is essential for learners to practice for consistent articulation clarity.

German Consonant: M

Always pronounced as 'm' in words like 'Mutter' (mother), this voiced bilabial nasal serves as a basic building block for many German words, fundamental for learning proper pronunciation.

German Consonant: N

Seen in words such as 'Nacht' (night) and 'nicht' (not), this sound represents a voiced alveolar nasal, essential for constructing various German word structures and enhancing oral fluency.

German Consonant: F

Articulated as 'f' in words like 'Fisch' (fish) and 'frei' (free), this voiceless labiodental fricative enriches the German language's phonetic variety, contributing to its diversity.

German Consonant: V

Typically pronounced as 'f' in German words like 'viel' (much), this feature is notable for learners as it contrasts with English, where 'v' retains its voiced pronunciation.

German Consonant: S

Pronounced as 'z' when followed by 'e', 'i', or 'y', as seen in 'Sie' (you) and 'Satz' (sentence). This adjustment in pronunciation provides essential rules that facilitate mastering the flow of the German language.