Introduction to the course
Welcome to Intermediate Pronunciation
Vowel phonemes
Traveling Vowels /eɪ/ and /aɪ/
Diphthongs /aʊ/ /oʊ/ /ɔɪ/
Here Comes The Bossy R!
Quiz: Vowel phonemes
Consonant phonemes
Almost A Vowel Sounds
SH Sounds: Post-Alveolar Fricatives
Post-Alveolar Affricates
TH Sounds: Dental Fricatives
Quiz: Consonant phonemes
Spelling and pronunciation
Consonant Clusters
Irregular Verbs
Linking Sounds
Contractions For Fluency
Color or Colour?
Homonyms, Homophones and Homographs
Quiz: Spelling and pronunciation
Stress
How to Stress Syllables in English
Stress in Compound Words
Lazy Stress or Moving Stress?
Stress Patterns In Sentences
Quiz: Stress
Intonation
Playing With Tone
Playing With Pauses
Playing With Meaning
Quiz: Intonation
Closing
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Resources
What are postalveolar fricatives?
Postalveolar fricatives are speech sounds that are produced when two articulators in the mouth come very close together, creating a narrow space through which air flows with a whistling sound. These are called fricatives because of this turbulent noise that is generated. In English speech, familiar fricative sounds include: /f/ as in fun, /v/ as in vote, /s/ as in snake, and /z/ as in zero. Now, let's delve into the fascinating world of SH sounds.
How is the SH sound produced?
The SH sound is articulated using the tip of the tongue, which approaches the post-alveolar region. This area is located between the alveolar ridge and the hard palate. The alveolar ridge is the pronounced area just behind the upper teeth, while the hard palate is the robust part of the roof of the mouth. In addition, the lips and tongue play an important role in the production of the SH sound.
Examples of SH sounds:
- Voiceless sound /ʃ/ as in ship. An easy trick is to think of the typical "quiet!" shhh.
- Voiceless sound /ʒ/ as in pleasure(pleasure), which you can feel vibrating when you speak.
What are the differences between voiceless and sonorous sounds?
Voiceless sounds, such as /ʃ/, do not employ vibrations of the vocal cords, resulting in a softer sound. On the other hand, sonorous sounds, such as /ʒ/, involve activating the vocal cords, resulting in a palpable resonance. A clear example of this is when you place your hand on your throat and say pleasure, you will feel a distinct vibration.
It is interesting to note that the sound /ʒ/ is less common than /ʃ/, which makes it unique in everyday speech.
Keyword lists:
- Voiceless sound /ʃ/: ship, shoes, shampoo, wash.
- Voiced sound /ʒ/: pleasure, television, decision.
How to perfect the pronunciation of SH sounds?
Practice makes perfect. Here are some exercises and tips to improve your pronunciation:
-
Sound identification: practice with short sentences and identify whether the sound is voiced or voiceless. For example:
- "Could you turn down the volume on the television?" Here, "television" uses the /ʒ/ (voiced) sound.
- "We wish you a merry Christmas." Here, "wish" employs the sound /ʃ/ (voiceless).
-
Recording and self-listening: Record yourself saying words and phrases, repeat constantly and compare your pronunciation with native recordings.
-
Use of daily examples: Incorporate common words into your daily practice such as usual, shave, and sugar, which can reinforce the recognition and production of these sounds.
With diligent practice and close attention to how these sounds are formed, you can improve them over time. Remember, consistency is key - good luck and keep going on your language learning journey!
Contributions 48
Questions 1
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**1.** When the meeting **/ʃ/ finished** they **/ʃ/shook**hands.
**2.** He asked the barber to **/ʃ/ wash** his hair with **/ʃ/** **shampoo**and then **/ʃ/** **shave** off his beard.
**3. /ʃ/ she** likes to put a spoonful of **/ʃ/ sugar** in her tea.
**4.** Fruits were clean and **/ʃ/ fresh** , as per **/ʒ/**\_ **usual** .
**5.** The **/ʒ/ conclusion** is: we need to make a **/ʒ/ decision** ASAP\*.
1. When the meeting **/ʃ/finished** they **/ʃ/shook** hands.
2. He asked the barber to **/ʃ/wash** his hair with **/ʃ/shampoo** and then **/ʃ/shave** off his beard.
3. **/ʃ/she** likes to put a spoonful of **/ʃ/sugar** in her tea.
4. Fruits were clean and **/ʃ/fresh**, as per **/ʒ/usual**.
5. The **/ʒ/conclusion** is: we need to make a **/ʒ/decision** ASAP\*.
<https://voca.ro/13h3sC0859IP>
The SH sound has a voiced version and a voiceless version.
# **Post-alveolar fricatives**
* Fricatives are produced when two articulators come together to form a tiny space for the air to pass, creating a hissing sound.
* The tip of the tongue comes close to the post-alveolar region.
# /ʃ/
* /ʃ/ as in ship
* Place: Post-alveolar
* Manner: Fricative
* Voiceless
# /ʒ/
* /ʒ/ as in pleasure
* Place: Post-alveolar
* Manner: Fricative
* Voiced
For example:
```js
Shop -> /ʃɑːp/
Shirt -> /ʃɝːt/
Shoes -> /ʃuːz/
Photoshoot -> /ˈfoʊ.t̬oʊ.ʃuːt/
Fashion -> /ˈfæʃ.ən/
Show -> /ʃoʊ/
Pleasure -> /ˈpleʒ.ɚ/
Cash -> /kæʃ/
```
# **Exercise**
shampoo wash
shook finished
1. When the meeting finished they shook hands.
2. He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
3. She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
4. Fruits were clean and fresh\*\*,\*\* as per \*\*\*\*usual.
5. The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP\*.
1, When the meeting finished they shook hands
1. He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
2. She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
3. Fruits were clean and fresh as per usual
4. The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP.
1. When the meeting**/ʃ/**\_finished\_\_\_\_ they**/ʃ/**\_\_\_shook\_\_\_ hands.
2. He asked the barber to**/ʃ/**\_\_wash\_\_\_\_ his hair with**/ʃ/**\_\_\_shampoo\_\_ and then**/ʃ/**\_\_shave\_\_ off his beard.
3. **/ʃ/**\_she\_\_ likes to put a spoonful of**/ʃ/**\_sugar\_\_\_ in her tea.
4. Fruits were clean and**/ʃ/**\_\_fresh\_\_\_\_\_\_, as per**/ʒ/**\_\_\_usual\_\_\_\_.
5. The**/ʒ/**\_}conclusion\_\_\_ is: we need to make a**/ʒ/**\_decision\_\_ ASAP\*.
* When the meeting /ʃ/finished they /ʃ/shook hands.
* He asked the barber to /ʃ/wash his hair with /ʃ/shampoo and then /ʃ/shave off his beard.
* /ʃ/she likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/sugar in her tea.
* Fruits were clean and /ʃ/fresh, as per /ʒ/usual.
* The /ʒ/conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/decision ASAP.
* <https://voca.ro/1n8LJ6SKfxaZ>
1. When the meeting finished they shook hands.
2. He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
3. She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
4. Fruits we're clean and fresh, as per usual.
5. The conclusion is: we need yo make a decision ASAP
- When the meeting /ʃ/ finished they /ʃ/ shook hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/ wash his hair with
/ʃ/ shampoo and then /ʃ/ shave off his beard. - /ʃ/ She likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/ sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/ fresh, as per /ʒ/ usual.
- The /ʒ/ conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/ decision
ASAP
Hey there! This is my recording
- When the meeting finished, they shook hands.
- He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
- She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and fresh, as per usual.
- The conclusion is: we need to make a decision (ASAP) as soon as possible.
When the meeting finished they shook hands. He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo, and then shave off his beard.
She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
Fruits were clean and fresh, as per usual.
The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP.
- When the meeting /ʃ/finished____ they /ʃ/shook______ hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/wash______ his hair with /ʃ/shampoo____ and then /ʃ/shave____ off his beard.
- /ʃ/she____ likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/sugar______ in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/fresh______, as per /ʒ/usual__.
- The /ʒ/decision____ is: we need to make a /ʒ/conclusion______ ASAP*.
Here is my recording:
https://voca.ro/1jKIFf2BLzfR
Here is my audio.
https://voca.ro/1lG9eOfbWoIQ
very nice class
its a very good course!
1. finished - shook
2. wash - shampoo - shave
3. she - sugar
4. fresh - usual
5. decision - conclusion
- When the meeting /ʃ/ finished they /ʃ/ shook hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/ wash his hair with /ʃ/ shampoo and then /ʃ/ shave off his beard.
- /ʃ/ she likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/ sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/ fresh, as per /ʒ/ usual.
- The /ʒ/ conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/ decision ASAP*.
This is my exercise.
https://voca.ro/16mMJtCjZCxS
- When the meeting finished they shook hands.
- He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
- She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and fresh as per usual.
- The decision is: we need to make a conclusion ASAP*.
Thank you
When the meeting finished they shook hands.
He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
Fruits were clean and fresh, as per usual.
The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP.
- When the meeting finished they shook hands.
- He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
- She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and fresh , as per usual.
- The conclusion is: we need to take a decision ASAP.
1. When the meeting finished they shook hands.
2. He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
3. She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
4. Fruits were clean and fresh as per usual.
5. The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP.
Why do we pronounce the words **sugar **and **sure **as though they began with the letters sh?
check out this blog post https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sug1.htm
Summary
-
When the meeting /ʃ/finished they /ʃ/shook hands.
-
He asked the barber to /ʃ/wash his hair with /ʃ/shampoo and then /ʃ/shave off his beard.
-
/ʃ/she likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/sugar in her tea.
-
Fruits were clean and /ʃ/fresh, as per /ʒ/usual.
-
The /ʒ/conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/decision ASAP.
Here is my recording for the activity: https://voca.ro/1n5xbCFLm2yQ
.
Any feedback is completely welcome 😃
Here’s is my recording, any feedback is very appreciated ❤️.
- When the meeting /ʃ/ finished they /ʃ/ shook hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/ wash his hair with /ʃ/ shampoo and then /ʃ/ shave off his beard.
- /ʃ/ She likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/ sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/ fresh, as per /ʒ/ usual.
- The /ʒ/ conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/ decision ASAP*.
SH Sounds: Post-Alveolar Fricatives.
Assignment:
Complete the sentences using words from the box that contain the /ʃ/ and /ʒ/ sounds. Then, record yourself reading the sentences out loud.
- When the meeting /ʃ/finished they /ʃ/shook hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/wash his hair with /ʃ/shampoo and then /ʃ/shave off his beard.
- /ʃ/she likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/fresh, as per /ʒ/usual.
- The /ʒ/conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/decision ASAP*.
- ASAP = as soon as possible
My audio:
https://voca.ro/1a2L8PoKN7Nj
My recording
https://voca.ro/19IwrKXuEiKP
Shhhhh!
.
- When the meeting /ʃ/ finished they /ʃ/ shook hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/ wash his hair with /ʃ/ shampoo and then /ʃ/ shave off his beard
- /ʃ/ She likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/ sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/ fresh, as per /ʒ/ usual
- The /ʒ/ conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/ decision ASAP.
.
You can listen to my recording, playing here.
When the meeting finished they shook hands.
He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo**** and then shave off his beard.
She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
Fruits were clean and fresh, as per usual.
The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP*.
- When the meeting finished they shook hands.
- He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
- She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and fresh, as per usual.
- The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP*
- When the meeting /ʃ/finished they /ʃ/shook____ hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/wash____ his hair with /ʃ/shampoo______ and then /ʃ/shave______ off his beard.
- /ʃ/she likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/sugar__ in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/fresh____, as per /ʒ/________.
- The /ʒ/conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/decision____ ASAP*.
- When the meeting /ʃ/finished they /ʃ/shook hands.
- He asked the barber to /ʃ/wash his hair with /ʃ/shampoo and then /ʃ/shave off his beard.
- /ʃ/She likes to put a spoonful of /ʃ/sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and /ʃ/fresh, as per /ʒ/usual.
- The /ʒ/conclusion is: we need to make a /ʒ/decision ASAP
My recording
vision–fusion…confusion (these words have a voiced sound…
- When the meeting finished they shook hands.
- He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
- She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and fresh, as per usual.
- The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP.
shave fresh shampoo sugar usual wash she shook conclusion decision finished
- When the meeting FINISHED they SHOOK their hands.
- He asked the barber to WASH his hair with SHAMPOO and then SHAVE off his beard.
- SHE likes to put a spoonful of SUGAR in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and FRESH, as per USUAL
- The CONCLUSION is: we need to make a DECISION
- Photoshoot = Sesión fotográfica
- ʃ = Voiceless
- ʒ = Voiced
- When the meeting finished they shook hands.
- He asked the barber to wash his hair with shampoo and then shave off his beard.
- She likes to put a spoonful of sugar in her tea.
- Fruits were clean and fresh, as per usual.
- The conclusion is: we need to make a decision ASAP.
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