Let’s get to work! This week’s workout is a real classic in terms of English pronunciation: the contrast between the short vowel /ɪ/ and the long vowel /i:/. This is a contrast which doesn’t exist in many languages, and which – like all short/ long vowel contrasts - *can* make a difference to your ability to communicate clearly. After schwa, they’re also the most commonly used vowel sounds in English, so they’re ones you’ll use a lot. These are both close front vowels, but there are small differences in mouth position between them. I tend to find that although my learners can make a sound very similar to /ɪ/ or /i:/, the difference in length between the two is not exaggerated enough, and this is where really focusing on what’s happening inside the mouth can help. We’re going to do this in some depth this week!
Let’s start by saying “it”. Think about the position of your tongue in your mouth. You should feel that it is raised up towards the top of your mouth, especially in the middle and at the back. I can feel the sides of my tongue pressing against the upper back teeth. If I drop my tongue, it’s almost impossible to make the /ɪ/ sound, because we’re moving into schwa territory. “it, it, it,” /ɪ/, /ɪ/, /ɪ/. Next, think about your lips. Mine are slightly wide and tensed, as if at the beginning of a smile. However, they’re not fully smiling. I *can* make the /ɪ/ sound without widening my lips, so the lips aren’t essential, but they do tend to widen naturally for this sound: /ɪ/, /ɪ/, /ɪ/. Now, think about your vocal cords. How long are you vibrating them for? The sound should be as short as you can make it. You might find it useful to put your fingers against your throat, or perhaps even better your diaphragm, to feel the muscles working.
And now for a few common words with this sound: there are so, so many of these to choose from – it really is a common sound!
First, some common words with /ɪ/.
1. big
2. chicken
3. finish
4. fish
5. his
6. quickly
7. river
8. this
9. ticket
10. tourist
11. trip
12. which
…And we’ll do a couple of sentences with those:
Bill bit a big bit of chicken but didn’t finish the fish.
The tourist quickly needs a ticket for his river trip.
Ok, now let’s say “eat”. What do you notice about your tongue position this time? Mine is even higher in my mouth – closer to my hard palate, and I notice a firmer tension in its muscles as well as more pressure on my upper back teeth. Have a play around lowering or raising the tongue, and notice how the sound changes: /i:/, /i:/, /i:/. Now think about your lips? Mine widen more, into a full smile – they really have to to make this sound – listen to what happens if they don’t! /i:/. And then finally think about your vocal cords. You should feel that prolonged vibration in your throat, or, if you touch your diaphragm, you may feel the muscle relax between sounds: /i:/, /i:/, /i:/.
Now for some common words with /i:/.
1. be
2. cheese
3. coffee
4. easy
5. email
6. he
7. machine
8. me
9. need
10. please
11. tea
12. three
…And again, two sentences.
Email me please!
He needs three cheap tea and coffee machines.
Finally, practise contrasting the sounds: /ɪ/,/i:/. Really exaggerate that difference in length, and notice the movement of your tongue and lips. /ɪ/,/i:/, /ɪ/,/i:/, /ɪ/,/i:/… and now at a more natural difference in length: /ɪ/,/i:/, /ɪ/,/i:/, /ɪ/,/i:/. One thing my learners often find is that even that distinction in length seems to exaggerated to them, and it can feel almost awkward for them particularly to stretch that /i:/ sound so long, so you might also find that you have to hold the vibration for longer than seems comfortable to you.
So having done that, let’s practise with some minimal pairs. Again, there are so many of these to choose from – I’ll put more in the Patreon Script. We’re working alphabetically this week, starting with six where we’ll read both in the pair:
1. bin bean
2. bit beat
3. chick cheek
4. chip cheap
5. dip deep
6. fit feet
Ok, for the next six, I’ll read the /ɪ/ word, and I’d like you to read both. We’ll do the first one together as an example.
1. is
2. knit/ nit
3. lick
4. list
5. piss
6. rich
Now listen to and repeat both to see how you did.
1. is ease
2. knit/ nit neat
3. lick leak
4. list least
5. piss piece/ peace
6. rich reach
And for the final six, I’ll read the /i:/ word, and you read both. Again, we’ll do the first one together as an example.
1. read/ reed
2. sheep
3. seat
4. sleek
5. teen
6. week/ weak
Now listen to and repeat both to see how you did.
1. read/ reed rid
2. sheep ship
3. seat sit
4. sleek slick
5. teen tin
6. week/ weak wick
Finally, let’s try some sentences with those minimal pairs. It’s a long one this week, so we won’t do too many!
The first one is the title of the podcast, and is an idiom meaning very inexpensive:
Cheap as chips!
Sit on the seat and knit neatly!
The cheeky chick dipped her feet in deep.
And the final sentence is also an idiom meaning very easy – it’s a more vulgar take on “a piece of cake”.
Piece of piss!
Learning pronunciation? It’s a piece of piss with English Sound Building!
Seriously, these two sounds are far from a piece of piss, but I hope this workout has helped you notice and feel the contrast a bit more easily.