How to Identify Vowel Sounds in English Language Examinations

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How to Identify Vowel Sounds in English Language Examinations

English language is a complex subject and a major part of it is its pronunciation. Understanding the different vowel sounds and how to identify them is important not only for speaking and writing but also for language examinations like WAEC, NECO and JAMB.

How to Identify Vowel Sounds in English Language Examinations

In this blog post, we will explore the different English vowel sounds and provide a guide on how to identify them in language examinations.

English Vowel Sounds

There are 20 vowel sounds in English language which are divided into long vowels, short vowels, diphthongs, and triphthongs. Each vowel sound has a different mouth shape and sound. Let’s take a look at the different vowel sounds and five examples for each.

Long Vowels

Long vowels are pronounced for a longer duration compared to short vowels.

  1. /i:/ as in “beet”
  2. /u:/ as in “moon”
  3. /ɔ:/ as in “bought”
  4. /ɑ:/ as in “barn”
  5. /ɜ:/ as in “herd”

Short Vowels

Short vowels are pronounced for a shorter duration compared to long vowels.

  1. /ɪ/ as in “bit”
  2. /ʊ/ as in “put”
  3. /æ/ as in “bat”
  4. /ʌ/ as in “but”
  5. /ɒ/ as in “hot”

Diphthongs

Diphthongs are two vowel sounds pronounced together in one syllable.

  1. /aɪ/ as in “buy”
  2. /aʊ/ as in “how”
  3. /ɔɪ/ as in “boy”
  4. /ɪə/ as in “ear”
  5. /eə/ as in “air”

Triphthongs

Triphthongs are three vowel sounds pronounced together in one syllable.

  1. /aɪə/ as in “fire”
  2. /aʊə/ as in “tower”
  3. /ɪəʊ/ as in “euro”
  4. /ɔɪə/ as in “oier”
  5. /eəʊ/ as in “where”

Identifying Vowel Sounds in Examinations

In language examinations, you may be required to identify vowel sounds in words. Here’s a step by step guide on how to identify vowel sounds in English language examinations.

  1. Know the different vowel sounds: Before attempting to identify vowel sounds, it’s important to have a good understanding of the different vowel sounds and the mouth shapes associated with each sound.
  2. Listen carefully to the word: Listen carefully to the word in the question. Pay attention to the sound of each vowel in the word.
  3. Practice with similar sounding words: To help you identify vowel sounds, practice with similar sounding words. For example, if you’re having difficulty identifying the vowel sound in the word “bit,” practice with other words like “hit,” “fit,” “sit,” etc.
  4. Pay attention to the mouth shape: Observe the shape of the speaker’s mouth when pronouncing the word. This will help you determine the vowel sound.
  5. Know the spelling of the word: Knowing the spelling of the word can also help you identify the vowel sound. Certain vowels are commonly used in certain words and

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