American English pronunciation is so confusing because the spelling is unreliable. Today’s lesson is an example of the discrepancies of 5 words with similar spellings and their pronunciations. Wow! The good news, is that we will take care of a few of these challenging words right now!
In today’s lesson, we have words that are written the same but pronounced differently-and- words that are spelled differently and pronounced the same. American English is so weird! Listen to the following recording and read the descriptions of each word below! I encourage you to listen to the recording and read along. Then listen to the recording again and repeat the sentences without reading along! That way, you are practicing TALKING not READING!
You can do it!
1. Pronouncing “Clothes” /kl o z/
Clothes-items worn to cover the body
Pronunciation tips: There is NO “th” in the pronunciation of the word “clothes.”
Say the vowel sound /o/ l-o-n-g-er. This is what American listeners are listening for!
The final sound is a /z/
Practice sentences
- I need to buy some new clothes
- Put your clothes in the closet.
2. Pronouncing “close” /kl o z/
close (verb)- to shut something.
Pronunciation tips: “clothes” and “close” sound exactly the same! Follow the same tips as written for “clothes”
Say the vowel sound /o/ l-o-n-g-e-r. This is what American listeners are listening for!
Practice sentences
- Open and close.
- Can you close eye and keep the other eye open? (Can you wink?)
3. Pronouncing “close” /kl o s/
close (adjective)- to be near something or someone.
Pronunciation tips: Say the vowel sound shorter.
Pronounce the “s-s-s” sound at the end.
Practice sentence
- Don’t stand so close to me! -Sting, singer from The Police
Listen to Sting sing this song HERE!
3. Pronouncing “cloth” /kl a th/
cloth (noun)-A fabric of quality or a rag used for cleaning.
Pronunciation tip: Open your mouth wide to say the vowel sound “ah”
The final TH is not voiced. Put your tongue in-between your teeth and blow air around your tongue.
Practice sentence:
- The directions say to wipe it clean with a damp cloth.
4. Pronouncing “clothing” /kl o th ing/
clothing (noun)-A collection of clothes
Pronunciation tip: The TH is voiced, so keep your voice on for the entire word.
The vowel sound is “O”, keep your lips rounded.
Practice sentence:
- He buys his suits at the men’s clothing store.
American English Pronunciation Predictors
There are a few pronunciation predictors in these words. And sometimes, it’s not as clear.
For example, today we learned that if a word ends in a Voiced Sound such as a /z/ sound, we should say the word longer. Stretch out the vowel sound. This is used in the two words that end in a /z/ sound- “clothes” and “close” (verb)-the opposite of open.
Sometimes the letter “O” is pronounced with an /o/ sound -in the words “clothes”, “close” and “clothing”
Sometimes the letter “O” is pronounced with an /a/ sound-and we need to open our mouths- in the words “cloth” and “closet”
Try this practice tip
Write all of these words and sentences on one side of an index card and on the other side write the correct pronunciation. Quiz yourself! Can you say them all correctly? Keep reviewing. Your success should continue to get better. Good luck, I know you can do it!
As a seasoned language expert with a profound understanding of American English pronunciation, I'll delve into the intricacies of the concepts highlighted in the provided article. My expertise in phonetics, linguistics, and language instruction positions me to shed light on the nuances that make American English pronunciation perplexing yet fascinating.
The article underscores the challenges posed by the unreliable spelling in American English, especially when it comes to words that share similar spellings but exhibit distinct pronunciations. This discrepancy is exemplified through the discussion of five words, each with its own set of pronunciation intricacies.
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"Clothes" (/kl o z/):
- Defined as items worn to cover the body.
- Noteworthy pronunciation tips include the absence of the "th" sound and the emphasis on the long vowel sound /o/. The final sound is a /z/.
-
"Close" (/kl o z/ - verb):
- Defined as to shut something.
- Shares an identical pronunciation with "clothes." The same tips for pronouncing "clothes" apply, emphasizing the long vowel sound /o/.
-
"Close" (/kl o s/ - adjective):
- Defined as being near something or someone.
- Features a shorter vowel sound and the pronounced "s-s-s" sound at the end.
-
"Cloth" (/kl a th/):
- Defined as a fabric of quality or a rag used for cleaning.
- Requires a distinct pronunciation, including an open mouth for the vowel sound "ah" and an unvoiced final "th" sound.
-
"Clothing" (/kl o th ing/):
- Defined as a collection of clothes.
- Involves a voiced "th" sound throughout the word, with the vowel sound being "O" and rounded lips.
The article also introduces the concept of pronunciation predictors. It highlights that when a word ends in a voiced sound, such as /z/, the word should be pronounced longer, with the vowel sound stretched out. This is exemplified in "clothes" and "close" (verb). Additionally, the variation in pronouncing the letter "O" with either an /o/ sound or an /a/ sound is explored in words like "clothes," "close," "clothing," "cloth," and "closet."
The provided practice tips encourage active engagement with the material, urging learners to listen, repeat, and internalize the correct pronunciations. The emphasis on self-quizzing and continuous review aligns with effective language learning strategies, promoting a deeper understanding of the intricate nuances of American English pronunciation.
