TIL

ENGLISH PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY
Representing vowel-sounds in English-Latin

snd-in-alph

by U Kyaw Tun, M.S. (I.P.S.T., U.S.A.), based on DJPD16 and other sources. Not for sale. Prepared for students of TIL Computing and Language Center, Yangon, MYANMAR.

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Index-P4M | Top

Vowels - review - by UKT [I am writing this section to help me with my work on transliteration of Burmese-Myanmar to Burmese-Latin (Romabama)
Pronounce letters with silent-e at the end:
• A-consonant-E • E-consonant-E • I-consonant-E •
•
Pronounce: (from files: let-a.htm, let-e.htm, let-i.htm, let-o.htm, let-u.htm, etc.
A | AE | E | EE | I | IE |
O | OE | U | UE | Myanmar AYE | athut

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Vowels - review

by UKT Read also Vowel in information panel T to W.

The bane of every transliteration and transcription is the vowel.

Obedience,
Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth,
Makes slaves of men ”
-- Percy Bysshe Shelley -- AHTD in entry to 'bane'

It is especially so, when I am attempting to transliterate from Burmese-Myanmar to English-Latin and back. Please remember that Myanmar is a script based on phonemic principles -- an abugida, whereas English-Latin is a non-phonetic script -- an alphabet. The Burmese-Myanmar characters are syllables, whereas the English-Latin characters (letters) need vowels to form syllables. All Myanmar characters, or aksharas, contain an inherent vowel described as "similar" to English short-a, and therefore, it is imperative to identify this inherent vowel in terms of the English vowels. In between the two scripts, I have to use the IPA, whose characters, though similar to English-Latin, are not English-Latin at all.

I will be using what I am calling a "vowel-stream" to compare the Burmese-Myanmar to English-Latin. IPA, following the European tradition, begins the vowel-stream with the close front vowel /i/, whereas, the abugidas all start with the inherent vowel: {a.} in Burmese-Myanmar and अ Hindi-Devanagari. The inherent vowel is pronounced the same or almost the same in all abugidas.

IPA, English-Latin vowel-stream:
  /i/ --> /a/ --> /ɑ/ --> /u/
  (counter-clockwise in the vowel diagram)
Burmese-Myanmar, and other abugidas:
  {a.} --> {i.} --> {u.} --> {au.}
  (clockwise)

DJPD16 describes: "British English (BBC accent) is generally described as having short vowels, long vowels and diphthongs. There are said to be seven short vowels, five long ones and eight diphthongs."

UKT:
BBC English vowel-sounds:
short vowels = 7: /æ/ /e/ /ɪ/ /ʊ/ /ə/ /ʌ/ /ɒ/
long vowels = 5: /iː/ /uː/ /ɔː/ /ɜː/ /ɑː/
diphthongs - closing = 5: /aɪ/ /eɪ/ /əʊ/ /ɔɪ/ /aʊ/
diphthongs - centring = 3: /eə/ /ʊə/ /ɪə/
Total = 20

Since, Burmese-Myanmar uses mainly pure vowels and English-Latin mostly moving vowels (diphthongs), most Burmese-speakers cannot pronounce words like <boy> and <oil>. Most Burmese speakers do not realised that a common word such as <go> is pronounced with a diphthong.

<boy> /bɔɪ/
<oil> /ɔɪl/
<go> /gəʊ/ (US) /goʊ/

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letters A-consonant-E

-- UKT

(Note to myself: this section is still review).
• In the 2006Oct versions of MMPDB, I have used {keing} and {kain}
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_E gives the effect of silent-e:
<mad> → <made>
/mæd/ → /meɪd/
Compare with <maid> /meɪd/, shows that [ade] may be replaced with [aid].

I have been observing that in the pronunciation of the rhyme [aCe] (where C is the middle consonant), C plays an important part. To find out the effect of the C, I am compiling a list of words, where the mid-consonant is chosen in the order of the Burmese-Myanmar akshara matrix.

{ka.} {ga.} {nga.} row

<ake>
<bake> /beɪk/; <cake> /keɪk/; <fake> /feɪk/; <jake> /ʤeɪk/; <lake> /leɪk/
<make> /meɪk/; <quake> /kweɪk/; <rake> /reɪk/; <sake> /seɪk/; <wake> /weɪk/
<age>
<cage> /keɪʤ/
<page> /peɪʤ/
<wage> /weɪʤ/

As a Burmese-Myanmar, I would write the pronunciation of:
   <bake> as
I was pointed out by my helper U Tun Aung that since we have in Burmese-Myanmar, the words {ate} and {ape}, would it not be possible to write:
  <bake> as

{sa.} {za.} <Ña.} row

<ase>
<base> /beɪs/; <case> /keɪs/;
<ace>
<face> /feɪs/;
<aze>
<daze>  /deɪz/;

As a Burmese-Myanmar, I would write the pronunciation of:
<base> as {bés} or {base}

{ta.} {da.} {na.} row

<ate>
<date> /deɪt/
<ade>
<fade> /feɪd/
<made> /meɪd/

As a Burmese-Myanmar, I would write the pronunciation of:
<date> as {dét} or {date}

{pa.} {ba.} {ma.} row

<ape>
<cape> /keɪp/
<gape> /geɪp/
<nape> /neɪp/

As a Burmese-Myanmar, I would write the pronunciation of:
  <cate> as {kaip}
I was pointed out by my helper U Tun Aung that since we have in Burmese-Myanmar, the words {ate} and {ape}, would it not be possible to write:
  <bake> as

Since /eɪ/ cannot be directly inputted from the keyboard, I am toying with the idea of using [e] as an ending in Romabama. Of course, it would be as an exception. Then, the transliteration would be fairly simple: {kate}; {mate}; {tape].

However, to transliterate {kase~sa.} is unsatisfactory. For, such cases where the Burmese-Myanmar consonants are vertically conjoined, we can still make an "exception-to-an-exception" and drop the [e]. Then we can have {kas~sa.}.

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letters E-consonant-E

-- UKT

• In the 2006Oct versions of MMPDB, I have used {keing} and {kain}
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_E gives the effect of silent-e:
<bed> --> <Bede>
/bɛd/ → /biːd/
Compare with <bead> /biːd/, shows that [ede] may be replaced with [ead].

Here is a list of words (or syllables) spelled with rhyme "e-consonant-e":

<ete>
<pete>  /piːt/
<delete> /dɪ'liːt/ /də-/ (US) /dɪ-/

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letters I-consonant-E

-- UKT

(Note to myself: this section is still review). In the 2006 Oct versions of MMPDB, I am writing:
• In the 2006Oct versions of MMPDB, I have used {keing} and {kain}
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_E gives the effect of silent-e:
 <bit> --> <bite>
/bɪt/ → /bəɪt/
Compare with <bight>
UKT: DJPD16 gives different pronunciations for
  <bite> /baɪt/
  <bight> /baɪt/

Compare with <maid> /meɪd/, shows that [ade] may be replaced with [aid].

 

Here is a list of words (or syllables) spelled with rhyme "i-consonant-e":

<ike>
<bike> /baɪk/; <dike> /baɪk/; <hike> /haɪk/;

<ime>
<lime> /laɪm/

<ine>
<fine> /faɪn/

Contents of this page

The material below this line is from other files:
let-a.htm, let-e.htm, let-i.htm, let-o.htm, let-u.htm
etc.

letter A

p1. The vowel letter [a] has two main strong pronunciations linked to spelling: a 'short' pronunciation /æ/ (U00E6) and a 'long' pronunciation /eɪ/ (U0065 U026A). In the 'short' pronunciation, the [a] is usually followed by a consonant which closes the syllable, or a double consonant before another vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound /æ/ -- short pronunciation
-- <tap>  /tæp/
-- <tapping>  /ˈtæp.ɪŋ/

UKT: 'Short' [a] seems to be the vowel best suited to form the Burmese {a.thut} in Romabama. See my notes on Burmese consonants in the Introduction.

The 'long' pronunciation usually means the [a] is followed by a single consonant and then a vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound /eɪ/ -- long pronunciation
<tape>  /teɪp/
<taping>  /ˈteɪ.pɪŋ/

UKT: Transliteration of and has been unsatisfactory so far. Most Burmese-Myanmar would have pronounced the two as <tup> /tʌp/ and <tape> /teɪp/. Though I have tried not to have any Romabama syllable ending in [e], if only I were to make an exception in the case of <tape>, I could have transliterated as {tape].

When there is an [r] in the spelling, the strong pronunciation is one of three possibilities:

vowel-sound: /ɑː/ (US) /ɑːr/ ;
<car>  /kɑːʳ/  (US)  /kɑːr/

vowel-sound: /eə/ (US) /er/
<care>  /keəʳ/  (US)  /ker/

vowel-sounds: /æ/ (US) /e, æ/
<carry>  /kær.i/  (US)  /ker.i, kær.i/

UKT: As a Burmese-Myanmar, I am surprised to find that a common word like <car> has to be pronounced not exactly as {ka:}, but with a note of {kau}.

In addition

There are other vowel sounds associated with the letter [a], e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɑː/
-- <father>  /ˈfɑː.ðəʳ/ (US) /ˈfɑː.ðɚ/

vowel-sound /ɑː/ (US) /æ/
<bath>  /bɑːθ/ (US) /bæθ/

vowel-sound /ɒ/ (US) /ɑː/
<swan> /swɒn/ (US) /swɑːn/

vowel-sound /ɔː/ (US) /ɑː, ɔː/
<walk> /wɔːk/ (US) /wɑːk/
<warm> /wɔːm/ (US) /wɔːrm/

UKT: Burmese-Myanmars do not realised that the [a] in <father> is pronounced as {au} and not as {a}.

And, in rare case:

vowel-sound /e/ 
<many> /ˈmen.i/

UKT: Remember the vowel /e/ is between /a/ and /i/, i.e. between {a} and {i}.

In weak syllables

The vowel letter [a] is realised with the vowels /ə/ and /ɪ/ in weak syllables, and may also not be pronounced at all in British English, due to compression, e.g.:

<above> /əˈbʌv/
<village> /ˈvɪl.ɪʤ/
<necessary> /ˈnes.ə.sri/ (US) /-ser.i/

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letters AE

UKT: This is a copy of the original section in let-a.htm#let-AE

p9. The vowel digraph [ae] is a fairly low-frequency spelling. In some cases, the American spelling of words containing [ae] omits the [a], e.g. in <aesthetic>, which is spelt in American English as <esthetic> .

The pronunciation of the digraph in strong syllables depends on whether or not it is followed by an [r] in the spelling. If so, the pronunciation is /eə/ (US) /er/, e.g.:

vowel-sound /eə/ (US) /er/
<aeroplane> /ˈeə.rə.pleɪn/ (US) /ˈer.ə-/

When not followed by [r], the pronunciation is most usually one of /iː/ , /ɪ/ or /e/, the latter being most common in American English pronunciation, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ˈiː/ (US) /ɪ/ /e/
<Caesar> /ˈsiːzəʳ/ (US) /-zɚ/
<aesthetic> /iːsˈθet.ɪk, ɪs-/ (US) /esˈθet̬-/

UKT: Note that <seizure> /'siːʒəʳ/ and <Caesar> /ˈsiːzəʳ/ are pronounced with /iː/.

In addition

Other vowel sounds associated with the digraph [ae] include /æ/, for Old English names, e.g.:

<Aethelstan> /ˈæθ.^əl.stɔn/

In weak syllables

The vowel digraph is realised with the vowels /ə/ and /ɪ/ in weak syllables, e.g.:

<gynaecology> /ˌgaɪ.nəˈkɒl.ə.ʤi , -nɪˈ/ (US) /-ˈkɑː.lə-/

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letter E

UKT: This is a copy of the original section in let-e.htm#let-e

p168. The vowel letter [e] has two main strong pronunciations linked to spelling: a 'short' pronunciation /e/ and a 'long' pronunciation /iː/. However, the situation is not clear cut and other pronunciations are available.

The 'short' pronunciation always occurs when the [e] is followed by a consonant which closes the syllable, or a double consonant before another vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound: /e/ -- short pronunciation
<bed>  /bed/
<bedding>  /ˈbed.ɪŋ/

The 'long' pronunciation is usually found when the [e] is followed by a single consonant and then a vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound: /iː/ -- long pronunciation
<Eve>  /iːv/
<credence>  /ˈkriːd^ənʦ/

However, the 'short' pronunciation occurs in many cases where the [e] is followed by a single consonant and then a vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound: /e/
<ever>  /ˈev.əʳ/  (US)  /-ɚ/
<prejudice>  /ˈpreʤ.ə.dɪs/

The 'long' pronunciation may also occur where the [e] is followed by two consonants, e.g.:

vowel-sound: /e/
<negro>  /ˈniːgrəʊ/  (US)  /-roʊ/
<secret>  /ˈsiːkrət/

When there is an [r] in the spelling, the strong pronunciation is one of four possibilities: /ɪə (US) ɪr/, /eə (US) er/ , /ɜː (US) ɝː/ or

vowel-sound: /ɪə/ (US) /ɪr/;
<here> /hɪəʳ/  (US)  /hɪr/
vowel-sounds: /eə/ (US) /er/ ;
<there> /ðeəʳ/  (US)  /ðer/
vowel-sounds: /ɜː/ (US) /ɝː/; or
<were>  /wɜːʳ/  (US)  /wɝː/
vowel-sound: /e/
<very>  /ˈver.i/

It frequently happens that the letter [e] has no pronunciation at all, but is used as a spelling convention to show that a preceding vowel is realised with its 'long' pronunciation, e.g.:

silent: [e]
<brave>  /breɪv/
<mice>  /maɪs/
<hope>  /həʊp/  (US)  /hoʊp/
<use> (v.) /juːz/

UKT: Though DJPD16 has stated as cases where "the letter [e] has no pronunciation at all", I would like to say that the letter [e] plays an important part. I would consider it to be similar to the split vowels in Burmese-Myanmar: "split-vowel {au}" and "split-vowel" {o} .
See letters E and E, with a consonant in the middle.

In addition

There are other vowel sounds associated with the letter [e], e.g.:

vowel-sound /eɪ/
<ballet>  /ˈbæl.eɪ/  (US)  /bælˈeɪ/

And, in rare cases:

vowel-sounds /ɑː/ (US) /ɚː/
<clerk>  /klɑːk/  (US)  /klɝːk/
vowel-sound /ɪ/
<women>  /ˈwɪm.ɪn/

UKT: Compare the pronunciation of <women> with:
<woman>  /ˆwʊm.ən/

In weak syllables

The vowel letter [e] is realised with the vowels /ɪ/, /i/ and /ə/ in weak syllables, or may also not be pronounced at all due to syllabic consonant formation or compression, e.g.:

vowel-sounds /ɪ/, /i/ and /ə/
<begin>  /bɪˈgɪn/
<react>  /riˈækt/
<arithmetic>  /əˈrɪθ.mə.tɪk/
<castle>  /ˈkɑː.sļ/  (US) /ˈkæs.ļ/

UKT: The word <castle> has an "l" with a diacritical mark to show that it is a syllabic consonant -- See l cedilla.

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letters EE

UKT: This is a copy of the original section in let-e.htm#let-ee

p172. The most common pronunciation for the vowel digraph ee is /iː/

vowel-sound /iː/
<bee>  /biː/

When followed by an [r] in the spelling, [ee] is pronounced as either /ɪə (US) ɪr/ or /iː.ə (US) iː.ɚ/, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɪə/ (US) /ɪr/
<steer>  /stɪəʳ/  (US)  /stɪr/

vowel-sound /iː.ə/ (US) /iː.ɚ/
<freer> (comparative adj.) /ˈfriːəʳ/  (US) /-ɚ/

UKT: Compare the pronunciation of <steer> with:

<stearin>  /ˈstɪə.rɪn/  (US)  / ˈstiː.ɚ.ɪnː ; ˈstɪr-/
<stir>  /stɜːʳ/  (US)  /stɝː/

In addition

There are other vowel sounds associated with the diagraph [ee], e.g.:

vowel-sound /eɪ/
<fiancée>  <fiancée>  (US)  /fiˈɑːn.seɪ/

vowel-sound /iː.ɪst/
<freest> (superlative adj.)  /ˈfriːɪst/

In weak syllables

The vowel digraph [ee] is realised with the vowel sound /i/ in weak syllables, e.g.:

vowel-sound /i/
<coffee>  /ˈkɒf.i/  (US)  /ˈkɑː.fi/

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letter I

UKT: This is a copy of the original section in let-i.htm#let-i

p265. The vowel letter [i] has two main strong pronunciations linked to spelling: a 'short' pronunciation /ɪ/, and a 'long' pronunciation /aɪ/. In the 'short' pronunciation, the [i] is generally followed by a consonant which closes the syllable, or a double consonant before another vowel, e.g.

vowel-sound /ɪ/
<ship> /ʃɪp/
<shipping> /ˈʃɪp.ɪŋ/

The 'long' pronunciation is usually found when the i is followed by a single consonant and then a vowel, although it should be noted that this spelling spelling does not regularly predict a 'long' pronunciation, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɪp/
<pipe> /paɪp/
<piping> /ˈpaɪ.pɪŋ/

In many cases, the 'short' pronunciation results from the above kind of spelling, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɪv/
<give> /gɪv/
<living>  /ˈlɪv.ɪŋ/

Also, the 'long' pronunciation appears in some words where the vowel is followed by two consonants, e.g.:

vowel-sound /aɪ/
<mind> /maɪnd/
<wild>  /waɪld/

Preceding the letters gh, i is pronounced /aɪ/, except in some names such as <Brigham> and <Brighouse> e.g.:

vowel-sound /aɪ/
<high> /haɪ/
<light> /laɪt/

<Brigham> /ˈbrig.əm/

When [i] is followed by [r], the strong pronunciation is one of two possibilities: /aɪə/ (US) /aɪɚ/, or /ɜː/ (US) /ɝː/. E.g., in:

vowel-sound /aɪə/ (US) /aɪɚ/
<fire>  /faɪəʳ/  (US)  /faɪɚ/

vowel-sound /ɜː/ (US) /ɝː/
<fir> /fɜːʳ/  (US)  /fɝː/

Another vowel sound associated with the letter i is /iː/, e.g.:

vowel-sound /iː/
<machine>  /məˈʃiːn/

In weak syllables

The vowel letter i is realized with the vowels /ɪ/ and /ə/ in weak syllables, and may also be elided in British English, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɪ/
<divide>  /dɪˈvaɪd, də-/

vowel-sound /ə/
<medicine>  /ˈmed.s^ən/  (US)  /ˈ-ɪ.sən/

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letters IE

UKT: This is a copy of the original section in let-i.htm#let-ie

p267. There are several pronunciation possibilities for the vowel digraph ie. One of the most common is /iː/ :

vowel- sound /iː/
<achieve>  /əˈʧiːv/
<piece>  /piːs/

Another common pronunciation is /aɪ/, e.g.:

vowel-sound /aɪ/
<pie>  /paɪ/
<magnifies> /ˈmæg.nɪ.faɪz/

When followed by an [r] in the spelling, [ie] is pronounce as /ɪə (us) ɪr/, e.g.:

vowel-sounds /ɪə/ (US) /ɪr/
<pier>  /pɪəʳ/  (US)  /pɪr/
<fierce>  /fɪəs/  (US)  /fɪrs/

In addition

Other vowel sounds are associated with the digraph ie, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɪ/
<handkerchief>  /hæŋ.kə.ʧɪf/  (US)  /-kɚ-/

vowel-sound /aɪə/
<diet> /daɪət/

vowel-sound /e/
<friend>  /frend/

vowel-sound /i.e/
<conscientious>  /ˌkɒn.tʃiˈen.tʃəs/  (US)  /ˌkɑːn.tʃiˈent.ʃəs/

vowel-sound /i.iː/
<medieval>  /ˌmed.iˈiːv^əl/  (US)  /ˌmiː.dɪˈ-/

In weak syllables

The vowel digraph ie is realised with the vowel /ə/ in weak syllables, or can cause the following consonant to be realised as syllabic, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ə/
<patient>  /ˈpeɪ.ʃ^ənt/

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letter O

p373. The vowel letter [o] has several pronunciations. The two most predictable strong pronunciations linked to spelling are:
• a monophthongal pronunciation, sometimes described as 'short' in British English /ɒ (US) ɑː ɔː/ and
• a diphthongal pronunciation, sometimes described as 'long' /əʊ (US) oʊ/.

In the monophthongal pronunciation, the [o] is generally followed by a consonant which closes the syllable, or a double consonant before another vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɒ/ (US) /ɑː ɔː/ - monophthongal (short pronunciation in Brit. Engl.)
<cod>  /kɒd/  (US)  /kɑːd/
<robbing> /ˈrɒb.ɪŋ/  (US)  /ˈrɑːbɪŋ/

UKT: It is important to note that the /ɒ/ corresponding to Burmese-Myanmar {au} is considered to be monophthong by DJPD16. Its corresponding vowel {au} in Burmese-Myanmar is written as a split vowel .

The diphthongal pronunciation usually means the [o] is followed by a single consonant and then a vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound /əʊ/ (US) /oʊ/ - diphthongal (long pronunciation in Brit. Engl.)
<code> /kəʊd/ (US) /koʊd/
<robing> /ˈrəʊ.bɪŋ/ (US) /ˈroʊ.bɪŋ/

In many cases, the monphthongal pronunciation results from the above kind of spelling, e.g.:

<gone> /gɒn/ (US) /gɑːn/
<copy> /ˈkɒp.i/ (US) /ˈkɑː.pi/

Also, the 'long' pronunciation occasionally appears in words where the vowel is followed by a single consonant and no vowel, e.g.:

<control> /kənˈtrəʊl/ (US) /-ˈtroʊl/

When [r] is followed by [o], the strong pronunciation is one of several possibilities: /ɒ (US) ɔːr/ , /ɔː (US) ɔːr/ , /ʌ (US) ɝː/ or /ɜː (US) ɝː/, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ɒ/ (US) /ɔːr/
<forest> /ˈfɒr.ɪst/ (US) /ˈfɔːr-/

vowel-sound /ɔː/ (US) /ɔːr/
<foremost>  /ˈfɔː.məʊst/  (US)  /ˈfɔːmoʊst/

vowel-sound  /ʌ/ (US) /ɝː/
<borough> /ˈbʌr.ə/ (US) /ˈbɝː-/

vowel-sound  /ɜː/ (US) /ɝː/
<word> /wɜːd/ (US) /wɝː-/

And exceptionally, /ʊ/, e.g.:

<Worcester> /ˈwʊs.təʳ/ (US) /-tɚ/

In addition

There are other vowel sounds associated with the letter [o], e.g.:

vowel-sound /ʌ/
<colour>  /ˈkʌl.ə^r/  (US)  /-ɚ/

vowel-sound /uː/
<move>  /muːv/

vowel-sound /ʊ/
<woman>  /ˈwʊm.ən/

vowel-sound /wʌ/
<once>  /wʌnts/

vowel-sound /ɜː (US) ɝː/
<colonel>  /ˈkɜːn^əl/  (US)  /ˈkɝː-/

And, exceptionally:

vowel-sound /ɪ/
<women>  /ˈwɪm.ɪn/

In weak syllables

The vowel letter [o] is realised with the vowel /ə/ in weak syllables, /ɚ/ in American English when followed by an [r], and may also be elided in British English, due to compression or realisation as a syllabic consonant, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ə/
<observe>  /əbˈzɜːv/  (US)  /-ˈzɝːv/
<forget>  /fəˈget/  (US)  /fɚ-/
<factory>  /ˈfæk.t^ər.i/ , /-tri/

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letters OE

UKT: This section was not present in the original book. The following is my addition from the entries in it.

<doe>  /dəʊ/ (US) /doʊ/
<foe> /fəʊ/ (US) /foʊ/
<hoe> /həʊ/ (US) /hoʊ/
<Joe> /ʤəʊ/ (US) /ʤoʊ/
<roe> /rəʊ/ (US) /roʊ/
<toe> /təʊ/ (US) /toʊ/
<woe> /wəʊ/ (US) /woʊ/

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letter U

p555. The vowel letter [u] has several strong pronunciations linked to spelling. 'Short' pronunciations include /ʌ/ and /ʊ/.

UKT: One of the first problem faced by a Myanmar ESL learner is pronouncing the letters [ut] in <put> /pʊt/ and <but> /bʌt/. The corresponding sounds in Burmese-Myanmar are /ʊt/ and /ʌt/.

'Long' pronunciations include /uː/ and /juː/. In 'short' pronounced /ʌ/, the [u] is generally followed by a consonant letter which ends the word, or a double consonant before another vowel. Words containing /ʊ/  which end with a consonant sound often have two consonant letters finally, a notable exception being <put> /pʊt/, e.g.:

vowel-sound /ʌ/
<tub>  /tʌb/
<tubby>  /ˈtʌb.i/

vowel-sound /ʊ/
<bull>  /bʊl/
<bully>  /ˈbʊl.i/

UKT: While keeping in mind that there are no {ba.thut} and {la.thut} spellings in Myanmar, if we could transliterate <tub> as . However, the transliteration of <bull> as is unsatisfactory. Transliteration into is a possibility.

The 'long' pronunciations usually mean the [u] is followed by a single consonant letter and then a vowel, e.g.:

vowel-sound /uː/
<tube>  /tjuːb/  (US)  /tuːb/
<tubing>  /ˈtjuː.bɪŋ/  (US)  /ˈtuː-/
<supervise>  /ˈsuː.pə.vaɪz/  (US)  /-pɚ-/

In word initial position, the 'long' pronunciation is almost always pronounced /juː/, e.g.:

<unique>  /juːˈniːk/
<useful>  /ˈjuːs.f^əl/

However, there are exceptions to these guidelines, e.g.:

<study>  /ˈstʌd.i/
<sugar>  /ˈʃʊg.^əʳ/  (US) /-ɚ/
<truth>  /truːθ/

When [u] is followed by [r], the strong pronunciation is one of several possibilities:
/jʊə , jɔː (US) jʊr/ , /ʊə , ɔː (US) ʊr/ , /ɜː (US) ɝː/ , or /ʌ (US) ɝː/ , e.g.:

vowel-sound /jʊə , jɔː/ (US) /jʊr/
<cure>  /kjʊəʳ , kjɔːʳ/  (US)  /kjʊr/

vowel-sound /ʊə , ɔː/ (US) /ʊr/
<plural>  /ˈplʊə.r^əl , ˈplɔː-/  (US)  /ˈplʊr.^əl/

vowel-sound /ɜː/ (US) /ɝː/
<burn>  /bɜːn/  (US)  /bɝːn/

vowel-sound /ʌ/ (US) /ɝː/
<hurry>  /ˈhʌr.i/  (US)  /ˈhɝː.i/

In weak syllables

The vowel letter [u] is realised as one of /jə/, /jʊ/, /ə/ or /ʊ/ in weak syllables, e.g.:

vowel-sound /jə/
<failure>  /ˈfeɪ.ljəʳ/  (US)  /ˈfeɪl.jɚ/

vowel-sound /jʊ/
<accurate>  /ˈæk.jə.rət , -jʊ/  (US)  /-jɚ.ət, -jʊ.rət/

vowel-sound /ə/
<status>  /ˈsteɪ.təs/  (US)  /-stæt̬əs/

vowel-sound /ʊ/
<July>  /ʤʊˈlaɪ/

It may also result in a syllabic consonant, e.g.:

<hopeful>  /ˈhəʊp.fəl , -fʊl/  (US)  /ˈhoʊp-/

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letters UE

p556. The vowel digraph [ue] is most commonly pronounced as /juː/ or /uː/. The /j/ sound is not always present in US English where it is found in British English. In general, the /j/ is dropped in US English where it appears in British English following an alveolar consonant such as /t/ {ta.}, /d/ {da.} or /n/ {na.}, e.g.:

vowel-sound /juː/ or /uː/
<cue>  /kjuː/
<due>  /djuː/  (US)  /duː/

UKT: Compare the pronunciation of <due> with:
  • <Tuesday> /ˈʧuːz.deɪ/ (US) /'tuːz-} - Refer to "Pronouncing the letter T"
Note that from IPA representation [Tue] of /ˈʧuː-/, <Tuesday> in Myanmar script would be beginning with {chu:} NOT {tyu:}.

Another possible pronunciation is /juː.ə/ or /jʊə/, e.g.:

<dual>  /ˈdjuː.əl , djʊəl/  (US)  /ˈduː.əl/

In addition

Other sounds are associated with the digraph [ue], e.g.:

vowel-sound /weɪ/
<suede> /sweɪd/

vowel-sound /e/
<guess>  /ges/

vowel-sound /uː.ɪ/
<suet> /ˈsuː.ɪt/
<bluest>  /ˈbluː.ɪst/

UKT: Compare <suet> with:
<suit> /suːt, sjuːt/ (US) /suːt/
<sweat> /swet/

vowel-sound (silent)
<league>  /liːg/

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Contents | Introduction | Information panels | Pronouncing letters
End of TIL file