Lesson 2 (I) As in Bit Trivia
Lesson 2 (I) As in Bit Trivia
Lesson 2 (I) As in Bit Trivia
Trivia
Did you know that the tongue twister below is among the toughest in English?
[I] as in bit a short vowel sound. The jaw drops very slightly and the front of the tongue
moves a little lower and toward the back of the mouth. The lips are relaxed unlike that of the
long /i/ as in beat which is a wide grin. For more comparison of these short and long sounds,
you can check the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hBDAUCDXN8.
Word List
* Note
1. The -ed past tense marker after verbs end in -d and -t is pronounced as /Id/, thus
painted, wanted, handed, landed.
2. The -s/-es plural marker after hissing sounds is sounded as /Is/, thus, searches, hedges,
hisses, washes.
3. The -ege edging in a few words is pronounced as /Idʒ/ like sacrilege.
4. The -age ending in most words is sounded as /Idʒ/ like manage, postage, luggage,
assemblage.
5. The -tain ending is pronounced as /teIn/, /tIn/ or /t(ə)n/ like the following:
Let’s contrast the short and long i sounds. Read the minimal pairs and sentence after each.
win it catch it
lock it it itches
pan it life is
dine in
this is
Free it = freeyit
Toy is = toyis
Say it = sayit
Be intimate = beyintimate [Remember also the rule on -ate ending
on
nouns and adjectives (-ate = /-ət/)].
Go inside = gowinside
To it = towit
Cow is = cowis
To us = towus
itch each Each itch I got as the tick bit me.
pill peel Kim peels the bitter pill and took it all in.
ill eel Tim caught an ill eel at the sea.
will we’ll We’ll all will.
bid bead The bids for the antique beads are high.
Read the phrases carefully enunciating our focus vowel.
1. He took a chilly dip six feet in the sea which says keeps him fit.
2. Strict vegans eat beet chips with bean dip and keep meat and fish dishes out of reach.
3. Pick six beaks, seek big peeks.
4. Kick Kip, keep Kip’s kin.
5. Six thick thistle sticks.
EXERCISES
A. Which word will sensibly complete the sentence? Read the sentences.
As if in spite of
As if in fun.
Tita Lacambra-Ayala
Clarity of Pronunciation
Vocal Variety