Pronunciation of the sound "ae"
Hi all, I have found great difficulty getting the proper pronunciation of the sound "ae".
This is my transcript for the audio in Improve English Pronunciation with free podcast
in 3:05:
Code:
[bɛæd] [bɛd] / [beɛd]
[kɛænə] [kn]/ [kən]
[gɛæs] [gɛs]
[hɛd] [hed]
[dʒɛæm] [dʒemə]
[pɛænə] [pɛnə]/[penə]
[sɛæd] [sed]
[tɛæn] [ten]/[tɛn]
6:15
Code:
[kɛæp] [cɑp]
[sɛæk] [sɑk]
[hɛt]/[hɛæt] [hɑt]
[deæn]/[dɛæn] [dɑn]
? [stɑk]
[mɛæp] [mɑp]
The "æ" he made is usually a [ɛæ] sound for me. The [ɛ] is very short, but it is clear a diphthong instead of a long vowel. Sometimes the [ɛ] is higher and close to [e], so it sounds like [eæ]. In the word "hat", it even sounds like a long [ɛ:] more than [ɛæ].
The "ɛ" sound is a short sound and is sometimes higher than [ɛ]. I should be a sound between [e] and [ɛ]. Sometimes [e] sometimes [ɛ], and in the word "ken", it seems disappeared.
This is not the only pronunciation I have heard.
In Fat Definition | Definition of Fat at Dictionary.com, there are two different pronunciation for "fat", the first one is [fɛæt], the second is a clear [fæt].
In Man Definition | Definition of Man at Dictionary.com, there are also two different pronunciation, [meən] and [mæn].
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first editing..
I think the "American ae" may be script as [ɛ̥æː](you need IPA font to display this symbol). It is a voiceless [ɛ] follewed by a long [æ]. It's also a tense sound. There exist more than one pronunciation for "ae", but the dictionary marks no difference. I'd like to know if I should obey the dictionary?
Re: Pronunciation of the sound "ae"
Hello yangmuye
I listened to the podcast as well as to the dictionary audio links, and I heard [æ].
What you are most likely hearing and transcribing as [ɛæ] and [ə] (e.g., [kɛænə] "can") is the release of the consonant--the flow of air through the glottis (what you hear as [ɛ..] after [k]) and the flow of air through the nasal passage (what you hear as [ə] after [n]).
Re: Pronunciation of the sound "ae"
Thanks for answering.
But to my Chinese ear, [ɛæ] is very different [æ] and [ɛ]. Cantonese simply pronounce [ɛ] and [a] for [ɛæ] and [æ], and Mandarian may prefer [aɪ] and [a]. So Mandarin have problem to distinguish micro[maɪkrəu] and macro[mɛækrəu].
I have noticed "æ-tensing" on Phonological history of English short A - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , but I think it at least does not occurs on dictionary.com :-) . The [ɛæ] and [æ] appears arbitrary. No [eə] is heard in the the given example.
It's interesting that, in podcast when he said "practice", "cast", "capital", "tax", "articulate", "exactly", a [æ] was heard. When he articulated the words, a [ɛæ] was heard. :-D
Quote:
I listened to the podcast as well as to the dictionary audio links, and I heard [æ].
Does it mean that no difference between this two sound for american ear? So I don't need keep them different?
An interesting dialogue between my teacher and me.
I always make [æ] in words like "ram", and [ɑ] for in words like "example".
My teacher make [ɐ] instead [ɑ] sound in words like "rom", [a] for words like cast, and [ɛ] in ram.
We are Chinese BrE vs Cantonese AmE.
Me: I want a RAM. [æ]
Mr: ROM? [ɐ]
Me: No, RAM.
Mr: ROM or RAM[ɛ]?
Me: :-? [rɛ:m]...
Re: Pronunciation of the sound "ae"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
yangmuye 
Thanks for answering.
But to my Chinese ear, [ɛæ] is very different [æ] and [ɛ]. Cantonese simply pronounce [ɛ] and [a] for [ɛæ] and [æ], and Mandarian may prefer [aɪ] and [a]. So Mandarin have problem to distinguish micro[maɪkrəu] and macro[mɛækrəu].
The [ɛæ] and [æ] appears arbitrary.
That's a good sign. It means the sounds you hear are phonetic and not a matter of a phonological distinction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yangmuye
It's interesting that, in podcast when he said "practice", "cast", "capital", "tax", "articulate", "exactly", a [æ] was heard. When he articulated the words, a [ɛæ] was heard. :-D
That has to do with the environment as well. Words sound different when spoken in a stream of speech. The list of words, however, were spoken in isolation, more slowly and with more care, which is why you heard the extra sounds.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yangmuye
Does it mean that no difference between this two sound for american ear? So I don't need keep them different?
Right. You have a good ear though. You should consider a career in Linguistics.
