Shock!

Status
Not open for further replies.

Carolina1983

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Hello, usingenglish friends!

My question is about the vowel sound in the word "shock". When you say this word, is the vowel sound the same as the one we find in "saw" (/sɔ:/)?

Thank you!
 
Last edited:

charliedeut

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
It's the same as in "hot": /hɒt/.
 

Carolina1983

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
It's the same as in "hot": /hɒt/.

That´s what the dic. says, right? I think americans tend to use - or use actually - the vowel sound in saw, instead of the a:
 
Last edited:

probus

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
I think you are correct about the sounds in AmE Carolina1983. I also think that if a question pertains to one dialect exclusively you should say so up front.
 

Carolina1983

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
I think you are correct about the sounds in AmE Carolina1983. I also think that if a question pertains to one dialect exclusively you should say so up front.

I was wondering why all dictionaries say otherwise, probus! They say ɔ: will sound like a:. Isn´t that weird?! It´s exactly the opposite! What do you think? I´m sorry I didn´t mention the dialect thing upfront. It didn´t occur to me I wasn´t being clear enough.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
They say ɔ: will sound like a:
As far as I know, no dictionary says that /ɔ:/ will sound like /a:/. With each dictionary, you have to look carefully at what phonemic symbols they use to represent what sounds, and also at which variety of English pronunciation the dictionary is noting.
 

probus

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
I was wondering why all dictionaries say otherwise, probus! They say ɔ: will sound like a:. Isn´t that weird?! It´s exactly the opposite! What do you think? I´m sorry I didn´t mention the dialect thing upfront. It didn´t occur to me I wasn´t being clear enough.


I haven't even consulted a dictionary. I'm simply relying on my ears and my memory.
 

Carolina1983

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
As far as I know, no dictionary says that /ɔ:/ will sound like /a:/. With each dictionary, you have to look carefully at what phonemic symbols they use to represent what sounds, and also at which variety of English pronunciation the dictionary is noting.

Yes, that´s what I meant 5jj. American dictionaries, OAA for instance, will say that, in some parts of the US, speakers will use a: instead of ɔ:. I was the one who heard otherwise, I mean, I constantly hear native speakers say ɔ: where, supposedly, they´d say a:.
 

Carolina1983

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
I haven't even consulted a dictionary. I'm simply relying on my ears and my memory.

LOL me too!
Except I am not a native :)
 

Rookanga1945

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
France
I'm American, and yes, the people I know pronounce the vowel sound in "shock" the same way as in both "hot" and "saw." "Hawt" and "shawk" and so forth. But if I used my terrible British accent, I would pronounce "shock" and "hot" both with shorter vowel sounds than "saw."

Hope this helps!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top