Questions on Pronounciation

I'm confused on how to pronounce the prefix con (eg. contempt, conglomerate). Is it pronounced as kən/ kuhn or as something like "corn".

I'm also confused with the prefix sub (eg. substantially) səb or what?

And then there's the th sound. I know that there are 2 th sounds; the voiceless and voiced, how do you know which to use?

Please ask unrelated questions in separate threads.

Kyoma said:

I'm confused on how to pronounce the prefix con (eg. contempt, conglomerate). Is it pronounced as kən/ kuhn or as something like "corn".

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The first. I can't think of a word in which "con-" would be pronouced like "corn".

I'm also confused with the prefix sub (eg. substantially) səb or what?

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/sʌb/. Devoicing is possible before a voiceless consonant.

And then there's the th sound. I know that there are 2 th sounds; the voiceless and voiced, how do you know which to use?

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You have to learn. There is no easy way around it. Listen to how native speakers pronounce the words that have "th" and try to remember. You can also look these pronunciations up in dictionaries.

Kyoma said:

And then there's the th sound. I know that there are 2 th sounds; the voiceless and voiced, how do you know which to use?

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This may help you decide on the pronunciation.

http://world.hanyang.ac.kr/~kentlee/app/docs/th.rules.pdf

mara_ce said:

This may help you decide on the pronunciation.

http://world.hanyang.ac.kr/~kentlee/app/docs/th.rules.pdf

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Mara, does you computer display the file correctly? My Acrobat Reader gives me an error.

birdeen's call said:

Mara, does you computer display the file correctly? My Acrobat Reader gives me an error.

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Try opening Acrobat first from your desktop, and then click on the link.

Yes, it does. I googled it. It´s the first PDF here

Interestingly, it displays correctly after I click it again. I tried it on two computers with two different versions of AR and it worked both times. Funny.

It's a good guide. Thanks, mara.

How about pronouncing con as kɒn? (eg. conscience)

Kyoma said:

How about pronouncing con as kɒn? (eg. conscience)

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“Conglomerate” and “contempt” are pronounced /kən/ because the first syllable is not stressed.
/kənˈglɒm.ər.ət/ …. /kənˈtemp t/

If you compare “contempt” with “contemplation”, you´ll see that “contemplation” is pronounced /ˌkɒn / because that syllable carries a secondary accent.
/kənˈtemp t/ … /ˌkɒn.təmˈpleɪ.ʃən/

“Conscience” is pronounced /ˈkɒn/ because the stress is on the first syllable.
/ˈkɒn.t ʃənt s/

When you´re in doubt, I´d suggest consulting a dictionary like this one.