[General] schwa sound in these words

[harriet_yang]

Dear teachers,

I recently listened to a podcast on English Pronunciation and one thing about schwa got me confused. I had this impression that schwa happens in unstressed syllables. The host used an example: trusted and said the "u" is a schwa. Isn't the first syllable stressed? he also mentioned "gun," which got me even more confused.

could you help me on this?

Thanks
Harriet

 

[tom3m]

NOT A TEACHER


Good evening,
I think it is just a matter of pace of speaking. If you look up words you mentioned in an online dictionary, and play them, you're bound to find them sound as you are used to them - standard (RP) according to the IPA symbols that we can find in every dictionary. Try to say, for example: I didn't expect the gun to be that dangerous. You are not going to find yourself pronouncing a pure /ʌ/ .

 

[harriet_yang]

I think I got it. Words pronunciation varies in sentences depending on what you are trying to emphasizing.

 

[tom3m]

N.A.T.

I think I got it. Words pronunciation varies in sentences depending on what you are trying to emphasizing. try to emphasize

I think there are actually more things than just emphasis that should be taken into account, such as accent, emphasis - as you wrote, pace, situation, or even various speech defects.

 

[Raymott]

Dear teachers,

I recently listened to a podcast on English Pronunciation and one thing about schwa got me confused. I had this impression that schwa happens in unstressed syllables. The host used an example: trusted and said the "u" is a schwa. Isn't the first syllable stressed? he also mentioned "gun," which got me even more confused.

could you help me on this?

Thanks
Harriet

I'd explain in it different terms. The podcast is wrong (if it actually says that). The 'u' in 'trusted' in not a schwa.