I propose that the following list be considered a
standard
representation for the pronunciation of vowel sounds in NBC English. It
could
serve as a guide for those who are attempting to produce respell
systems
intended for the widest possible market with the least complexity. Knowledge of English is assumed.
It is also assumed that if a person does not pronounce the words
in the parenthesis as they are pronounced in NBC English the
discrepancy is
likely to show up by a finding that the words to the right do not all
have the
same vowel sounds.
The words in parentheses are unique in that they are shown with only one pronunciation in all my dictionaries. The words at the right are, in my best judgment, all consistent with the vowel sound being represented. The SRS words at the left of the parenthesis are not part of the standard. They show just one way that the sounds may be consistently represented.
The Vowel Sounds in NBC English:
-----, SRS
Short
Vowels
-----, pat, (cat, matter) and, that, had,
can,
an, has,
than, have, back, after, ask, land, man
-----, pet, (met, red) when, said, then, them, help,
any, tell, set, end, well, went, men, spell
-----, pit, (fill, sit) in, it, with, him, its, his, this, which, if,
into,
did, give, big, still, will
-----, pot, (cop, lock) not, cot, tot, rot, got, stop, body, top, rock,
box,
hot, drop, job, clock
-----, pup, (upper, o'possum) up, some, come, such, study, us, country,
untie,
cut, run, sun
-----,
peut, (pudding, bush) good, took, book,
pull, wood,
stood, could, push, foot, would
Long Vowels
-----, ápe, (mate, bait) way, day, may, make,
they, take,
place, great, same, came, change, play
-----, éve, (previous, penal) he, we, these, be, she, see, me, mean,
need,
three, keep, tree, each
-----, píne, (pint, fine) by, like, my, find, write, right, why, try,
kind,
line, high, while, life, mile
-----, óde, (code, donate) so, no, go, most, old, show,
own, don't,
those, grow, both, low, hold
-----, clúe, (lute, rue) you, who, two, do, through, too, move, food,
school,
soon, group, room
-----, ô (cost, lost) naught, caught, taught,
wrought, walk,
talk, ought, sought, paw, raw, law
-----, ur, (curd, fur) word, work, turn, world, girl, bird, sure,
during,
heard, person, surface
Diphthongs
and Combinations or Compounds
-----, ou, (out, found) now, down, how, sound, house, south, ground,
round,
pound, count
-----, oi, (void, voice) oil, boy, point, soil, join, toy, coin, avoid,
poison,
noise, poise, foil, toil
R-Combinations
-----, ar, (part, far) are, large, start,
hard,
car, farm,
arm, heart, art, army, park, chart, march
-----, err, (error, terrace) there, their, very, air, carry, area,
care, pair,
paragraph, hair, dare
-----, irr, (irrigate, mirror) year, here, near, ear, fear, dear, rear,
pier,
tear, appear, peer, deer
-----,
or, (cord, lord) for, door, short, north, course, force, store, floor,
board,
born, score, nor
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