Author
Tania Karina Alemán Díaz
Read the guide (PDF)General description
This technical guide gathers the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) used in American English pronunciation. It includes vowels, consonants, diphthongs, r-colored vowels (vowels with /r/), and common phonological rules, such as aspiration, the Flap T, and the Glottal T.
Resource details
Objective
Strengthen pronunciation and oral intelligibility.
Resource type
Technical reference guide on American pronunciation.
Language
English
General guide by module
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Long and short English vowels
Diphthongs and r-colored vowels
Consonant classification: voiced and voiceless
Pronunciation rules: aspiration, vowel length, Flap T, and Glottal T
Individual pronunciation of the 27 consonant sounds of American English
Key concepts
Flap T
The /t/ between voiced sounds is pronounced as a quick tap similar to a /d/.
Water – [ˈwɑɾɚ]
Glottal T
The /t/ before a weak syllable with /n/ can become a glottal stop.
Button – [ˈbʌʔn̩]
Dark L
Final /l/ slightly changes the position of the preceding vowel.
Examples: call, bold…
Aspiration
The consonants /p, t, k/ at the beginning of stressed words are produced with a strong burst of air.
Examples: play, lap…
Skills developed
Articulatory phonetics
Description and correct production of IPA sounds.
American pronunciation
Phonological rules and contextual variations.
Educational material design
Visual organization of a 36-page guide.
Oral communication
A resource to improve intelligibility and pronunciation.