Aural Discrimination /Ɑ:/ and /Ʌ/ – Basic 4 English Lesson Note (First Term)

Aural discrimination is the skill of hearing the difference between two sounds. /ɑ:/ is a long vowel as in “cart”, and /ʌ/ is a short vowel as in “cut”.

Behavioural objectives

1. State that /ɑ:/ is a long vowel and /ʌ/ is a short vowel.
2. Pronounce words with /ɑ:/ and /ʌ/ correctly.
3. List at least five words for each sound.
4. Pick out the word with /ɑ:/ or /ʌ/ in a pair of words spoken by the teacher.

What is the sound /ɑ:/?

/ɑ:/ is a long vowel sound, said like “ah” with the mouth wide open.

• Mouth: open wide, with the tongue low.
• Length: hold the sound a little longer. The mark (:) means long.
• Example sound: the “ar” in “car” and the “a” in “pass”.

Examples of words with /ɑ:/

• pass: said /pɑ:s/.
• staff: said /stɑ:f/.
• cart: said /kɑ:t/.
• heart: said /hɑ:t/. The spelling “ea” gives /ɑ:/ here.
• car: said /kɑ:/.
• laugh: said /lɑ:f/. The “augh” gives /ɑ:/.
• clerk: said /klɑ:k/.
• sergeant: said /ˈsɑ:dʒənt/.
• calm: said /kɑ:m/. The “l” is silent.
• ah: said /ɑ:/.

What is the sound /ʌ/?

/ʌ/ is a short vowel sound, said quickly with the mouth half open, as in “cup”.

• Mouth: half open and relaxed.
• Length: short and quick. It has no length mark.
• Example sound: the “u” in “bus” and the “o” in “love”.

Examples of words with /ʌ/

• cup: said /kʌp/.
• bus: said /bʌs/.
• cut: said /kʌt/.
• hut: said /hʌt/.
• sun: said /sʌn/.
• love: said /lʌv/. The letter “o” gives /ʌ/.
• come: said /kʌm/.
• son: said /sʌn/.
• young: said /jʌŋ/. The letters “ou” give /ʌ/.
• much: said /mʌtʃ/.

What is the difference between /ɑ:/ and /ʌ/?

/ɑ:/ is long with the mouth wide open, while /ʌ/ is short with the mouth half open.

How do we tell /ɑ:/ and /ʌ/ apart in pairs of words?

A minimal pair is two words that differ in only one sound, such as “cart” and “cut”.

Steps for listening practice

1. The teacher says two words slowly.
2. Pupils listen to the vowel in the middle of each word.
3. Pupils say which word has the long sound /ɑ:/.
4. Pupils repeat both words aloud.

Pairs with /ɑ:/ and /ʌ/

What other word pairs should pupils practise?

These pairs are good listening practice, but they do not all contrast /ɑ:/ and /ʌ/.

Which words are often confused with /ʌ/?

Words like “saw” and “four” have a long “or” sound, written /ɔ:/, which is different from /ʌ/.

• /ɔ:/ words: broad, brought, four, saw, war, salt, before.
• Tip: /ɔ:/ is long with rounded lips. /ʌ/ is short with relaxed lips.

Source: Tammirza English Blog, Oral English: Easy Ways To Pronounce The 24 English Consonants And 20 English Vowels.

Evaluation

1. Which sound is long, /ɑ:/ or /ʌ/?
2. Say whether each word has /ɑ:/ or /ʌ/: cart, bus, calm, love, car.
3. Which word has /ɑ:/ in each pair: heart or hut, barn or bun, march or much?
4. Write two words spelt with “ar” that have the sound /ɑ:/.

Assignment

Write five words with /ɑ:/ and five words with /ʌ/ from this note. Read them aloud to a parent or friend.