RP
ɑ:
Script a
Open, near back, neutral. Free (long) and tense (strong) .
For the articulation of RP /ɑ:/ the centre and back of the tongue are in the fully open position. The lips are neutrally open and no contact is made between the side rims and the upper molars. The quality is that of a centralised CV 5 [ɑ] = [̎̎ɑ̎]. Length reduction as a result of pre-fortis and rhythmic clipping is not as noticeable as in the other long vowels.
Spelling
| <a>+<ff,ft> | staff /stɑ:f/, after /ˈɑ:ftə/. | ||||
| <a>+<nt, nd, nce, nch> | shan’t /ʃɑ:nt/, can't /kɑ:nt/, demand /dɪˈmɑ:nd/, dance /dɑ:ns/, branch /brɑ:ntʃ/ | ||||
| <a>+<sp, st, sk, ss, th> | gasp /ɡɑ:sp/, last /lɑ:st/, asked /ɑ:skt/, pass /pɑ:s/, path /pɑ:θ/, father /ˈfɑ:ðər/ | ||||
| <a>+<lm, lf>(silent l) | almond /ˈɑ:mənd/, half /hɑ:f/ | ||||
| <ar> | yard /jɑ:d/, Charles /tʃɑ:lz/ | ||||
| <er, ear> | clerk /klɑ:k/, Derby /ˈdɑ:bi/ , heart /hɑ:t/ | ||||
| <au> | draught /drɑ:ft/, aunt /ɑ:nt/ | ||||
| <oi> (Fr)(/wɑ:/) | repertoire /ˈrepətwɑ:/, memoire /ˈmemwɑ:/ | ||||
| Rare cases: |
|
Examples
| tar /tɑ:/ |
| heart /hɑ:t/ |
| hard /hɑ:d/ |
| calm /kɑ:m/ |
| clerk /klɑ:k/ |
| laugh /lɑ:f/ |
| asking /ˈɑ:skɪŋ/ |
| marvellous /ˈmɑ:vləs/ |
|
Ah! Barbara, Martha and
Charles are dancing in the bar in the dark
while Margaret is playing the guitar.
/ɑ: ˈbɑ:brə ˈmɑ:θə ənd ˈtʃɑ:lz ə ˈdɑ:nsɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈbɑ:r ɪn ðə ˈdɑ:k waɪl ˈmɑ:ɡrɪt ɪs ˈpleɪɪŋ ðə ɡɪˈtɑ:/ |
|
What a funny dancer Barbara is!
/ˈwɒt ə ˈfʌni ˈdɑ:nsə ˈbɑ:brə ˈɪz/ |
|
Let's take a fast photograph.
/ˈlets ˈteɪk ə ˌfɑ:st ˈfəʊtəɡrɑ:f/ |
|
We can't.
/wi ˈkɑ:nt||/ |
|
It' s too dark.
/ɪts ˈtu: ˈdɑ:k/ |
|
Stay calm!.
/ ˈsteɪ ˈkɑ:m/ |
|
No need for alarm.
/ˈnəʊ ˈni:d fər əˈlɑ:m/ |
|
The giraffe doesn't harm.
/ðə dʒɪˈrɑ:f ˈdʌznt ˈhɑ:m/ |
Pronunciation
A part of the tongue between the centre and the back is positioned as low as possible in the mouth. The lips are neutral and no contact is made between the tongue and the upper molars. The soft palate is raised (unless followed by a nasal).
PSp
a
Lower case a
Open front unrounded vowel.
When we pronounce this sound, the centre of the tongue is away from the palate. The tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth. The lips are in their neutral position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.
Spelling
Examples
| alarido |
| cariño |
| ama |
|
|
Pronunciation
The centre of the tongue is away from the palate. The tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth. The lips are in their neutral position. The vocal folds vibrate during the production of this sound.
