Vowel Sounds: How to Pronounce The AW Sound - law, saw, caught vs OH low, so boat

How to Pronounce the 'AW' Sound (law, saw, caught) vs 'OH' (low, so, boat)

Introduction

Mastering the 'AW' and 'OH' sounds is crucial for English learners, as it can make a huge difference in how others perceive your accent and pronunciation. If you get these sounds right, you'll sound more natural and confident in your English speaking.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST

Before we dive into the 'AW' and 'OH' sounds, make sure you're comfortable with the following:

1. The position of your tongue and lips in your mouth. You should be able to place your tongue behind your top teeth and feel the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue.
2. The difference between short and long vowels. In English, short vowels are pronounced with a shorter duration, while long vowels are pronounced with a longer duration.

CORE CONTENT

The 'AW' sound is pronounced with a rounded mouth position, where your lips are relaxed and your tongue is placed behind your top teeth. The 'OH' sound, on the other hand, is pronounced with a more open mouth position, where your lips are slightly rounded and your tongue is placed further back in your mouth.

Pronouncing the 'AW' Sound

1. Start by saying the word "law". Pay attention to the position of your tongue and lips. Your tongue should be behind your top teeth, and your lips should be relaxed.
2. Practice saying the word "saw" with the same tongue and lip position as "law".
3. Move on to the word "caught". This word requires a slightly longer duration of the 'AW' sound.

Pronouncing the 'OH' Sound

1. Start by saying the word "low". Pay attention to the position of your tongue and lips. Your tongue should be further back in your mouth, and your lips should be slightly rounded.
2. Practice saying the word "so" with the same tongue and lip position as "low".
3. Move on to the word "boat". This word requires a slightly longer duration of the 'OH' sound.

Common Mistakes and Corrections

MISTAKE → WHY IT HAPPENS → CORRECT APPROACH

• Mistake: Pronouncing the 'AW' sound as 'OH' (e.g., saying "law" as "low").
• Why it happens: This mistake often occurs when learners are not paying attention to the position of their tongue and lips.

• Correct approach: Practice saying the word "law" with the correct tongue and lip position, and pay attention to the duration of the sound.

• Mistake: Pronouncing the 'OH' sound as 'AW' (e.g., saying "low" as "law").

• Why it happens: This mistake often occurs when learners are not paying attention to the position of their tongue and lips.
• Correct approach: Practice saying the word "low" with the correct tongue and lip position, and pay attention to the duration of the sound.

WORKED / MODEL EXAMPLES

Let's practice a short dialogue using the 'AW' and 'OH' sounds:

A: "I'm going to the law school to study." B: "That's great! I'm going to the low tide beach to relax."

In this example, we can see the correct pronunciation of the 'AW' sound in "law" and the 'OH' sound in "low".

1-Minute Recap

To summarize, mastering the 'AW' and 'OH' sounds is crucial for English learners. Remember to:

• Pay attention to the position of your tongue and lips in your mouth.
• Practice saying the words "law", "saw", "caught", "low", "so", and "boat" with the correct tongue and lip position.
• Pay attention to the duration of the sounds.

By following these tips, you'll be able to pronounce the 'AW' and 'OH' sounds correctly and sound more natural and confident in your English speaking.