/ə/ is a middle vowel sound and remember all pure vowel sounds involve a consistent voice flowing over the relaxed tongue.
For example, a word like "am" will be the /a/ as in "pat" sound when the word is operative or important. Yes I am!
But in other cases it will be weak, such as...
...where am I going?
The first example was stressed, the second was not.
A common challenge with the /ə/ sound is that the speaker will sometimes move the sound forward.
So a word like "but" sounds like "bit".
Now, let's practice.
First, let's do a tongue stretch to release the root tension in your tongue.
Place your tongue behind your lower front teeth and stretch from the back.
Be sure to think of releasing from the back rather than pushing on your lower teeth.
Relax the tongue back and do this two or three times.
You should notice that your tongue feels a bit larger and perhaps more fluffy in your mouth when you finish.
Now, sigh out over the relaxed tongue.
/ə/ /ə/ /ə/. That's it.
That's the /ə/ sound.
Now let's practice with a few words and notice the /ə/ sound is in unstressed syllables.
Here is the /ə/ when it starts a word.
Apply,..
...observe,...
...admire,...
...again,...
...awake,...
...achieve.
Now let's try the /ə/ in the middle of a word.
...Automatic,...
...meditate,...
...manicure,...
...capacity,...
...California.
Now let's give it a shot at the end of a word and keep it nice and easy!
India,...
...Sherpa,...
...pasta,...
...data,...
...soda.
You may have noticed that the /ə/ sound can actually be spelled in English with several different letters including "i", "a", and "o".
So put this into play as you practice on EnglishCentral and good luck!
