Speak English Naturally: SCHWA Pronunciation

Hello. I'm Gill at engVid, and today's lesson is on a vowel sound which is called "schwa",

and it's the only vowel sound that actually has its own name, which is surprising because

it's a very small, little sound. But having said that, it's also a very important vowel

sound because it comes so often in English, in English speaking. In fact, it's... It comes

about once in every three vowel sounds. It comes up all the time, but it's so small you

might not even notice it. So, if you're wanting to make yourself sound like a natural English

speaker as much as possible in your pronunciation, then it's good to understand how to pronounce

the "schwa" and to realize just how often it appears, and you can sound like a much

more natural English speaker if... If you're using it. Okay.

So, the "schwa" comes on unstressed syllables in words. So, if you think any word with more

than one syllable, it's going to have an unstressed... At least one unstressed syllable, so the chance

is it could have "schwa" in it. So, this is the symbol, the phonetic symbol for "schwa".

You don't have to memorize it; that's just to show that it has its own symbol. And it comes

in a word like "about". So, "a", the "a", I've put a little underline to show that's the "schwa".

"A", "a", "a", "a", "about". So, the stress is on "bout", and the beginning, the first syllable,

is unstressed, and that shows how "schwa" comes on the unstressed syllable. "About".

And you can see the difference here between "man", which is a more emphasized "a", "a", "a",

that's not the same. "A", and "a", "a", "a", "a", "a", "a". You can see the shape of my mouth

changes for that. "A", "a", "a" for "schwa", and "a", "a", "a" for "man". So, those are two

different vowel sounds. We've got "man" there. But then if you have "postman", the stress is on

"post". "Postman", "a", "a", "a". So, when you have a longer word with the word "man" maybe at the

end of it, which is not emphasized so much as the other syllable, that is going to turn into

a "schwa". "Postman", "a", "a", "a". So, "man", "man", "postman". Okay? With the emphasis on

"post". So, whenever it comes on an unstressed syllable, that's when it will turn into "schwa".

And it's not even just with the letter "a" that it happens. It can happen with "a", "e", "i",

"o", "u", all the vowel letters. And it can happen with the letter "y" as well,

which is a sort of semi-vowel sound anyway.

Okay, so let's just have a look at some examples to demonstrate how the "schwa" appears so often

on all these different letters. So, we've got here "balloon". So, because the first syllable

is not stressed, "ba-ba-loon". So, "loon" is stressed. "Ba-loon". Okay? And then "machine".

So, "machine" is the strong syllable. "Ma-a-a-a-machine". So, to get the "schwa",

if you're not quite sure yet, you have to let your jaw relax and let your mouth open a little bit.

"A-a-a-a-a-a-a", and just make a sound with that, with your tongue flat down. "A-a-a-a-a-a",

like that, and that's "schwa". Okay. So, "machine". "Ma-chine". And then "again". "A-again".

"A-way". So, it goes so quickly you hardly notice it, so I can't really emphasize it because it's

not an emphasized syllable. So, "a-way". "A-way". Okay. And then a letter "e" here.

"Problem". So, the stress is on "prob". "Problem". "A-a-a-a-problem". Okay. And another "e".

"Happen". So, the stress is on the first syllable. "Happen". Okay. And even with words ending

"er", this is a little bit different with American English because an American might say

"mother", and you get more of the "r" sound, but in British English you get "mother".

"A-a-a-a-a-mother". "Mother". So, the stress is on the first syllable, and then it's just

"a". "Mother". Or you could have "brother", "sister", "father" like that. "A-a-a". So, the "r"

is not pronounced in sort of RP British English. Okay. So, with an "i", and again it's the same

sound. "A-a-a". It doesn't matter whether the letter is "a" or "e" or "i" or "o" or "u",

it's still "a-a-a-a". So, don't feel that you've got to make it sound different just because the

spelling, the letter is different. It's exactly the same vowel sound. "A-a-a". It doesn't matter

what letter it's spelt with because English spelling is a bit illogical anyway. It's not

phonetic. So, "family". "Family". "A-a-a-fam-i-ly". If I say it slowly. "Fam-i-ly". "Family". So,

the stress is on the first syllable. "Fam-i-ly". "A-a-a". So, it's not "fam-i-ly". "I-i". No.

"Fam-i-ly". Okay. And then with an "o", it's still "a". "Connect". So, "nect", that's the

stressed part. "Co-connect". "A-a-a-connect". All right? And then this one has two, they're both

"o". "Po-si-tion". So, the "zi", the middle... It's three syllables. "Po-si-tion". "Po-si-tion".

So, the middle syllable is the strong one. These are both weak syllables, so it's "po-si-tion".

"A-i-a-po-si-tion". So, both of those are schwa, again. And then "lesson". Strong syllable,

"less-un". "Less-un". "Less-un". Right. And then with the letter "u", it's still the same sound,

"uh". "Submit". "Submit". Stressed syllable here, "mit". "Submit". "Submit". Okay. And similarly,

"support". "Support". Okay. And then just a few more words with different letters, again.

"A-na-luh-sis". So, even with the letter "y". "A-na-luh-sis". "A-na-luh-sis". So,

"na" is the strong syllable. "A-na-luh-sis". Okay, so there and there. Right. And with the word

"the", "uh-uh-uh", "the", "the". Okay. And that's the definite article. Then we have the indefinite

article, "uh" and "un", "un". Okay. And then often with words ending "al", it's not like "ow", it's

"al". "Neutral". "Neutral". "Al-al-al". "Neutral". Strong syllable, "new-tral". "New-tral". Okay.

And then "sofa". So, the "so" is the strong syllable. "So-fa". "So-fa". Right. "Camera",

"uh-uh-uh" at the end. "Camera". "Camera". Right. And "letter". Again, "er" at the end,

it doesn't mean you have to pronounce it any differently with an "r" sound if you want to

sound like a British English speaker with an RP accent. "Letter". "Uh-uh-uh". "Letter". "Letter".

Okay. So, I hope that's helped to... To clarify the "er". And as I say, it comes up so often in

English, about once every three vowel sounds. Very common. And it's on an unstressed syllable,

so it's something you might just like to practice with these examples, and then start to feel

where it falls in other words as well. If you're listening to other speakers,

you can listen out for it. So, okay. So, all the best with that,

and thank you for watching, and hope to see you again soon. Bye for now.