Vowels: Compare short a/short o/aw sound

Listen to the short a sound
Listen to the short o sound
Listen to the aw sound

The short a, short o, and aw sound are all pronounced with the tongue kept generally low in the mouth.

Compare the short a and short o sounds

The short a sound is pronounced with a slightly lowered jaw. The body of the tongue is pressed forward and the front of tongue is low and pressed lightly into the bottom front teeth. The lips are relaxed. To transition into the short o sound, the jaw opens and the body of the tongue moves back and drops low into the bottom teeth. The lips are more rounded than for the short a sound, but still relaxed.

short a		short o
black hat tap		block hot top

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Compare the short o and aw sound

From the short o sound, with the body of the tongue low and the jaw open, the transition into the aw sound can be complex. The jaw closes about halfway from the short o position, and the back of the tongue rounds slightly upward. The lips are made into an oval shape, and may push outward.

short o		aw sound
nod pond collar		gnawed pawned caller

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Compare short a, short o, and aw sound

short a		short o		aw sound
cat add sad stack tack		cot odd sod stock tock		caught awed sawed stalk talk

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Pronuncian Lessons

  

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