mid vowels [ʌ], [ə], [ɝ], [ɚ]

[ʌ] Spellings: oe as in does u as in up o as in month ou as in double Sample: He was lucky to double his money in under a month. Spellings: oe as in does u as in up o as in month ou as in double oo as in blood

Practice words Beginning Beginning Middle Middle up under brother enough oven ugly nothing tough other usher bubble month onion ultimate done luck uncle us gun double

practice sentences There’s nothing cooking in the oven. My uncle and my brother have the matter under discussion. I blew the ultimate bubble with the ugly- looking gum. The other instructor is a tougher grader.

contrast [ʌ] and [ɑ] [ʌ] [ɑ] hut hot come calm rub rob shut shot gun gone

[ə] Sample: The price of bananas went down again. Spellings: a, e, i, o, u, plus virtually any vowel combination, in unstressed syllables.

Description and production [ə] is a low, mid-central, unstressed vowel. It does not occur in any stressed vowels or in stressed single syllable words. [ə] is produced in the way as [ʌ]. The only difference is in the stress (loudness and forcefulness). Produce voice, but not as loud or long as for an [ʌ].

practice words Beginning Middle End about lion soda another official tuba away elephant vanilla agree connect arena appreciate parade camera

Practice sentences He walked across the restricted area. They couldn’t agree on an official solution. Roberta was afraid she would fall asleep in class. Did you bring your camera to the parade?

[ɝ] Sample: The early turtle is the first one in the herd. Spellings: er as in herd olo as in colonel ear as in early yr as in myrtle our as in journey yrrh as in myrrh ur as in turtle ir as in first or as in world

Practice words Beginning Beginning Middle Middle Earn irk nervous word Urge herb learn girl Urban earnest burn whirl Earth urgent attorney curve

PRACTICE SENTENCES She learned why the map of the world was curved. The attorney nervously awaited the urgent message. He burned his early travel journals. I worked hard to read the words on the Grecian urn.

[ɚ] Sample: Her father’s letter gave the governor pleasure. Any vowel and r combination. [ɚ] is a mid-central, unstressed vowel with an [r] quality. It is used only in unstressed syllables and words. [ɚ] is produced in the same way as [ɝ] only difference being in the loudness and forcefulness.

Practice words Middle Middle End End perhaps sisterly wonder burger modern interstate tire caller western government dollar runner counterfeit eastern matter actor berserk answered tar after

Practice sentences The tire goes on the eastern end of the street. That actor looks like an anchorman. They caught the counterfeiters on Interstate 95. Something’s bothering my father.