The Umlaut “Ö” in German: Exercises Based on chapter 5.8 of Rundblick 2 and online Speaking Practice Chapter 5, 9.9 and 11.8

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Umlaut “Ä” and “A” –contrast: Whilst the mouth position of both “o” and “ö” is pretty identical, the position of jaw and Adam’s Apple changes: For the “o”, the lips are pursed, the teeth are apart, the bottom jaw is dropped, the tongue loose in the bottom of the mouth but for the “ö”, the Adam’s Apple moves slightly up, the lower jaw closes slightly, the tongue presses against the bottom teeth and the sound is higher in pitch: This difference is best practised in front of a mirror: place your fingers softly on your Adam’s Apple and say a few times: “Ohren” (ears, plural) – “hören” (to hear)

Test Yourself 2: what do you hear – “o” [ɔ/o:] or “ö” [ɶ, ø/ø:]?. BrotVogel Ohr Sohn mochte möchte Brötchen Löwe Lösung Möbel Töchter Bogen

Test Yourself 2: what do you hear – “short ö” [ ø/ ɶ ] or “long ö” [ ø: ]? “short ö” [ø/ɶ] “long ö” [ø:]? zwölf die Söhne (plural) öffnen Französisch können die Töchter (plural) die Höhen (plural) der Löwe schön hören die Schlösser (plural)

Your turn to practise: the Ä/ä [Ɛ/Ɛ:] sound Please repeat the following words after me (I say each word 2x): der Käse Dänemark der Bär die Väter (plural) die Nächte (plural) die Blätter (plural) der Lärm hässlich das Geschäft jährlich der Millionär

Your turn to practise: using both the [Ɛ/Ɛ:] and the [a/a:] sound: Please repeat the following words after me: Vater – Väter - Vater Kasten – Käse -Kasten Blatt – Blätter - Blatt ich fahre – du fährst – ich fahre älter – alt - älter Nässe – nass - Nässe Häuser – Haus - Häuser Äste – Ast - Äste

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