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                        AMERICAN ENGLISH SPEECH

                                    VOWEL SOUNDS

                                               

I                                    

     

The I sound is most often confused with EE by English-as-a-second-language students.  Remember, this sound is “relaxed”.  That means the muscles of the mouth are relaxed, not tense.

 

Instructions to make this sound: Is your tongue high in your mouth but are the muscles of your mouth relaxed? Be sure this does not sound like the name of the letter ”e.”

 

Common problems: Using an EE sound so “it” sounds like “eat.”

 

Common spellings: E as in “exist,” I as in “hit,” O as in “women,” U as in “busy,” UI as in “guitar,” Y as in “system”

 

it                                  complete it              

is                                 this is it                                 

live                              live near the beach                       

winter                        every winter                        

position                     a position in the company          

 

Bill’s physician reports his condition is serious.                 

Cindy lives in a very distant city, doesn’t she?