Pronunciation
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Tim's Pronunciation Workshop: Schwa
Episode 51 / 20 Mar 2017
Tim
Hi, I'm Tim and this is my pronunciation workshop. Here, I'm gonna show you how English is really spoken. It'll help you to become a better listener and a more fluent speaker. You ready? Come on, follow me. Now, there's an idiom in the English language that means that something is really easy. Any idea what it is? Well, here's a clue. Do you know now? Let's ask the people of London:
Voxpops
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
Tim
A piece of cake – an expression that means that something is really easy to do, as well as meaning – a piece of cake. But listen again to the words 'a' and 'of'. They are actually pronounced the same. What is the sound - and are those words stressed?
Voxpops
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
Tim
The words 'a' and 'of' are both pronounced as /ə/ and they're not stressed. This sound /ə/ is the most common sound in the whole English language. It's so common that it even has its own name – schwa. Now, it can be difficult to hear the schwa because it is never stressed. However, it's a vowel sound that's used in many grammar words like articles and prepositions. Here are some more examples.
Examples
I like a cup of tea in the morning.
Could you get a packet of biscuits?
Can you give it to me?
I had an apple for lunch today.
Tim
So, you've heard the examples, and now it's your turn. Are you ready to start? Listen and repeat.
Examples
I like a cup of tea in the morning.
Could you get a packet of biscuits?
Can you give it to me?
I had an apple for lunch today.
Tim
Great work. Now remember, if you want to learn more about pronunciation then please visit our website: bbclearningenglish.com. That's about it from the pronunciation workshop for now. I'll see you soon. Bye bye. Now, I've got a cup of tea and I've got a biscuit, I'm looking forward to a piece of cake. That was a mistake, but a tasty one.
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Episode 53 / 03 Apr 2017
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Episode 52 / 27 Mar 2017
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Episode 51 / 20 Mar 2017
Tim's looking at an aspect of spoken English called 'schwa'
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Episode 36 / 04 Nov 2014
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Episode 32 / 04 Nov 2014
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Episode 29 / 04 Nov 2014
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Episode 28 / 04 Nov 2014
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Episode 17 / 20 Oct 2014
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Episode 16 / 20 Oct 2014
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Episode 15 / 20 Oct 2014
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Episode 14 / 20 Oct 2014
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Episode 13 / 20 Oct 2014
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Episode 12 / 20 Oct 2014
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Episode 11 / 20 Oct 2014
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This is the eighth diphthong programme in our series of 45 pronunciation videos that explore the sounds of English.
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This is the fifth diphthong programme in our series of 45 pronunciation videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 6 / 06 Jan 2023
This is the sixth of eight diphthong programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 6 / 14 Jan 2023
This is the sixth of eight voiceless consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 5 / 13 Jan 2023
This is the fifth of eight voiceless consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 5 / 05 Jan 2023
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Episode 5 / 29 Jan 2023
This is the fifth of eight other consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 5 / 21 Jan 2023
This is the fifth of eight voiced consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 5 / 23 Sep 2014
This is the fourth diphthong programme in our series of 45 pronunciation videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 5 / 06 Feb 2023
This is the fifth of seven short vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Long Vowels - 5
Episode 5 / 13 Feb 2023
This is the fifth of five long vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 4 / 20 Jan 2023
This is the fourth of eight voiced consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 4 / 04 Jan 2023
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Episode 4 / 12 Feb 2023
This is the fourth of five long vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 4 / 12 Jan 2023
This is the fourth of eight voiceless consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 4 / 23 Sep 2014
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Episode 4 / 05 Feb 2023
This is the fourth of seven short vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 4 / 28 Jan 2023
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Episode 3 / 11 Jan 2023
This is the third of eight voiceless consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 3 / 04 Feb 2023
This is the third of seven short vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Long Vowels - 3
Episode 3 / 11 Feb 2023
This is the third of five long vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 3 / 03 Jan 2023
This is the second of eight diphthong programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 3 / 27 Jan 2023
This is the third of eight other consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 3 / 23 Sep 2014
This is the second diphthong programme in our series of 45 pronunciation videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Voiced Consonants - 3
Episode 3 / 19 Jan 2023
This is the third of eight voiced consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 2 / 26 Jan 2023
This is the second of eight other consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 2 / 03 Feb 2023
This is the second of seven short vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 2 / 18 Jan 2023
This is the second of eight voiced consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 2 / 02 Jan 2023
This is the second of eight diphthong programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
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Episode 2 / 10 Feb 2023
This is the second of five long vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Voiceless Consonants - 2
Episode 2 / 10 Jan 2023
This is the second of eight voiceless consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Diphthongs - 1
Episode 2 / 23 Sep 2014
This is the first diphthong programme in our series of 45 pronunciation videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Other Consonants - 1
Episode 1 / 25 Jan 2023
This is the first of eight other consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Short Vowels - 1
Episode 1 / 02 Feb 2023
This is the first of seven short vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Voiceless Consonants - 1
Episode 1 / 09 Jan 2023
This is the first of eight voiceless consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
Introduction to The Sounds of English
Episode 1 / 23 Sep 2014
This is the introductory video to our The sounds of English series
The Sounds of English: Voiced Consonants - 1
Episode 1 / 17 Jan 2023
This is the first of eight voiced consonant programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Diphthongs - 1
Episode 1 / 01 Jan 2023
This is the first of eight diphthong programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.
The Sounds of English: Long Vowels - 1
Episode 1 / 09 Feb 2023
This is the first of five long vowel programmes in our series of videos that explore the sounds of English.