Lesson 1 - Beginning phonetic course

• Vowel sounds: [а], [э], [о], [у], [ы], [и]
• Consonant sounds: [п], [б], [м], [т], [д], [н]
• Syllable. Disyllabic words with the accent on the second syllable. Model таТА
• Intonation of declarative sentence (IC-1)
• Work at home

 

Vowel sounds: [а], [э], [о], [у], [ы], [и]

Phonetic transcription – is used to write down the sounds of an oral speech, based on the concept of one-to-one correspondence between a sound and its graphic symbol. Transcription should be written in square brackets. In the word consisting of two and more syllables, one syllable is accented.

In the Russian language every vowel taken separately or in combination with consonants forms a syllable. Two vowels form two syllables. Russian words have one accented syllable. The accent may fall on the first, second, third etc. syllable of a word. The accented syllable is longer and is articulated more tensely than unaccented ones.

There are 33 letters in russian alphabet, but there are many more sounds in the language. 10 of the letters are vowels, 21 are consonants and the last 2 are graphic signs.
The lips play more important part in the pronunciation of Russian vowels than they do in the articulation of English vowels. All Russian vowels are shorter than their English counterparts.

Vowel letter A a [a] – sounds almost like «a» in english word «father». While pronouncing the vowel [a] the mouth is wide open. The lips are relaxed. The tip of the tongue is lowered and lies behind the lower teeth.

Vowel letter Э э [э] – sounds almost like «e» in english word «let». While pronouncing the vowel [э] the mouth is slightly open. The lips are relaxed. The tip of the tongue is touches the lower teeth.

Vowel letter О о [о], [a] – sounds almost like «aw» in english word «law» but it is short. While pronouncing the vowel [o] the lips are protruded and rounded. The tip of the tongue is raised and doesn’t touch lower teeth.

Vowel letter У у [у] – sounds almost like «oo» in english word «food» but it is short. While pronouncing the vowel [y] the lips are very much protruded and rounded more than when pronouncing [o]. The tongue is taken backwards so that its tip doesn’t touch the lower teeth. The tip of the mouth is lowered and the back of tongue is raised.

Vowel letter И и [и], [ы] – sounds almost like «ee» in english word «meet» but it is short. While pronouncing the vowel [и] the mouth is open very slightly. Sides of the tongue touch the lateral teeth, the tip of the tongue is lowered and touches the lower teeth.

Vowel letter Ы ы [ы] – special russian sound. To pronounce the sound [ы], it is necessary to open a mouth as for pronouncing [и], thus it is necessary to take tongue back so that its tip doesn’t touch the lower teeth.

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Consonant sounds: [п], [б], [м], [т], [д], [н]

Consonants can be voiced and voiceless. In russian language there are 6 pairs of voiced and voiceless consonants.

Consonant letter Б б [б], [п] – voiced, sounds almost like «b» in english word «bed». And it sounds almost like «p» in english word «speak» - at the end of the word and syllable.
While pronouncing the sound [б] the mouth is closed. The lips are pressed together. The tongue is taken backwards. The air stream breaks through the little chink between the lips. The vocal cords work.
While pronouncing the sound [п] the articulation is the same, but the air stream is stronger and vocal cords do not work.

Consonant letter П п [п] – voiceless, sounds almost like «p» in english word «speak». While pronouncing the sound [п] the articulation is like the pronouncing [б], but the air stream is stronger and vocal cords do not work.

Consonant letter Д д [д], [т] – voiced, sounds almost like «d» in english word «day». And it sounds like «t» in english word «stay» – at the end of the word and syllable.

While pronouncing the sound [д] the front part of the tongue’s back is pressed to the upper teeth. The air stream breaks through the chink between the teeth and tongue. The vocal cords work.
While pronouncing the sound [т] the articulation is the same, but the air stream is stronger and vocal cords don’t work.

Consonant letter Т т [т] – voiceless, sounds almost like «t» in english word «stay». While pronouncing the sound [т] the articulation is like the pronouncing [д], but the air stream is stronger and vocal cords don’t work.

 

Consonant letter Н н [н] – voiced, sounds almost like «n» in english word «no». While pronouncing the sound [н] the front part of the tongue’s back touches the upper teeth, but the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth. The air stream breaks through the chink between the teeth. The air goes through nasal cavity. The vocal cords work.

Consonant letter М м [м] – voiced, sounds almost like «m» in english word «map». While pronouncing the sound [м] the mouth is closed. The lips are pressed together. The air stream breaks through the chink between the teeth. The air partly goes through nasal cavity. The vocal cords work.

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Syllable. Disyllabic words with the accent on the second syllable.
Model таТА

In russian language the accent may fall on every syllable. In this lesson you will learn the words with two syllables and with the accent on the second syllable.

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Intonation of declarative sentence (IC-1)

There are five main intonational constructions in Russian. The intonational construction IC-1 conveys the message, the completed statement (declarative sentence).

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Work at home

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банан а до дно Боб батон да дуб дом дым и иду идут мы над но на нам он под пуд ты тот тут там тон том туда туман ум умны

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