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PRONUNCIATION PROJECT - Vietnamese Vowel Combination: âu

 


Vietnamese Vowel Combination: âu

Phonetic Description/Features: This is a diphthong that starts with the close-mid, back, rounded 'ô' sound (like the "long o" in English go) and then glides towards the close, back, rounded 'u' sound (like in English moon). Both sounds are rounded, and the transition involves tightening the lip rounding and raising the tongue slightly.

Closest English Sound & New Example:

  • English Sound: The "oa" sound in "boat" or "road" (if extended slightly)

  • New Example: grow (the "ow" sound, but with more emphasis on the initial rounded 'o')

Step-by-Step Teaching Technique:

  1. Master the Starting 'ô':

    • Ensure the student can accurately produce the Vietnamese 'ô' sound (lips tightly rounded, jaw mid-closed, tongue high-back, like in "go"). "Say 'ohhh' with tight, forward lips."

  2. Identify the Target 'u':

    • Have them make the Vietnamese 'u' sound (lips even tighter and more forward, tongue very high and back, like in "moon"). "Say 'oooo' with extremely rounded lips."

  3. The Glide - Tightening Rounding:

    • Instruct the student to start with the 'ô' sound.

    • Then, while sustaining the sound, smoothly and subtly tighten their lip rounding and push them even further forward, while raising the back of their tongue slightly higher.

    • Analogy: "It's like starting with a rounded 'oh' and then making your lips even more rounded and puckered for 'oo', all in one breath. 'Oh-ooo' becomes 'âu'."

    • Focus: The change is subtle, primarily in the degree of lip rounding and tongue height. The lips remain rounded throughout.

  4. Practice Gradually:

    • Start slowly: "Oh...ooo" then gradually speed up until it's one smooth diphthong: "Oh-ooo" -> "âu".

  5. Connect to English:

    • "This is similar to the 'ow' in English grow or snow, but ensure both parts are clearly rounded and the tongue moves from high-back to even higher-back."

    • Practice English words: bowl, cold (for the 'o' sound, then extend it slightly).

  6. Practice Vietnamese Words:

    • đầu (head) - Focus on the 'âu' sound.

    • sâu (deep)

    • cầu (bridge/to wish)

    • trầu (betel quid)

  7. Troubleshooting:

    • Not enough distinction between 'ô' and 'u': Emphasize the slight increase in lip rounding and tongue height at the end.

    • Not maintaining rounding: Remind them the lips must stay rounded throughout the entire sound.

Sounding like a simple 'ô': They need to actively complete the glide to the 'u' position.

NOTE: This is an ongoing project that I am working to develop a teaching technique for all of the vowels and consonants in the Vietnamese language.

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