# 2: The Schwa

Say it in English...!

Learn to recognize and pronounce the SCHWA SOUND.

Hi. My name is Enrique and I am the creator of
Say it in English...! This is the second podcast of a series that will discuss topics related to American English Pronunciation.

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In today's podcast, we will talk about one of the most important vowel sounds in English: the schwa sound.

When it comes the time to pronounce words in English, it is a very common fact that non-native speakers of English tend to omit sistematically the use of an importarnt sound in English phonology: the schwa vowel. It is incredibly fascinating to find out that most EFL (English as Foreign Language Students) are not aware about this sound. The natural consequence is that it is never used, but replaced by non standard vowels coming from the native speaker's mother tongue.
Believe it or not, this ignored sound is the most common vowel sound in English. It is always present as part of unstressed syllables. It is never present in stressed syllables.
Its articulation is simple. Just keep the lips relaxed and do not open your mouth too much. In matter of fact, the opening of the mouth is little when pronouncing this vowel sound.

Repeat three times after me:

/?/ ..., /?/ ..., /?/ ...

As you can listen, its sound is not definitively clear. It is a reduced vowel sound.
Let's take, for example the word lesson. This word has two syllables. One is stressed: less; the other is unstressed: on.
less-on

The first syllable (less) is stressed, it means that it has to be full pronounced. The vowels and consonants in this first syllable have to be perfectly articulated because this syllable is stressed.
On the other hand, the second syllable (on) is not stressed, but de-stressed. This lack of stress makes the syllable week So, its elements are pronounced faster and without paying too much attention to their careful articulation. The sounds in this second syllable are, in conclusion, reduced. The vowel sound especifically experiments here the greatest reduction. It becomes a non-definite vowel sound called schwa.
Let's listen this word again. Pay attention the way the second syllable is articulated.
less-on

Now, let's take a look to its phonetic representation using the IPA symbols:

/?l?s ?n/

The vowel in the second syllable is definitely not an (o), but a schwa.

Let's have a little more of the vowel schwa on the next words.

1. cushon
2. circus
3. lemmon
4. genius
5. apron
6. about

Now listen and repeat after me.

1. cushon
2. circus
3. lemmon
4. genius
5. apron
6. about

Now that you are aware about the existence of the schwa, why do not you start finding out what words from the ones you usually use have this sound. Use a dictionary that includes the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols to find out where the schwa sound is. I highly recommend dictionary.com. It is a free dictionary and it has a huge amount of information. It includes the IPA symbols in it. Just write the word in the search box and click the link that says Show IPA symbols.

That's it for today's program. Let's keep in touch with our free podcasts in iTunes store. This is a presentation sponsored by Say it in English...! Your improved pronunciation is just waiting for you...!