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Osee Posted 19 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

About the pairs /ɛ/ and /e/, /ɛr/ and /er/ in American English?

0Hi all, 02br
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00Would you tell me what are the differences btween the pairs /ɛ/ and /e/, /ɛr/ and /er/ 01b00in American English (how to pronounce them)02b00?02br
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00This question is arised from one of my threats I post in this forum where I tried to recognize the pronunciation of clarity in American English01b00.02b02br
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00Thanks a lot for your energy!02br
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00Osee0-
  

Top answer

0 /ɛ/ and /e/ (or /eI/ or other variations depending on dialect and position), generally contrast. Bet /bɛt/ and bait /bet/ are distinguished. However, before certain consonants such as /r\/, the distinction between tense and lax vowels is neutralized.

— Marvin A.

  • 0 /ɛ/ and /e/ (or /eI/ or other variations depending on dialect and position), generally contrast.
  • Bet /bɛt/ and bait /bet/ are distinguished.
  • However, before certain consonants such as /r\/, the distinction between tense and lax vowels is neutralized.
  • Therefore any tense or lax vowel before /r\/ is considered to be neither tense nor lax.
  • Thus, /ɛr\/ and /er\/ are both the same in General American.
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5 Answers
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0 /ɛ/ and /e/ (or /eI/ or other variations depending on dialect and position), generally contrast. Bet /bɛt/ and bait /bet/ are distinguished. However, before certain consonants such as /r\/, the distinction between tense and lax vowels is neutralized. Therefore any tense or lax vowel before /r\/ is considered to be neither tense nor lax. Thus, /ɛr\/ and /er\/ are both the same in General Am
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0This question is arised from one of my threats...02br
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01font00Hi, Osee02font02br
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01font01font00I think "threa01b00d02b00s02font00" is the co
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0 Yeah, I knew that's what he meant. He must speak a language that has final consonant devoicing, or no voice-voiceless distinction in word final position, or a language that has no /z/. 0-
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0 Thank you guys! 0-
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0 I think you would do well to listen to the words below at www.m-w.com to learn the pronunciation of the six R-colored vowels of American English.02br
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00 deer moor02br
00care fur core 02br
00 tar02br
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00 These are the vowel-plus-R sounds used by most Americans.02br
00 There ar
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