Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Transcript

This is the e sound. And this is the ɛ sound. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to tell them apart, PLUS you'll be practicing them and on your way to perfect pronunciation!
I'm Doria, and this is French Pronunciation Through Minimal Pairs.
First is the e sound we learned in Lesson 1. E is the e sound in école, chanter, nez, and other words.
And ɛ is the ɛ sound in elle, lait, père, and other words.
e and ɛ are called "front vowels" because they are pronounced with the highest part of the tongue positioned in the front part of the mouth.
In Lesson 1, we have learned how to make the e sound: the lips and teeth part slightly. Place the tip of your tongue against your lower teeth, and keep your lips unrounded and relaxed. It sounds similar to the ay sound in play, but your mouth is more closed, and the vowel is shorter.
e
[3 sec pause]
e (enunciated)
[3 sec pause]
e
e
[3 sec pause]
e (enunciated)
[3 sec pause]
e
To make the ɛ sound: the tongue touches the bottom row of teeth. The muscles of your mouth should be more relaxed and the mouth should be more open than [e].
ɛ
[3 sec pause]
ɛ (enunciated)
[3 sec pause]
ɛ
ɛ
[3 sec pause]
ɛ (enunciated)
[3 sec pause]
ɛ
The difference between these two sounds is also about how open your mouth is.
/e/ is pronounced with a fairly closed mouth, but /ɛ/ is pronounced with a more open mouth.
/e/ is half closed, and /ɛ/ is half open.
When you say the vowel /e/, like in les,
the highest point of your tongue is a bit lower, and your lower jaw moves a little bit away from the upper jaw, which makes the mouth slightly more open than /i/.
For the vowel /ɛ/, like in lait,
the tongue touches the bottom row of teeth. The muscles of your mouth should be more relaxed, and the mouth should be more open than [e].
So, Listen to the difference and repeat after me.
e ɛ.
[3 sec pause]
e ɛ (enunciated).
[3 sec pause]
e ɛ.
e ɛ.
[3 sec pause]
e ɛ (enunciated).
[3 sec pause]
e ɛ.
So, try to focus on the openness of the mouth when you pronounce these two sounds.
Listen and repeat or speak along with me.
Ready?
les/lait
(space for repetition)
les/lait
ses/sais
(space for repetition)
ses/sais
Let's review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then, repeat after me, focusing on pronunciation.
Do you remember the sound that's more open?
(3)
(2)
(1)
ɛ
(1)
ɛ
And the more closed sound?
(3)
(2)
(1)
e
(1)
e
Let's practice.
Compare the sounds in these two words. Which word has the more closed sound, and which has the more open sound?
les/lait
(1)
les/lait
(1)
Les has the more closed sound, and lait has the more open sound.
Let's try another.
(3 sec pause)
ses/sais
(1)
ses/sais
(1)
Ses has the more closed sound, and sais has the more open sound.
Let's try one more.
(3 sec pause)
parlé/parlait
(1)
parlé/parlait
(1)
Parlé has the more closed sound, and parlait has the more open sound.
Now listen to the following sentences. Which words have the more closed sound and which have the more open sound?
(1 sec pause)
Les chats aiment le lait.
les, lait
(3 sec pause)
Tu sais où sont ses chaussures?
(3 sec pause)
ses, sais
(3 sec pause)
Read the following sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds.
Elle a parlé français alors qu'il parlait anglais.
(3 sec pause)
parlé, parlait
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