Teaching English Language Learners K-12 by Jesness Jerry;

Author:Jesness, Jerry; [JESNESS, JERRY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1994269
Publisher: Corwin Press
Published: 2004-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

THOSE TRICKY VOWELS

English vowels are trickier than consonants. English has the misfortune to have 17 vowels and diphthongs and only 6 letters with which to represent them (7 if you count the unsung semivowel w). In the majority of cases, the vowels are long or short. The short vowels are all pure vowels, while the long vowels are all diphthongs of two pure vowel sounds. Generally the long vowel diphthong is represented by the same letter as the short vowel, with a silent vowel following to indicate that the previous vowel is long. This is confusing to speakers of languages like Spanish in which each letter representing a vowel sound is pronounced.

In grade school, those of us who learned to read with phonics learned the rule, “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.” Usually a pair of vowels indicates that the first vowel is long and the second is silent. An e at the end of a word is also usually silent and indicates that the previous vowel is long. We also learned that the vowels in open syllables are generally long, while those in closed syllables are generally short. It is easiest to explain the open/closed syllable rule thus: Two or more consonants in a row—either the same, as in miller, or different, as in banter—usually indicate that the previous vowel is short. A single medial consonant, as in cutest or filing, indicates that the previous vowel is long.

Many words that English borrowed from Romance languages (French, Spanish, Italian) preserve the Romance pronunciation of vowels. Many words that end in vowels other than e follow this convention.

Although the short vowels are pretty consistent, there are several conventions for the long ones. There are seven common ways to represent the long a. Three follow the vowels-walking-and-talking rule, as in trail, fame, and play. Two are irregular, as in they and weight. One follows the open/closed syllable rule, as in aping or debater. In words borrowed from Romance languages, the long a sound may be represented by e, as in cafe or quesadilla.

There are seven common ways to represent the long e. Three follow the walking-talking vowel rule, as in cede, real, and feet. The final y may be pronounced as a long e, as in candy, as can ie, as in Barbie, rabies, or thief. E before a single consonant is usually long, as in meter. In words borrowed from Romance languages, the long e sound may be represented with i, as in piano or spaghetti.

There are five common conventions for the long i sound. Two follow the walking, talking rule, as in file and lie. One follows the open syllable convention, as in spider. Two are irregular, as in sigh and dry.

There are six common conventions for the long o. Four follow the walking, talking vowel convention, as in pole, soap, hoe, and know. O also often becomes long before r or l, as in fold or for. O is generally long before a single consonant, as in motion.

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