{< {<

* 8** **{<**{8*{<{<{<{<t*****{< {<**********{<

**8**{<

{<{*rr*{<

lil as in ME TEA and

(DICTIONARY MARK: e>

BEE

[r]asin IT and

AND

PIN

(DICTIONARY MARK: i)
*********{<{<*{<*'B***{<{<{<***{<*t**t<{<{<{<t{<*{c{<{<{<{**{<8{<{<{<**

PRONOUNCTNG

[i]
are tense and in a "smile" position.

LIPS: JAW:

is completely raised.

TONGUE: is high near the roof of the mouth.

The sound Ii] in English is similar to stressed "f" in Spanish. longer and more prolonged than Spanish "i".)

(til

is actually

SPANTSH KEY WORDS WrTH

til
"i" or "i".
dia

Spanish words with this sound are spelled with

KEY WORDS: ibu

utno

alli

POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER

Pronunciation problems occur because of confusing English spelling patterns and the similarity of Ii] and Ir] (the sound to be described next). It's easy to understand why some Spanish speakers are afraid to say words like "sheet" or "beqch."

EMMPLES: When you substitute [r] for

[i]:

sheep becomes ship

eat

becomes

if

DON'T WORRY! You alreadg know the [il sound in Spanish. Remember to feel tension in your lips, tongue, and jaw. Ii] is a LONG sound; be sure to prolong it. SMILE when you say !il; We GUARANTEE it's EASY to say fil!!!
[i] as in ME and [r] as in

IT I I

EXERCISE A
The following words should all be pronounced with after your teacher or the instructor on the tape'

Ii].

Repeat them carefully

til At the Beginning

eat eel
east easy

lil

In the Middle

[i] At the End

he bee

mean need keen deep

seal

key tea
fee

each

even equal
eagle

leave
reach scene please

tree knee
free she

eaget either

police

agree

lil
"g"

spelled:
,,

ee,

,,

ear,

"ig" ot "j"
niece brief piece belief either

he

see

east

we me
scene these

eel

deed
heel

needy

lean team cheap peach

Less frequent spelling patterns for

Ii]

consist of the letters

"i"

and "eo"

EXAMPLES:

Police

PeoPle

HINTS: a.
b.

The letters "ee" are usually pronounced f il' EXAMPLES: see green Ieet freedom
The letters

"ei" and "ie" are usually pronounced EiGMPLES: either receive piece grief

Iii'

Note:

you that this exercise is included The picture of a tape cassette next to an exercise tells on the taPe.

12

[i]as in ME and [I]as in IT

NOTE: When speaking English, native Spanish speakers frequently. forget to prolong the [i] vowel before
consonants.

EXERCISE B
Read the following pairs of [i] words aloud. PROLONG the [i] vowel before the consonant. (The dots are there to remind you to lengthen the [i].) This exercise is not on the tape.

1. fee 2. see 3. pea 4. bee 5. tea

Fll II:{II

.......d see . .. . . . .d pea.......s bee . .. . . . .s tea ......m

fee

(feed)
(seed) (peas) (bees)

(team)

----EXERCISE C

The boldface words in the following phrases and sentences should all be pronounced with the vowel Ii]. Repeat them carefully after your teacher or the instructor on the tape.

1. See you next week.

2. See you this evening. 3. See you at three. 4. See what I mean? 5. Pleased to meet you. 6. Steve eats cream cheese.
7. Lee has a reason for leaving. 8. She received her teaching degree. 9. A friend in need, is a friend indeed!
10. They reached a peace agreement. 11. The dean will be free at three. 12. We will keep the secret. 13. Spring is the peak season for peaches. 14. Did you see Pete at the meeting? 15. I feel abreeze throuqh the trees.

[i] as in ME and [r]as in

IT l3

[J

sELF-rEsr I

(Correct answers may be found in Appendix II on page 162.)

Repeat each of the following words after your teacher or the instructor on the tape. Circle only the words that are pronounced with Ii].

2. stem 3. easy 4. window 5. Easter

1@

6. Christmas 7. holiday 8. difficult 9. three

10.
six

11. pencil 12. season 13. winter 14. spring 15. even

76. agree 77. been 18. bean 19. ice

20. meat

SELF.TEST

II

(Correct answers may be found in Appendix II on page 162.)

Read each series of four words out loud. Circle the ONE word in each group of four that is NOT pronounced with Ii] This self-test is not on the tape.
E)(AMPLE:

keep

lean great either

Ieave

plece

1. bead

lea
niece even

2.
3.

eight
scene

believe
these sleep

4.

5. 6. prelp 7. people 8. tin 9. leave

10. steep

need police

women been thief wheat bread teen

Iive

machine sweet
deal steam

thirteen vision cream

east

receive
lease

leaf
easy

Steve

still

1,4

[i] as in ME and [r]as in IT

PRONOUNCING Ir]

LIPS: JAW:

are relaxed and slightly parted.

is slightly lower than for Ii].

TONGUE: is high, but lower than for [i].

POSSIBLE PRONUNCIAf,ION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER

The vowel
does not exist in spanish and may be difficult for you to recognize and say. You probably substitute the more familiar Ii] sound.

[r]

EIGMPLES: When you substitute

[i] for II]: hit becomes heat itch becomes each

As you practice the exercises, remember NOT to "smile" and tense your lips as you would for [i]. [I] is a SHORT QUICK sound; your lips should

barely move as you say it.

EXERCISE A
The following words should allbe pronounced with after your teacher or the instructor on the tape.*

II].

Repeat them carefully

lrl At the Beginning

is

lrl In the Middle

pin lift
give
.miss

II

it
ill itch

simple

into ink inch

issue

winter
listen

instant

timid minute little

*The vowel

[I]

does not occur at the end of words in English.

[i]as in ME and [r]as in

IT 15

Ir] spelled:
,rv, gym syrup symbol
system

ttuibuild quick quilt guilty guitar

"i"
sin lips

rhythm

with gift differ

Less frequent spelling patterns for

"ee".
E)GMPLES:

Ir]

consist of the letters

"o", "e", "u",

and

women pretty busy been

EXERCISE B
The boldface words in the following phrases and sentences should all be pronounced with the [r] vowel. Repeat them carefully after your teacher or
the instructor on the tape.

1. This is it.

2. What is this? 3. This is my sister. 4. This is Miss Smith. 5. This is big business. 6. Bitl is still ill.
7. This winter was bitter. 8. Give the list to Lynn. 9. My little sister is timid. 10. The picture is a big hit. 11. Is the building finished? 12. Bring this gift to Jim. 13. I will sit in a minute. 14. Which quilt did you pick? 15. Did you give him his gift?

[i]as in ME and ftl

as

in IT

SELF-TEST I

(Correct answers may be found in Appendix II on page 162.)

Read each series of four words out loud. Circle the ONE word in each group of four that is NOT pronounced with II]. This self-test is not on the tape.

D(AMPLE: rhythm
1. fifty

build
sixty
sill feGh-tee-h

finish
,o *'

2.
^ r

4. building 5. pistol 6. quit , ,- ---:iD" /. 4!99PJ 8. pretty

uregelg

1i--T-----

window

'*;.*__Z wloow
simple little

x!14 resign
(

/-5.

svmpathv

)*-/-\ w9 symbol
guitar whistle brittle fifteen

{si>l

Mn-al
flip been

fiddle -":n FnP.r

\fickle\ "
teel tihr>' Ie9y9 typical

10.(@)

9.

business

\y9rnglj
pity

6
lltl

tips

-sl SELF-TEST II

(Correct answers may be {ound in Appendix II on page 163.)

Listen carefully to your teacher or the tape as the following pairs of words are presented. ONE word in each pair is pronounced with II]. Circle the number of the word with ihe vowel Ir].
EXAMPLE: The instructor You

circle: e

says: mitt

meat
2

1.7 2.7 3. 1 4.r 5. 1

2 2 2 2

6.L 7. | 8. 1 9. 1 10.t

2 2 2 2 2

[i] as in ME and [r]as in

IT 17