The Language Warehouse Spanish Basic Course -
Phonology Unit 2
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Part I
1. This is a Spanish syllable.
2. This is the same syllable, but it is pronounced wrong.
3. Here is the same syllable, right (R) followed by wrong (W).
(R) (W) (R) (W)
4. Which is the right one, No. 1 or No. 2?
(1) (2) (1) (2)
(2)
5. Which is the right one this time?
(1) (2) (1) (2)
(1)
6. Here is a different syllable. Which is the right one?
(1) (2)
(1)
7. Here is a new syllable, first pronounced right and then wrong.
(R) (W) (R) (W)
8. Which is the right one, No. 1 or No. 2?
(1) (2)
(1)
9. You will now hear this syllable and a previous one, both right:
(R) (R)
10. Are both of these right?
( ) ( )
(no)
11. Are both of these right?
( ) ( )
(no)
12. Are both of these right?
( ) ( )
(yes)
13. Here is a new syllable pronounced right then wrong:
(R) (W)
14. Which is the right one?
(1) (2)
(1)
15. Are both of these right?
( ) ( )
(no)
16. Are these right?
( ) ( )
(yes)
17. Here are three syllables. Are all three correct?
( ) ( ) ( )
(yes)
18. Are these three right?
( ) ( ) ( )
(no)
19. Are these three right?
( ) ( ) ( )
(no)
20. Are all of these right?
( ) ( ) ( )
(yes)
21. Here is a new syllable pronounced right then wrong.
(R) (W)
22. Which one is right, No. 1 or No. 2?
(1) (2)
(1)
23. Are both of these right?
( ) ( )
(no)
24. Are these right?
( ) ( )
(yes)
25. Here are the four syllables which you have
observed thus far. These are right.
(R) (R) (R) (R)
26. Are all of these right?
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(no)
27. Are all of these right?
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
(no)
28. Which of the following are wrong?
(1) (2) (3) (4)
(3,4)
29. Which ones are wrong this time?
(1) (2) (3) (4)
(3,4)
30. As you have observed, Spanish syllables are
rather short and 'clipped.' They are not
drawn out. Observe:
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
31. A speaker of English can duplicate this next
Spanish syllable exactly if he can learn to
make his lips tense and keep the syllable short.
Therefore, pull your mouth back tightly as if
to produce a forced grin and repeat after your
instructor's model. (From now on, you will
notice that an 'X' is used after some parenthesis.
This 'X' is a reminder to speak aloud in
imitation of what you hear in the parentheses.
In this case, the 'X' indicates that you are
to repeat after each parentheses.)
( ) X ( ) X
32. Keep making a forced grin, and repeat as often
as you hear your instructor's model.
( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
33. Similarly, repeat this one:
( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
34. With lips still drawn back, repeat this series of syllables.
( ) X ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
35. This next syllable might make you feel a little
strange in saying it with your lips drawn back,
but you have to.
( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
36. Try these syllables with your lips drawn back:
( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
37. Here is a two-syllable word of a type that is
often mispronounced by a speaker of English.
You will first hear it right, then wrong.
(R) (W) (R) (W)
38. Here is another two-syllable 'word' pronounced
right then wrong. Observe that the wrong part
has to do again with the first syllable.
(R) (W) (R) (W)
39. Now, repeat these. Be careful to pronounce
the first syllable right, and keep your lips
drawn back tightly, the tighter the better.
( ) X ( ) X ( ) X ( ) X
40. Which one of these is pronounced wrong?
(1) (2) (3)
again (1) (2) (3)
(2)
41. Are both of these right?
(no)
42. Are both of these right?
(yes)
43. With the next syllable, you should relax your
lips and do not force a grin. Repeat this
syllable only where shown by the X. That is,
listen to it two times, then repeat it after
your instructor's model the third and fourth time.
( ) X ( ) X
44. Do this one the same way.
( ) X ( ) X
45. And this one, too. Be sure you keep it short.
( ) X ( ) X
46. And keep this one short also:
( ) X ( ) X
47. We will now begin an exercise with two
syllables. The first syllable requires no
effort on your part, but the second requires
that you pull your lips back in a tight grin.
First, just listen, don't repeat.
(a) (b) (a + b) (a + b)
48. Now repeat where shown by the X. Remember to
draw your lips back before saying the 'b' part.
(a) X (b) X (a + b) X (a + b) X
49. Listen to this combination.
(a) (b) (a + b) (a + b)
50. Now, imitate it. Remember to draw your lips back for 'b'.
(a) X (b) X (a + b) X (a + b) X
51. Now, listen to this one. Don't repeat.
(a) (b) (a + b) (a + b)
52. Now, repeat where shown. Again, 'remember to
draw your lips back for 'b'.
(a) X (b) X (a + b) X (a + b) X
53. And, finally, listen to this last combination
which is similar to the others. Don't repeat.
(a) (b) (a + b) (a + b)
54. Now, try it, and be sure to draw your lips back for 'b'.
(a) X (b) X (a + b) X (a + b) X
Part 2
55. Listen to this English word.
( ) ( )
56. Now, we will change it a little.
( ) ( )
37. Now, we will change it just a little more.
( ) ( )
58. And this is our last change.
( ) ( )
59. Here is a Spanish word involving the last
sounds you heard. Listen.
( ) ( )
60. Now, listen for two tines, then repeat where shown by the X:
( ) X ( ) X
61. You will now hear this word pronounced more
rapidly and more normally. Is this word
stressed on the last or second-last syllable?
( ) ( ): ___ ___
2 1
(1)
62. Here is another word.
( ) ( )
63. Is this word stressed on the last or second- last syllable?
( ) ( ): ___ ___
2 1
(2)
64. Where is this one stressed?
( ) ( ): ___ ___
2 1
(2)
65. Here is another word, where is it stressed?
( ) ( ): ___ ___
2 1
(1)
66. Here is another one. Where is this one stressed?
( ) ( ): ___ ___
2 1
(2)
67. And here is still another one. Where is it stressed?
( ) ( ): ___ ___ ___ ___
4 3 2 1
(2)
68. All languages make 'funny' changes at times
(not always) when certain words are said in
proximity to certain other words. For example,
if 'don't' is said with 'you', the -t of don't
and the y- of you change to something
resembling the sound '-ch-', and we normally
say something like 'donchou'. You will find
changes of the kind called a reduction or
'shortening.' Here are the two words.
(a) (a) (b) (b)
69. In normal speech, there is this reduction.
(a) (b) (a + b) (a + b)
70. Here is another example of a change. First,
listen to the two words said separately.
(a) (b) (a) (b)
71. Listen to the combination.
(a) (b) (a + b) (a + b)
72. In order to 'pin-point' it more clearly, let's
illustrate this by using word (a) but followed
only by the first sound of word (b).
(a) (-) (a + -) (a + -)
73. Finally, here it is again, in its natural form.
(a) (b) (a + b) (a + b)
UNIT 2 ANSWER KEY
INTRODUCTION
Part 1
1. ma (2)
2. máa (2)
3. ma/máa (2)
4. No. 1: máa No. 2: ma (2)
5. No. 1: ma No. 2: máa (2)
6. No. 1: la No. 2: láa (1)
7. me/mée (2)
8. No. 1: me No. 2 mée (1)
9. me ma (1)
10. me máa (1)
11. mée ma (1)
12. me ma (1)
13. si síi (1)
14. No. 1: si No. 2: síi (1)
15. si síi (1)
16. si si (1)
17. ma me si (1)
18. ma mée síi (1)
19. ma me síi (1)
20. ma me si (1)
21. mo mow (1)
22. No. 1: mo No. 2: mow (1)
23. mo mow
24. mo mo (1)
25. ma me mi mo (1)
26. ma me míi mo
27. ma me mi mow (1)
28. No. 1: ma No. 2: me (1)
No. 3: míi No. 4: mow (1)
29. No. 1: mo No. 2: mi (1)
No. 3: mée No. 4: mow (1)
30. fe la si no (1)
(Note: '...' indicates that student is to be allowed time to repeat.)
31. si ... si ...
32. si ... (3)
33. se ... (3)
34. si ... se ... me ... mi ... (1)
35. ma ... (3)
36. sa ... fa ... ma ... (1)
37. así/uhsí (2)
38. esí/uhsí (2)
39. así ... (2) esí ... (2)
40. No. 1: así No. 2: uhsí No. 3: esí (1)
Again: (Repeat series.)
42. así esí (1)
43. mo (2) mo ... (2)
44. mu (2) mu ... (2)
45. so (2) so ... (2)
46. su (2) su .. (2)
47. u si úsi úsi (1)
48. u... si... úsi... úsi... (1)
49. O fi ófi ófi (1)
50. O... fi... ófi... ófi... (1)
51. don de donde donde (1)
52. don... de... donde... donde... (1)
53. o la óla óla (1)
54. o... la... óla... óla... (1)
Unit 2. Introduction. Part 2
55. bathe (2)
56. -athe (2)
57. -ath(e) (2)
58. -eth (2)
59. usted (2)
60. usted (2) usted... (2)
61. (normal speed) usted (2)
62. hola (2)
63. hola (2)
64. cómo (2)
65. así (2)
66. dónde (2)
67. oficina (2)
68. donde (2) está (2)
69. donde (1) está (1) dóndestá (2)
70. su/oficina (2)
71. su/oficina (1) swoficina (2)
72. su/O- swo- (2)
73. su/oficina (1) swoficina (2)
END OF UNIT 2