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Pronunciation Problems for Koreans- American English Vowel Sounds

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There are some American English vowel sounds that are particularly difficult for Koreans to pronounce.These include the /ɪ/ sound and the /ae/ sound.

Koreans often pronounce the /ɪ/ vowel sound in the words sit, slip, & grin more like an /iy/ vowel sound. That makes sit, slip, & grin sound like seat, sleep & green to American listeners.

Keep in mind that the /ɪ/ sound is a lax or relaxed sound. You don’t need to pull back your lips to say this sound.

Another vowel sound that is problematic for Koreans is /ae/ as in the words cat, laugh & sat. Koreans often pronounce the /ae/ like an /ɛ/ so that cat, laugh & sat sound like cet,  lef & set.  To make the /ae/ sound make sure that your tongue is very low in your mouth. The /ae/ is also a lax vowel sound.

Also, keep in mind that you must lengthen the sounds of vowels that come before voiced consonants.

Related posts:

  1. Pronunciation Problems for Korean Speakers-American English Consonant Sounds
  2. American English Vowel Sounds
  3. Vowel Sounds in American English
  4. American English Vowel Sounds
  5. American English Pronunciation Problems for Speakers of Haitian Creole

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