Alphabet
Dictionary
Grammar
Exercises
Sounds
Songs
Stories
Games
Contact Us
Links
SOUNDS

1. Vowel contrasts

A. Listen to the difference between a and in the pairs of words below. Try to repeat exactly what you hear.  (Each example is given in both short and long forms.)

afa

ạfu

 

asa

ạsu

 

haga

hạgu

 

mạfu

mafa

 

af

ạf

 

as

ạs

 

hag

hạg

 

mạf

maf

 

‘to mark

‘row (line)

 

‘name’

‘smoke’

 

‘to feed’

‘to awaken’

 

‘quite mature, hard

‘green, raw’

B. Listen to the difference between and o.

ạfi

ofi

 

hạfu

hofu

 

fạʽu

foʽu

 

tạnu

tonu

ȧf

öf

 

hạf

hof

 

fạʽ

foʽ

 

tạn

ton

‘to thrive’

‘to be finished up’

 

‘stone’

‘to emerge’

 

‘back’

‘sugarcane’

 

‘water

‘envoy’

C.  Listen to the difference between a and ȧ. This difference appears in the short forms only.

ʽafo

ʽạfi

 

para

pạri

 

taka

tạki

 

faka

fạki

 

ʽaf

ʽȧf

 

par

pȧr

 

tak

tȧk

 

fak

fȧk

 

‘basket’

‘to bite’

 

‘to decay

‘banana’

 

‘to lie down’

‘to lead on, lure’

 

‘to be similar

‘to break off’

D. Listen to the difference between ȧ and e.  This difference appears in the short forms only.

ʽạfi

ʽefe

 

ʽạpi

ʽepo

 

fạki

feke

 

hạʽi

heʽo

ʽȧf

ʽef

 

ʽȧp

ʽep

 

fȧk

fek

 

hȧʽ

heʽ

‘to bite’

‘abdomen’

 

‘to stay a short time’

‘narrow’

 

‘to break off’

‘angry’

 

‘to jerk’

‘to call’

E.  Listen to the difference between a and ä.

afa

äfe

 

kava

käve

 

para

päre

 

taka

täke

af

äf

 

kav

käv

 

par

pär

 

tak

täk

‘to mark’

‘thousand; liver

 

‘native grog’

‘braces’

 

‘to decay’

‘to protect

 

‘to lie down’

‘to cut top off’

Home Next