{"id":2127,"date":"2012-10-12T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2012-10-12T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=2127"},"modified":"2014-08-06T10:30:58","modified_gmt":"2014-08-06T14:30:58","slug":"vowel-sounds-looking-at-the-letter-u","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/vowel-sounds-looking-at-the-letter-u\/","title":{"rendered":"Vowel sounds: Looking at the letter u"},"content":{"rendered":"

To continue our look at vowel sounds, today we will investigate the letter ‘u.’\u00a0 I wanted to learn more about this letter to share with you and so I turned to Wikipedia for some help and found some very interesting information about how the vowel \u2018u\u2019 and consent \u2018v\u2019 were once connected. Apparently during late Middle Ages (the time from the 5th-15th centuries) two forms of the letter ‘u’ existed.\u00a0 The pointed form \u2018v\u2019 was written at the beginning of a word, while a rounded form \u2018u\u2019 was used in the middle or end of words, regardless of the sound the letter ‘u’ or ‘v’ made.\u00a0 So, the words “have” and “upon” would be written haue and vpon.\u00a0 At this time the placement of the letter in the word was more important than the sound of the letter in terms of how the letter looked.\u00a0 The first distinction between the letters \u2018u\u2019 and \u2018v\u2019 was recorded in an alphabet in 1386, where ‘v’ preceded ‘u’ in the alphabet, as it does in the English alphabet today. By the mid-16th century, the letter \u2018v\u2019 was consistently used to represent the consent sound it now has and the letter ‘u’ came to represent the vowel sounds it now has.\u00a0 Isn’t it amazing how much history there is in one letter – now on to how to pronounce this letter.<\/p>\n

u (short vowel sound)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This sound is made with the jaw in a neutral not overly closed or open position. The lips go from slightly rounded to very rounded and puckered (like you are going to kiss someone).\u00a0 In making this sound the tongue starts out neutral or flat near the front of the mouth and moves up and tenses near the back of the mouth. \u00a0\"\"<\/a>Example words:
\nbu<\/strong>t<\/em>
\nbu<\/strong>tter<\/em>
\ndu<\/strong>mb<\/em>
\nfu<\/strong>dge<\/em>
\nju<\/strong>mp<\/em>
\nlu<\/strong>ck<\/em>
\nmediu<\/strong>m<\/em>
\nru<\/strong>n<\/em>
\ntru<\/strong>ck<\/em><\/p>\n

u (long vowel sound)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This sound is made with the jaw slightly open.\u00a0 When making this sound the tongue is tense and moves back in the mouth as you produce sound.\u00a0 The lips are rounded and apart, but then move closer together.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Example words:
\ncu<\/strong>te<\/em>
\nexcu<\/strong>se<\/em>
\nfu<\/strong>el<\/em>
\nglu<\/strong>e<\/em>
\ntu<\/strong>ne<\/em>
\nu<\/strong>nicorn<\/em>
\nu<\/strong>niversity<\/em>
\nu<\/strong>se<\/em><\/p>\n

Here is one last vowel sound grouping exercise for you to practice what you just learned about the short and long sounds of the vowel ‘u\u2019.\u00a0 Say the six words below out loud and group them by whether they have either a short or long \u2018u\u2019 sound.\u00a0 Hint: There are two words with short \u2018u\u2019 sounds, two words with long \u2018u’ sounds, and one word with both.\u00a0 Once you have finished deciding which group each word belongs to you can check your answers by clicking on this link: http:\/\/www.abcfastphonics.com\/vowel-letters\/vowel-u.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

up
\nunited
\nunder
\nUFO
\nukulele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

To continue our look at vowel sounds, today we will investigate the letter ‘u.’\u00a0 I wanted to learn more about this letter to share with you and so I turned to Wikipedia for some help and found some very interesting information about how the vowel \u2018u\u2019 and consent \u2018v\u2019 were once connected. Apparently during late…<\/p>\n

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