pronunciation poem

Pronunciation POEM

Listen to each of the 4 strophes of this poem, and drag the matching IPA transcript to the words in bold. When it is correct, you will be able to go on. Don't hesitate to listen several times, and to practise reading the poem aloud!

A.R.Ath

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Mrs Michiels

poem

Before the exercise, here is a quick reminder of the vowel and diphthong sounds of the English language and their phonetic transcript. Click on each sound to hear it. When you're ready, work on the poem.

STROPHE I

When the English tongue we speak. Why is break not rhymed with freak? Will you tell me why it’s true We say sew but likewise few ? And the maker of the verse, Cannot rhyme his horse with worse ?

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STROPHE II

Beard is not the same as heardCord is different from word Cow is cow but low is low Shoe is never rhymed with foe. Think of hose, dose, and lose And think of goose and yet with choose

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STROPHE III

Think of comb, tomb and bomb,Doll and roll or home and some. Since pay is rhymed with say Why not paid with said I pray?

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STROPHE IV

Think of blood, food and good.Mould is not pronounced like could. Wherefore done, but gone and lone. Is there any reason known? To sum up all, it seems to me Sound and letters don’t agree.

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VIDEO

Pronunciation poem

Now it's your turn

Listen a first time to the whole poem, then switch the sound off and try reading it aloud. Have fun!