9 - 12
13 - 17
A2
6
About the chart
- Pure vowels are arranged the same way as in the IPA chart: according to mouth shape (left to right, lips wide / round - top to bottom, jaw closed / open).
- Diphthongs are grouped in rows according to their second sound.
Try some pronunciation activities
- Telephone number pronunciation
- What's the pronunciation?
- Pronunciation of past simple verbs
- Phonemic symbols to download
- Using the phonemic chart for autonomous learning
Downloads
You can download a non-interactive image version of the British Council's phonemic chart below.
Sounds Right app
The interactive phonemic chart is available for you to download from the Google Play store for Android devices or the App store for Apple devices. Find out more about the interactive mobile app version of the phonemic chart
Downloads
File attachments
PhonemicCharts.pdf512.81 KB
Interactive phonemic chart
Submitted on 13 February, 2009 - 01:34
While I think this chart would be a good item for students to be able to access, I was surprised, when trying it out, that voiceless consonants (p, t, f) are here voiced. When combining the sounds with diphthongs, for example, 'y' with 'ear' to make 'year', (sorry - can't do the phonemic symbols) there is little if any variation of sound between the consonant and the diphthong. What we get sounds like 'year' x 2.
Margaret Osborne
Interactive Pronunciation Chart
Submitted on 13 February, 2009 - 17:49
I agree with the previous comment (p, t, k) here are voiced. Very confusing!
Please could there be a clarification in meaning and use between the two words: phonetic and phonemic. They are used here as if they mean the same thing.
C.Collingridge
Phonetic chart errors
Submitted on 17 February, 2009 - 11:58
I love the idea of this chart and want to get my students using it in a self-learning mode, but unfortunately in it's current form it's fatally flawed. Many of the consonants (not all) include a vowel sound, which has led to the previous comments noting that some unvoiced consonants are voiced on this chart. The sound sample provided for /p/, for example is actually /pə/. Many other consonants are incorrectly folloed by schwa including /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /v/, /ð/, /h/, /l/. I hope the British Council will correct these errors because they are misleading learners when actually the tool ought to be a great boon to us all!
Tavis
Phonemic chart
Submitted on 3 March, 2009 - 19:54
Hi everyone
Thanks for your comments.
Firstly, you're absolutely right about phonemic/phonetic mix up: this is a phonemic chart.
As far as the sounds are concerned, I agree with Tavis that the problem is that there is a schwa added after the consonants in many cases. I would also say though that without the schwa sound it would be almost impossible to detect, for example, /p/.
We are looking to find a better, more accurate solution, and I will come back to this page to let you know about our progress.
All the best
Rob
Teaching English
Phonemic Chart...
Submitted on 5 May, 2009 - 15:40
I figure this is because computers can reproduce exact sounds (phonetic), but don't understand or reproduce meaning (phonemic) using features.
In short: the phonemic chart is phonemic. The sounds plugged in are phonetic.
To get the sense of a phoneme, it needs friends, the acid test of separate phonemes being minimal pairs. Anyway can the chart store up minimal pairs? (Rob.. we have big plans for you... seriously, take care of yourself, my project just about cost me my girlfriend...)
Matt...
English teacher, circus artist in Madrid, Spain doing "teatro en ingles", www.fifthbiz.com