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My phonetics talk on vowels

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the following passage:
1. The reason why I didn’t post any article last week was because I was incredibly busy
preparing for a talk I was asked to give on Wednesday the 28th of March at the
Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, where I’ve been working as a lecturer in
English Phonetics since last October.
2. The talk I presented was entitled “The English vowel system: weak forms, smoothings,
and compressions”. I chose this topic because, as you know, recognising and
producing vowels and vowel sequences in connected English speech is a very tricky
area for non-native speakers.
3. I started my presentation by illustrating the three categories into which the English
vowels are usually divided: checked vowels, free vowels, and diphthongs. I then talked
about John Wells’s standard lexical sets and the vowels of contemporary Standard
British English. Subsequently, I discussed the unstable state of syllables in spoken
English and examined weak (or reduced) as against strong (or full) syllables. I also
introduced the concepts of stress and accent and the difference between word stress

and sentence stress. Finally, I discussed the extremely frequent use of weak forms in
English and the total absence of such forms in a language such as Italian.
4. The part of the talk the audience liked most, I think, was when I showed them a series
of videos of Italian native speakers whose spoken English contains barely any
reductions/weak forms at all. The first clip was that of one Commander Nicastro,
interviewed by BBC newsreader Nik Gowing on The Hub soon after the Costa
Concordia disaster back in January. The students and teachers present at the talk
described his pronunciation as terribly un-English (in particular they noticed the word
environment, pronounced as something like ɛɱˈvirɔmɛnt) and also pointed out that Mr
Gowing, in order for his interviewee to understand better, ‘had to reduce the number
of weak forms’ in the questions he was asking. Two examples of this can be found in
What do you think the danger is now for the ship? (0:55) and What is the forecast now
for the weather? (1:31), in which the preposition for is pronounced as fɔː rather than
the more usual fə.

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My phonetics talk on vowels

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Englishphonetictranscriptions.Farfromprovidingperfectautomatic
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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

5. The second video was that of Italy’s ex Foreign Minister Franco Frattini being grilled by
BBC presenter Jeremy Paxman about the situation in Italy and in Libya before Colonel
Gaddafi’s death. In this clip he can, for instance, be heard to use the unreduced forms
of can, to and that in Nobody can consider him as an interlocutor (0:18), *Nobody can
guarantee to him the impunity (1:10), ... *no hesitation to support me... (2:48), and ...
the people of Benghazi that we are supporting strongly... (3:25).
6. “What do you think of Mr Frattini’s pronunciation?”, I asked. ... What do you think their
answer was?
7. I then moved onto smoothed and compressed pronunciations and used some of the
sound files contained in the CD-ROM that comes with LPD3: flower, flowery, fire
department, fire drill, fire extinguisher, and hour hand. Several degrees of smoothing
can also be heard in the utterances scientists (00:08), shower (00:42), our (00:52),
ourselves (01:05) and scientist (03:35) in this other BBC video which tries to explain
the science of the Higgs Boson, the so-called ‘God particle’. Teachers and students
alike seem to have enjoyed this clip, too.
8. Finally, I wanted to play another video just to recap the main points of my talk, but I
realised I had run out of time, so I told the people present I was going to discuss it on
my blog. In this last clip with London mayor Boris Johnson, we can hear the phrase
youth violence pronounced with a smoothed diphthong in violence at both 02:32 and
03:07. Also noteworthy is the utterance we’re, realised by Mr Johnson as the less
usual weak form wə(ː) at 01:31, 03:38, 05:20 and 05:30. It is interesting to note that
the ODP is the only pronouncing dictionary to list this reduced form as a variant (see
page 1180).
9. My talk was so successful that the students asked me to come again and give another
lecture later this month. The next topic will be English intonation.

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My phonetics talk on vowels

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Englishphonetictranscriptions.Farfromprovidingperfectautomatic
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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

maɪ fәnetɪks tɔːk ɒn vaʊlz
1. ðə riːzən waɪ aɪ dɪdm̩ pəʊst eni ɑːtɪkl̩ lɑːs wiːk wəz bɪkəz aɪ wəz ɪŋkredəbli bɪzi
prɪpɛːrɪŋ fər ə tɔːk aɪ wəz ɑːs tə ɡɪv ɒm wenzdeɪ ðə twenti-eɪtθ əv mɑːtʃ əʔ ði
Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, wɛːr aɪv bɪm wɜːkɪŋ əz ə lektʃərər ɪn ɪŋɡlɪʃ
fənetɪks sɪnts lɑːst ɒktəʊbə.
2. ðə tɔːk aɪ prɪzentɪd wəz ɪntaɪtl̩d “ði ɪŋɡlɪʃ vaʊl sɪstəm: wiːk fɔːmz, smuːðɪŋ əŋ
kəmpreʃn̩”. aɪ tʃəʊz ðɪs tɒpɪk bɪkəz, əʒu nəʊ, rekəɡnaɪzɪŋ əm prədʒuːsɪŋ vaʊlz ən
vaʊl siːkwəntsɪz ɪŋ kənektɪd ɪŋɡlɪʃ spiːtʃ ɪz ə veri trɪki ɛːriə fə nɒn-neɪtɪv spiːkəz.
3. aɪ stɑːtɪd maɪ prezn̩teɪʃn̩ baɪ ɪləstreɪtɪŋ ðə θriː kætəɡəriz ɪntə wɪtʃ ði ɪŋɡlɪʃ vaʊlz ə
juːʒəli dɪvaɪdɪd: tʃekt vaʊlz, friː vaʊlz, ən dɪfθɒŋz. aɪ ðen tɔːkt əbaʊʔ dʒɒm welzɪz
stændəd leksɪkl̩ sets ən ðə vaʊlz əv kəntempri stændəd brɪtɪʃ ɪŋɡlɪʃ. sʌbsɪkwəntli, aɪ
dɪskʌs ði ʌnsteɪbl̩ steɪt əv sɪləbl̩z ɪn spəʊkən ɪŋɡlɪʃ ənd ɪɡzæmɪnd wiːk (ɔː rɪdʒuːst)
əz əɡenst strɒŋ (ɔː fʊl) sɪləbl̩z. aɪ ɔːlsəʊ ɪntrədʒuːs ðə kɒnsepts əv stres ən æksent ən

ðə dɪfrənts bɪtwiːn wɜːd stres ən sentəns stres. faɪnli, aɪ dɪskʌs ði ɪkstriːmli friːkwənt
juːs əv wiːk fɔːmz ɪn ɪŋɡlɪʃ ən ðə təʊtl̩ æpsənts əv sʌtʃ fɔːmz ɪn ə læŋɡwɪdʒ sʌtʃ əz
ɪtæljən.
4. ðə pɑːt əv ðə tɔːk ði ɔːdjənts laɪk məʊst, a θɪŋk, wəz wen aɪ ʃəʊd ðəm ə sɪəriːz əv
vɪdiəʊz əv ɪtæljən neɪtɪv spiːkəz huːz spəʊkən ɪŋɡlɪʃ kənteɪm bɛːli eni rɪdʌkʃn̩z/wiːk
fɔːmz ət ɔːl. ðə fɜːs klɪp wəz ðæt əv wʌŋ kəmɑːndə nɪkæstrəʊ (=Nicastro), ɪntəvjuːd
baɪ biːbisiː njuːzriːdə nɪk ɡaʊɪŋ ɒn ðə hʌb suːn ɑːftə ðə kɒstə kɒŋkɔːdiə dɪzɑːstə bæk
ɪn dʒænjʊri. ðə ʃtʃuːdn̩ts ən tiːtʃəz prezənt əʔ ðə tɔːk dɪskraɪbd ɪz prənʌntsieɪʃn̩ əz
‘terəbli ʌn-ɪŋɡlɪʃ’ (ɪm pətɪkjʊlə ðeɪ nəʊtɪs ðə wɜːd environment, prənaʊnst əz
sʌmpθɪŋ laɪk ɛɱˈvirɔmɛnt) ən ɔːlsəʊ pɔɪntɪd aʊʔ ðəʔ mɪstə ɡaʊɪŋ, ɪn ɔːdə fər ɪz
ɪntəvjuːiː tu ʌndəstænd betə, həd tə ‘rɪdʒuːs ðə nʌmbər əv wiːk fɔːmz’ ɪn ðə
kwestʃənz i wəz ɑːskɪŋ. tuː ɪɡzɑːmpl̩z əv ðɪs kəm bi faʊnd ɪn What do you think the
danger is now for the ship? (0:55) ən What is the forecast now for the weather? (1:31),
ɪm wɪtʃ ðə prepəzɪʃn̩ for ɪz prənaʊnst əz fɔː rɑːðə ðən ðə mɔː juːʒəl fə.

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My phonetics talk on vowels

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Englishphonetictranscriptions.Farfromprovidingperfectautomatic
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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

5. ðə sekən vɪdiəʊ wəz ðæt əv ɪtəliz eks fɒrəm mɪnɪstə fræŋkəʊ frætiːni (=Franco
Frattini) biːɪŋ ɡrɪld baɪ biːbisiː prɪzentə dʒerəmi pæksmən əbaʊʔ ðə sɪtʃʊeɪʃn ɪn ɪtəli
ənd ɪn lɪbiə bɪfɔː kɜːnl̩ ɡədɑːfiz deθ. ɪn ðɪs klɪp hi kən, frɪnstənts, bi hɜːd tə juːz ðə
ʌnrɪdʒuːst fɔːmz əv can, to ən that ɪn Nobody can consider him as an interlocutor
(0:18), *Nobody can guarantee to him the impunity (1:10), ... *no hesitation to support
me... (2:48), ænd ... the people of Benghazi that we are supporting strongly... (3:25).
6. “wɒʔ dju θɪŋk əv mɪstə frætiːniz prənʌntsieɪʃn̩?”, aɪ ɑːskt. – wɒʔ dju θɪŋk ðɛːr ɑːntsə
wɒz?
7. aɪ ðen muːvd ɒntə smuːðd əŋ kəmprest prənʌntsieɪʃn̩z ən juːzd sʌm əv ðə saʊɱ
faɪəlz kənteɪnd ɪn ðə siːdiːrɒm ðəʔ kʌmz wɪð LPD3: flower, flowery, fire department,
fire drill, fire extinguisher, ænd hour hand. sevrəl dɪɡriːz əv smuːðɪŋ kən ɔːlsəʊ bi
hɜːd ɪn ði ʌtrəntsɪz scientists (00:08), shower (00:42), our (00:52), ourselves (01:05)
ən scientist (03:35) ɪn ðɪs ʌðə biːbisiː vɪdiəʊ wɪtʃ traɪz twɪkspleɪn ðə sɑːənts əv ðə
hɪɡz bəʊsɒn, ðə səʊ kɔːl ɡɒd pɑːtɪkl̩. tiːtʃəz ən stʃuːdn̩ts əlaɪk siːm twəv ɪndʒɔɪ ðɪs
klɪp, tuː.
8. faɪnli, aɪ wɒntɪd tə pleɪ ənʌðə vɪdiəʊ dʒʌs tə riːkæp ðə meɪm pɔɪnts əv maɪ tɔːk bət aɪ
rɪəlaɪzd aɪd rʌn aʊt əv taɪm, səʊ aɪ tɒʊl ðə piːpl̩ prezənt aɪ wəz ɡənə pəʊst ɪt ən
dɪskʌs ɪt ɒm maɪ blɒɡ. ɪn ðɪs lɑːs klɪp wɪð lʌndən mɛː bɒrɪs dʒɒntsn̩, wi kən hɪə ðə
freɪz youth violence prənaʊnst wɪð ə smuːð dɪfθɒŋ ɪn violence əp bəʊθ 02:32 ən
03:07. ɔːlsəʊ nəʊʔwɜːði ɪz ði ʌtrənts we’re rɪəlaɪzd baɪ mɪstə dʒɒntsn̩ əz ðə les juːʒəl
wiːk fɔːm wə(ː) ət 01:31, 03:38, 05:20 ən 05:30. ɪts ɪntrəstɪŋ tə nəʊʔ ðəʔ ði ODP ɪz ði
əʊnni prənaʊntsɪŋ dɪkʃənri tə lɪst ðɪs rɪdʒuːs fɔːm əz ə pɒsəbl̩ vɛːriənt (siː peɪdʒ
1180).
9. maɪ tɔːk wəs səʊ səksesfl̩ ðəʔ ðə ʃtʃuːdn̩ts ɑːst mi tə kʌm əɡen əŋ ɡɪv ənʌðə lektʃə
leɪtə ðɪs mʌntθ. ðə neks tɒpɪk wl̩ bi ɪŋɡlɪʃ ɪntəneɪʃn̩.

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Diamond Jubilee

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 14-Aug-12)

Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the following passage:
1. The Diamond Jubilee has been a multinational celebration marking the 60th
anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries.
2. The first major event of the jubilee celebrations was the Diamond Jubilee Pageant, a
cavalcade held at Windsor Castle to celebrate the Queen’s visits to and tours of over
250 countries and her passion for horses. The show, which featured 550 horses and
1,100 performers from around the world.
3. Then, on the 3rd of June, the River Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant was held. It was a
maritime parade of 1,000 boats from around the Commonwealth—the largest flotilla
seen on the river in 350 years. Heavy rain started during the event, and the
commemorative airforce fly past at the end was cancelled due to very low cloud base
and bad visibility at ground level. The event was attended by various governorsgeneral from the Commonwealth realms other than the UK.
4. The night after the Thames River Pageant, Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband, fell ill

with a bladder infection and was taken to hospital. This meant that he was unable to
attend the remainder of the Jubilee events.
5. Members of the Royal Family and prime ministers from the Commonwealth realms
attended various events on 4 and 5 June: A reception was held at Buckingham Palace
before the Diamond Jubilee Concert on Monday and a service of thanksgiving took
place Tuesday at St. Paul’s Cathedral, also attended by 2,000 other guests.

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Diamond Jubilee

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

6. The lighting of thousands of beacons across the Commonwealth took place on 4 June.
The number of beacons was originally set at 2,012; by the closing date for
registrations, approximately 4,000 had been submitted in the United Kingdom alone.
The first beacon of the Jubilee was lit Tonga, by Tongan girl scouts and boy scouts
using coconut sheath torches. Other nations including Kenya, Australia, New Zealand,

India, Sri Lanka, and several Caribbean states took part in the beacon lighting. The
world’s most remote beacon was lit in the south Atlantic. The Queen also lit a beacon
outside Buckingham Palace on Tuesday at 10:30 pm, by inserting a large, specially
made, diamond-cut crystal into a receptacle. The lighting proceeded until the final
beacon was lit in Canada eight hours later.

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Diamond Jubilee

PhoTransEdit applicationshavebeendesignedtohelpthosewhoworkwith
Englishphonetictranscriptions.Farfromprovidingperfectautomatic
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writing,publishingorsharingEnglishtranscriptions.VisitPhoTransEdit.!

RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 14-Aug-12)

ðә dɑːmәnd dʒuːbәliː
1. ðə dɑːmənd dʒuːbəliː əz bɪn ə mʌltinæʃnəl seləbreɪʃn̩ mɑːkɪŋ ðə sɪkstjəθ ænəvɜːʃri əv
ði əkseʃn̩ əv kwiːn əlɪzəbəθ ðə sekən tə ðə θrəʊnz əv sevŋ̩ kʌntriz.
2. ðə fɜːs meɪdʒər ɪvent ə ðə dʒuːbəliː seləbreɪʃn̩z wəz ðə dɑːmənd dʒuːbəliː pædʒənt, ə
kævl̩keɪd held əʔ wɪnzə kɑːsl̩ tə seləbreɪt ðə kwiːnz vɪzɪts tuː ən tɔːz ɒv əʊvə tuː
hʌndrəd ən fɪfti kʌntriz ən hə pæʃn̩ fə hɔːsɪz. ðə ʃəʊ fiːtʃəd faɪv hʌndrəd ən fɪfti hɔːsɪz

əm wʌn θaʊzm̩ wʌn hʌndrəd pəfɔːməz frəm əraʊn ðə wɜːld.
3. ðen, ɒn ðə θɜːd əv dʒuːn, ðə rɪvə temz dɑːmənd dʒuːbəliː pædʒənt wəz held. ɪʔ wəz ə
mærətaɪm pəreɪd əv wʌn θaʊzm̩ bəʊts frəm əraʊn ðə kɒmənwelθ – ðə lɑːdʒəs flətɪlə
siːn ɒn ðə rɪvər ɪn θriː hʌndrəd ən fɪfti jɪəz. hevi reɪn stɑːtɪd dʒɜːrɪŋ ði ɪvent, ən ðə
kəmemərətɪv ɛːfɔːs flaɪ-pɑːst əʔ ði end wəz kænsl̩d dʒuː tə veri bæd vɪzəbɪləti. ði
ɪvent wəz ətendɪd baɪ vɛːriəs ɡʌvnə dʒenrəlz frəm ðə kɒmənwelθ relmz ʌðə ðn̩ ðə
juːkeɪ.
4. ðə naɪt ɑːftə ðə temz rɪvə pædʒənt, prɪnts fɪlɪp, ðə kwiːnz hʌzbənd, fel ɪl wɪð ə
blædər ɪnfekʃn̩ ən wəz teɪkən tə hɒspɪtl̩. ðɪs ment ðət i wəz ʌneɪbl̩ tu ətend ðə
rimeɪndər əv ðə dʒuːbəliː ɪvents.
5. membəz ə ðə rɔːl fæmli əm praɪ mɪnəstəz frəm ðə kɒmənwelθ relmz ətendɪd vɛːriəs
ɪvents ɒn ðə fɔːθ ən fɪfθ ə dʒuːn. ə rəsepʃn̩ wəz held əʔ bʌkɪŋəm pæləs bɪfɔː ðə
dɑːmənd dʒuːbəliː kɒntsət ɒn mʌndeɪ, ən ə sɜːvɪs ə θænksɡɪvɪŋ tʊk pleɪs ɒn tʃuːzdi
əʔ sm̩ pɔːlz kəθiːdrəl, ɔːlsəʊ ətendɪd baɪ tuː θaʊzn̩d ʌðə ɡess.

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Diamond Jubilee

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Englishphonetictranscriptions.Farfromprovidingperfectautomatic
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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

6. ðə laɪtɪŋ ə θaʊzn̩dz ə biːkənz əkrɒs ðə kɒmənwelθ tʊk pleɪs ɒn dʒuːn ðə fɔːθ. ðə
nʌmbər əv biːkənz wəz ərɪdʒnəli set əʔ tuː θaʊzn̩ ən twelv bəʔ baɪ ðə kləʊzɪŋ deɪt fə
redʒɪstreɪʃn̩z, əprɒksɪməʔli fɔː θaʊzn̩d əd bɪn səbmɪtɪd ɪn ðə junaɪtɪd kɪŋdəm ələʊn.
ðə fɜːs biːkən ə ðə dʒuːbɪliː wəz lɪt ɪn tɒŋə, baɪ tɒŋən ɡɜːl skaʊts əm bɔɪ skaʊts
juːzɪŋ kəʊkənʌʔ ʃiːθ tɔːtʃɪz. ʌðə neɪʃn̩z ɪŋkluːdɪŋ kenjə, ɒstreɪliə, njuː ziːlənd, ɪndiə,
ʃrɪ læŋkə, ən sevrəl kærəbɪən steɪts tʊk pɑːt ɪn ðə biːkən laɪtɪŋ. ðə wɜːldz məʊs
riməʊʔ biːkən wəz lɪt ɪn ðə saʊθ əʔlæntɪk. ðə kwiːn ɔlːsəʊ lɪt ə biːkən aʊʔsaɪd
bʌkɪŋəm pæləs ɒn tjuːzdi əʔ ten θɜːti piː em, baɪ ɪnsɜːtɪŋ ə lɑːdʒ, speʃli meɪd,
dɑːmənd-kʌʔ krɪstl̩ ɪntu ə riseptəkl̩. ðə laɪtɪŋ prəsiːdɪd əntɪl ðə faɪnl̩ biːkən wəz lɪt ɪŋ
kænədə eɪt aəz leɪtə.

/>

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That day by Natalie Imbruglia

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alpozo's Phonetic Blog

(visited 24-Aug-12)

Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the following song:
That day, That day
What a mess what a marvel
I walked into that cloud again
And I lost myself
And I'm sad, sad, sad
Small, alone, scared
Craving purity
A fragile mind and a gentle spirit
That day, That day,
What a marvelous mess
This is all that I can do
I'm done to be me
Sad, scared, small, alone, beautiful
It's supposed to be like this
I accept everything
It's supposed to be like this
That day, That day
I lay down beside myself
In this feeling of pain, sadness
Scared, small, climbing, crawling
Towards the light
And it's all that I see and
I'm tired and I'm right
And I'm wrong
And it's beautiful

That day, That day

What a mess, what a marvel
We're all the same
But no one thinks so
And it's okay
And I'm small and I'm divine
And it's beautiful
And it's coming
And it's already here
And it's absolutely perfect
That day, That day
When everything was a mess
And everything was in place
And there's too much hurt
Sad, small, scared, alone
And everyone's a cynic
And it's hard and it's sweet
But it's supposed to be like this
That day, That day
When I sat in the sun
And I thought and I cried
Cause I'm sad, scared, small
Alone, strong
And I'm nothing and I'm true
Only a brave man can break through
And it's all okay
Yeah, it's okay

/>

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That day by Natalie Imbruglia

RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alpozo's Phonetic Blog

(visited 24-Aug-12)

That day, That day
I lay down beside myself
In this feeling of pain, sadness
Scared, small, climbing, crawling
Towards the light
And it's all that I see and
I'm tired and I'm right
And I'm wrong
And it's beautiful
That day, That day
What a mess, what a marveleous mess
We're all the same
But no one thinks so
And it's okay

And I'm small and I'm divine
And it's beautiful
And it's coming
And it's already here
And it's absolutely perfect
That day, That day
That day, That day
That day, That day
When I lay down beside myself
In this feeling of pain, sadness
Scared, small, climbing, crawling
Towards the light
And it's all that I see and
I'm tired and I'm right
And I'm wrong
And it's beautiful

That day, That day
What a mess, what a marveleous mess
We're all the same
But no one thinks so
And it's okay
And I'm small and I'm divine
And it's beautiful
And it's coming
And it's already here
And it's absolutely perfect
That
That
That

That

day,
day,
day,
day,

That
That
That
That

day
day
day
day

So sweet, can you feel it? (Can you feel it?)
Are you here?
Are you with me?
I can feel it
And its beautiful
That day, That day
That day, absolutely perfect

/>

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That day by Natalie Imbruglia

RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alpozo's Phonetic Blog

(visited 24-Aug-12)

ðæ deɪ
ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
wɒt ə mes wɒt ə ˈmɑːvl
aɪ wɔːkt ˈɪntə ðæ klaʊd əˈgen
ənd aɪ lɒst maɪˈself
ənd aɪm sæd sæd sæd
smɔːl əˈləʊn skeəd
ˈkreɪvɪŋ ˈpjʊərɪtɪ
ə ˈfræʤaɪl maɪnd ənd ə ˈʤentl ˈspɪrɪt
ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
wɒt ə ˈmɑːvələs mes
ðɪs ɪz ɔːl aɪ kən duː
aɪm dʌn tə bi miː
sæd skeəd smɔːl əˈləʊn ˈbjuːtəfl
ɪt səˈpəʊz tə bi laɪk ðɪs
aɪ əkˈsept ˈevrɪθɪŋ

ɪt səˈpəʊz tə bi laɪk ðɪs
ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
aɪ leɪ daʊn bɪˈsaɪd maɪˈself
ɪn ðɪs ˈfiːlɪŋ əv peɪn ˈsædnə
skeəd smɔːlˈklaɪmɪŋ ˈkrɔːlɪŋ
təˈwɔːdz ðə laɪt
ənd ɪts ɔːl ðæt aɪ siː ənd
aɪm ˈtaɪəd ənd aɪm raɪt
ənd aɪm rɒŋ
ənd ɪts ˈbjuːtəfl

ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
wɒt ə mes wɒt ə ˈmɑːvl
wɪər ˌɔ:l ðə ˈseɪm
bət nəʊwʌn θɪŋks səʊ
ənd ɪts ˌəʊˈkeɪ
ənd aɪm smɔːl ənd aɪm dɪˈvaɪn ənd ɪts
ˈbjuːtəfl
ənd ɪts ˈkʌmɪŋ ənd ɔːlˈredi hɪə
ənd ɪts ˈæbsəluːtli pəˈfekt
ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
wen ˈevrɪθɪŋ wəz ə mes
ənd ˈevrɪθɪŋ wəz ɪn pleɪs
ənd ðeəz tə mʌʧ hɜːt
sæd smɔːl skeəd əˈləʊn
ənd everywʌnz ə ˈsɪnɪk
ənd ɪts hɑːd ənd ɪt swiːt
bət ɪt səˈpəʊz tə bi laɪk ðɪs
wel ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
wen aɪ sæt ɪn ðə sʌn

ənd aɪ θɔːt ənd aɪ kraɪd
kəz aɪm sæd skeəd smɔːl
əˈləʊn strɒŋ
ənd aɪm ˈnʌθɪŋ ənd aɪm truː
ˈəʊnli ə breɪv mæn kən breɪk θruː
ənd ɪts ɔːl ˌəʊˈkeɪ jeə
ɪts ˌəʊˈkeɪ

/>

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That day by Natalie Imbruglia

RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alpozo's Phonetic Blog

(visited 24-Aug-12)

ðæt deɪ ðæt deɪ
aɪ leɪ daʊn bɪˈsaɪd maɪˈself
ɪn ðɪs ˈfiːlɪŋ əv peɪn ˈsædnəs

skeəd smɔːl ˈklaɪmɪŋ ˈkrɔːlɪŋ
təˈwɔːdz ðə laɪt
ənd ɪts ɔːl ðæt aɪ siː ənd
aɪm ˈtaɪəd ənd aɪm raɪt
ənd aɪm rɒŋ
ənd ɪts ˈbjuːtəfl
wel ðæt deɪ ðæt deɪ
wɒt ə mes wɒt ə ˈmɑːvələs mes
wɪər ˌɔ:l ðə ˈseɪm
bʌt nəʊwʌn θɪŋks səʊ
ənd ɪts ˌəʊˈkeɪ
ənd aɪm smɔːl ənd aɪm dɪˈvaɪn
ənd ɪts ˈbjuːtəfl
ənd ɪts ˈkʌmɪŋ
ənd ɪts ɔːlˈredi hɪə
ənd ɪts ˈæbsəluːtli pəˈfekt
ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
ðæt deɪ ðæt deɪ
aɪ leɪ daʊn bɪˈsaɪd maɪˈself
ɪn ðɪs ˈfiːlɪŋ əv peɪn ˈsædnəs
skeəd smɔːl ˈklaɪmɪŋ ˈkrɔːlɪŋ
təˈwɔːdz ðə laɪt
ənd ɪts ɔːl ðæt aɪ siː ənd
aɪm ˈtaɪəd ənd aɪm raɪt
ənd aɪm rɒŋ
ənd ɪts ˈbjuːtəfl

ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
wɒt ə mes wɒt ə ˈmɑːvələs mes

wɪər ˌɔ:l ðə ˈseɪm
bʌt nəʊwʌn θɪŋks səʊ
ənd ɪts ˌəʊˈkeɪ
ənd aɪm smɔːl ənd aɪm dɪˈvaɪn
ənd ɪts ˈbjuːtəfl
ənd ɪts ˈkʌmɪŋ
ənd ɪts ɔːlˈredi hɪə
ənd ɪts ˈæbsəluːtli pəˈfekt
ðæ
ðæ
ðæ
ðæ

deɪ
deɪ
deɪ
deɪ

ðæ
ðæ
ðæ
ðæ

deɪ
deɪ
deɪ
deɪ

səʊ swiːt kən jə fiːl ɪt mmm
ə jə hɪər

ə jə wɪð miː
aɪ kən fiːl ɪt
ənd ɪts ˈbjuːtəfl
ðæ deɪ ðæ deɪ
ðæ deɪ ˈæbsəluːtli pəˈfekt

/>

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‘Mr Bleaney’ by Philip Larkin

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 25-May-12)
Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the first five stanzas of ‘Mr Bleaney’:
‘This was Mr Bleaney's room. He stayed
The whole time he was at the Bodies, till
They moved him.’ Flowered curtains, thin and frayed,
Fall to within five inches of the sill,
Whose window shows a strip of building land,
Tussocky, littered. ‘Mr Bleaney took

My bit of garden properly in hand.’
Bed, upright chair, sixty-watt bulb, no hook
Behind the door, no room for books or bags ‘I'll take it.’ So it happens that I lie
Where Mr Bleaney lay, and stub my fags
On the same saucer-souvenir, and try
Stuffing my ears with cotton-wool, to drown
The jabbering set he egged her on to buy.
I know his habits - what time he came down,
His preference for sauce to gravy, why
He kept on plugging at the four aways Likewise their yearly frame: the Frinton folk
Who put him up for summer holidays,
And Christmas at his sister’s house in Stoke.

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‘Mr Bleaney’ by Philip Larkin

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 25-May-12)

mɪstə `bliːniːz
‘`ðɪs wəz mɪstə `bliːniːz ˏruːm. hi steɪd
ðə ˈhəʊl `taɪm hi wəz ət ðə ˏbɒdiz, | tɪl
ðeɪ `muːvd ˏ (h)ɪm’. flaʊəd ˏˌkɜːtnz, | ˈθɪn | ən ˏˌfreɪd,
ˌfɔːl | tə wɪˈðɪn `faɪv ˏˌɪnʃɪz | əv ðə ˏˌsɪl,
huːz `ˏwɪndəʊ ˈʃəʊz | ə ˈstrɪp| əv `bɪldɪŋ lӕnd,
`tᴧsəki, | `lɪtəd. ‘ˏmɪstə `bliːniː | tʊk
maɪ bɪt əv `ˏgɑːdn ́`prɒpəliː ɪn hӕnd.’
ˏˌbed, `ᴧpraɪt ˏˌʧɛə,ˈ sɪksti wɒt ́bᴧlb, | nəʊ `hʊk
bɪhaɪnd ðə ˏˌdɔː, ˈnəʊ ruːm | fə ˏˌbʊks ˈɔː ˏˌbӕgz ‘ˈɑːl ˏˌteɪk ɪt.’ ˈsəʊ ɪt ˈhӕpənz| ðət ˈaɪ ˎlaɪ
w[ɛː] ˈmɪstə bliːniː ˏˌleɪ, | ən ˈstᴧb `maɪ fӕgz
ɒn ðə seɪm sɔːsə suːvəˏnɪə, | ən ˈtraɪ
stᴧfɪŋ `maɪ ɪəz wɪð kɒtn ˏwʊl,| tə draʊn
ðə `ʤӕbərɪŋ `set| `hiː egd ər ɒn tə ˏˌbaɪ.
aɪ nəʊ hɪz ( ́)`hӕbɪts - wɒt `taɪm hi keɪm `daʊn,
hɪz ˈprefərəns fə `sɔːs tə ˎgreɪvi, | ˈwaɪ
hi kept ɒn `plᴧgɪŋ | ət ðə fɔːr ə`weɪz ˈlaɪkˏwaɪz | ðɛə ˈjɜːli `freɪm: |ðə `frɪntən fəʊk
hu ˈpʊt ɪm ᴧp fə sᴧmə `hɒlədɪz
ən `krɪsməs | ət ɪz `sɪstəz ˏˌhaʊs | ɪn ˎstəʊk.

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‘The Unknown Citizen’ by W. H. Auden

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 23-May-12)
Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the poem "The Unknown Citizen"
by W. H. Auden
He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his conduct agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint
For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.
Except for the War till the day he retired
He worked in a factory and never got fired,
But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.
Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views,
For his Union reports that he paid his dues,
(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)
And our Social Psychology workers found
That he was Popular with his mates and liked to drink.
The Press are convinced that he bought a Paper every day
And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way.
Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured
And his Health-card shows he was once in a hospital but left it cured,
Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare
He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Installment Plan
And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,
A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.

Our researchers into Public Opinion are content
That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;
When there was peace he was for peace when there was war he went.
He was married and added five children to the population,
Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation,
And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education.
Was he free? Was he Happy? The question is absurd:
Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

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‘The Unknown Citizen’ by W. H. Auden

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 23-May-12)

ði 'ʌn'nəʊn ˎsɪtɪzn - 'dʌblju 'eɪʧ ˎɔːdn
hi wz 'faʊnd baɪ ðə 'bjʊərəʊ əv stə'tɪstɪks tə 'biː|
wʌn əgenst huːm ðə wz ˋnəʊ əfɪʃl km ˏ pleɪnt |

ən 'ɔːl ðə rɪ'pɔːts | ɒn ɪz 'kɒndʌkt əˏgriː |
ðət ɪn ðə `mɒdn `sens əv ən `əʊlfӕʃn ˈwɜːd | ˈhiː wəz ə ˎseɪnt,|
fɔːr ɪn `ɛvriθɪŋ i ˈdɪd | hi ˈsɜːvd ðə ˈgreɪtə kəˎmjuːnəti.
ɪkˈsɛp fə ðə ˏwɔː | tɪl ðə ˈdeɪ hi rəˈtaɪəd |
hi ˈwɜːkt ɪn ə ˈfӕktri | ən ˈnɛvə gɒt ˎfaɪəd
bət ˈsӕtɪsfaɪd ɪz ɪmˎplɔɪəz, ˈfʌʤ ˈməʊtəz ˎɪŋk.
jɛt i `wɒzn ə ˋˏskӕb | ɔːr ˋɒd ɪn ɪz ˋˏvjuːz, |
fɔːr ɪz ˋjuːnjən rəˏpɔːts | ðət i ˋpeɪd ɪz ˋˏdjuːz |
(ɑː rəˋpɔːt ɒn ɪz ˏ juːnjən ˋʃəʊz ɪt wəz ˏsaʊnd | )
ən ɑː ˋsəʊʃl sɪˋkɒləʤi wɜːkəz ˈfaʊnd |
ðət i wz ˋpɒpjələ wɪð ɪz ˈmeɪts | ən ˈlaɪkt ə ˎdrɪŋk.
ðə ˋˏpres | ə knˈvɪnst | ðət i ˈbɔːt ə ˈpeɪpə | ˈɛvri ˎdeɪ
ən ðət ɪz riˋӕkʃnz | tu ədˈvɜːtɪsmənts | wə ˈnɔːml ɪn ˈɛvri ˎweɪ.
ˈpɒləsɪz teɪkn aʊt ɪn ɪz ˏneɪm | ˈpruːv | ðət i wəz ˈfʊli ɪnˏ ʃɔːd, |
ən ɪz ˈhelθkɑːd | ʃəʊz i wz ˋwʌns ɪn ˈhɒspɪdl|bət ˈleft ɪt ˎkjɔːd.
bəʊθ prəˈdjuːsə ˎriːsɜːʧ ӕn ˈhaɪgreɪd ˋlɪvɪŋ dɪˏklɛə |
ðət i wz ˈfʊli ˈsensəbl |tə ði əd`vӕntəʤɪz əv ði ɪn`stɔːlmənt ˏplӕn|
n hӕd `ɛvriθɪŋ `nesəsɛri | tə ðə ˈmɒdn ˎmӕn
ə ˏgrӕməfəʊn, | ə ˏreɪdiəʊ,| ə ˈkɑːr ən frɪʤəˎdɛə.
ɑː ˋriːsɜːʧəz ɪntə `pʌblɪk ə`pɪnjən ə knˏtent |
ðət i ˈheld ðə ˈprɒpər əˈpɪnjənz | fə ðə ˈtaɪm əv ˎ jɜː;
wɛn ðɛə wz ˈpiːs | hi wz ˋfɔː piːs; wen ðɛə wz ˈwɔ | hi ˎwent.
hi wz ˏmӕrɪd | ən ӕdɪd ˈfaɪv ˈʧɪldrn tə ðə pɒpjəˎleɪʃn
wɪʧ ɑː ju`ʤenis ˏsez | wz ðə raɪt ˎnʌmbə | fər ə pɛərnt əv ˈhɪz ʤɛnəˎˏreɪʃn|
ən ɑː ˈtiːʧəz rəˏpɔːt |ðət i ˈnɛvər ɪntəˈfiəd wɪð ðɛər ˈeʤəˎkeɪʃn.
wəz i ˈfriː? wəz i ˈhӕpi? ðə ˈkwɛsʧənz əbˎsɜːd:
hӕd `ɛnəθɪŋ bɪn ˋˏrɒŋ |wi ʃd ˋˏsɜtni əv `hɜːd.

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‘The Boy who Cried Wolf’ by David Deterding

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 25-May-12)
Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the passage “The Boy who Cried
Wolf"
1. There was once a poor shepherd boy who watched his flocks
2. in the fields next to a dark forest near the foot of a mountain.
3. One hot afternoon, he thought up a good plan
4. to get some company for himself and also have a little fun.
5. Raising his fist in the air, he ran down to the village
6. shouting “Wolf, Wolf.” As soon as they heard him, the villagers
7. all rushed from their homes, full of concern for his safety,
8. and two of them stayed with him for a while. This gave the boy
9. so much pleasure that a few days later he tried exactly
10. the same trick again, and once more he was successful.
11. However, not long after, a wolf was looking for a change
12. in its usual diet of chicken and duck, so it actually
13. did come out from the forest and began to threaten the sheep.

14. Racing down to the village, the boy of course cried out
15. even louder than before, but as all the villagers
16. were convinced that he was trying to fool them a third time,
17. nobody bothered to come and help him. And so the wolf had a feast.

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‘The Boy who Cried Wolf’ by David Deterding

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 25-May-12)

ðə ˈbɔɪ | hu ˈkraɪd ˎwʊlf
1. ðeə wz ˈwᴧns | ə ˈpɔ `ʃepəd ˏbɔɪ | hu ˈwɒʧd ɪz ˏflɒks |
2. ɪn ðə ˈfildz | neks tu ə `dɑk `ˏfɒrɪst | nɪə ðə ˈfʊt əv ə ˎmaʊntɪn.
3. ˈwᴧn ˈhɒt | ɑftə`ˏnun, | hi ˈθɔt ˈᴧp | ə ˈgʊd ˏplӕn |
4. tə get sm `kᴧmpəni fr ɪmˏself | ən ˈɔːlsəʊ ˈhӕv ə lɪtl ˎfᴧn.
5. `reɪzɪŋ ɪz `fɪst ɪn ði `ˏeə, | hi ˈrӕn ˈdaʊn | tə ðə `ˏvɪlɪʤ |
6. ʃaʊtɪŋ `wʊlf, `wʊlf ! ə `sun əz ðeɪ `hɜd ˏɪm | ðə ˈvɪlɪʤəz

7. ˈɔl ˈrᴧʃt frm ðeə `ˏhəʊmz | `fʊl əv kn`ˏsɜn | fər ɪz `ˏseɪfti,
8. ən `tu əv ˏðm | ˈsteɪd `wɪð ɪm fər ə waɪl. ðɪs `geɪv ðə ˏbɔɪ
9. `səʊ mᴧʧ `ˏpleʒə | ðət ə `fju deɪz `ˏleɪtə | hi traɪd ɪg`zӕkli
10. ðə seɪm ˏtrɪk| ə`gen, ən ˈwᴧns ˏmɔː | hi wz sək`sesfl.
11. haʊ`evə, ˈnɒt ˈlɒŋ ˏɑftə | ə ˈwʊlf | wəz ˈlʊkɪŋ fər ə `ʧeɪnʤ
12. ɪn ɪts juʒl ˏdaɪət | əv ʧɪkɪn ən ˏdᴧk | səʊ ɪt ˈӕkʧli
13.`dɪd kᴧm `aʊt | frm ðə `fɒrɪst | n bɪgӕn tə `θretn ðə ˎʃip.
14. ˈreɪsɪŋ ˈdaʊn tə ðə ˏvɪlɪʤ, | ðə `ˏbɔɪ | əv ˏkɔs| ˈkraɪd `aʊt
15.`ivn `ˏlaʊdə | ðən bɪ`fɔ, bət `ӕz `ɔl ðə `ˏvɪlɪʤəz |
16. wə kn`vɪnst ðət i wz `traɪɪŋ, tə `ful ðm ə `θɜd `ˏtaɪm,|
17.`nəʊbɒdi `ˏbɒðəd | tə ˈkᴧm ən `help ɪm. ən ˈsəʊ | ðə `ˏwʊlf | hӕd ə `fist.

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The Bell

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by Iris Murdoch

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 10-Sep-12)

Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the following passage adapted from The Bell by
Iris Murdoch:
1. She announced, “I’m going to have a bath.”
2. “Darling, you do that small thing!” said Noel.
3. “I’ll bring you a drink in the bathroom. I suppose the sybaritic practice of bathing was
forbidden at the convent.”...
4. “Now tell me all about it,” said Noel, sitting on the edge of the bath. “Was it hell?”
5. “It’s not too bad actually,” said Dora. “I’m only up here for the day, you know.
6. I felt I needed a change. All the people are nice. I haven’t seen any nuns yet, except
one that lives outside. But there’s a horrible feeling of being watched and organized.”
7. “How’s dear old Paul?”
8. “He’s fine. Well, he’s been beastly to me for two days, but I expect that’s my fault.”
9. “There you go!” said Noel. “Why should everything be your fault?
10. Some things are perhaps, but not every damn thing.
11. The trouble with Paul is he’s jealous of your creative powers.
12. As he can’t create anything himself he’s determined you shan’t”
13. “Don’t be silly,” said Dora. “I haven’t any creative powers.
14. And Paul’s terribly creative. Could you hold my glass and pass me the soap?”
15. “Well, don’t let’s start on Paul,” said Noel. “But about those religious folk.
16. Don’t let them give you a bad conscience.
17. People like that adore having a sense of sin
18. and living in an atmosphere of emotion and self-abasement.
19. You must be a great catch. The penitent wife and so forth.
20. But don’t give in to them.
21. “You’re drinking my drink!” said Dora.
22. “They may be nice,” said Noel, “but they’re thoroughly misguided.
23. “You sound quite passionate!” said Dora. “Pass me the towel.”

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The Bell

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by Iris Murdoch

British English

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 10-Sep-12)

`ridɪŋ pӕsɪʤ. ə'dӕptɪd | frm ðə `bel | baɪ 'aɪrɪs ˎmɜdɒk
1. ʃi ənaʊnst, aɪŋ gənə 'hӕv ə ˎbɑθ
2. 'dɑlɪŋ | ju `du ðӕt smɔl θɪŋ, sed nəʊəl.
3. “'ɑl 'brɪŋ ju ə 'drɪŋk | ɪn ðə ˎbɑθrəm. aɪ spəʊz ðə `sɪbərɪtɪk `prӕktɪs əv ˎˏbɑθɪŋ |
wz fə`bɪdn ət ðə ˏkɒnvənt
4. naʊ 'tel mi 'ɔl əˎbaʊt ɪt, sed nəʊəl, sɪtɪŋ ɒn ni eʤ ə ðə bɑːθ. 'wəz ɪt ́hel
5. ɪts 'nɒt 'tu `bӕd, ˏӕkʧəli, sed dɔrə. aɪm `əʊni ᴧp hɪə fə ðə `deɪ, ju nəʊ
6. aɪ 'felt aɪ 'nidɪd ə ˎʧeɪnʤ. 'ɔl lə 'pipl ə ˎˏnaɪs. aɪ `hӕvn `sin eni ˏnᴧnz jet |ksep wᴧn
ðət lɪvz aʊtˏsaɪd. bət ðeəz ə 'hɒrbl 'filɪŋ | əv biŋ `wɒʧt ən `ɔgənaɪzd.
7. 'haʊz 'diər əʊl ˎpɔl.
8. hiz `faɪn. ˎwel, hiz bin `bistli tu mi fə tu ˏdeɪz | bət aɪ kˈspekt 'ðӕts ˎmaɪ fɒlt. 'ðeə
ju 'gəʊ | sed ˏnəʊəl. 'waɪ ʃəd 'evrəθɪŋ | bi ˎ jɔ fɔlt.

9. `sᴧm ˏθɪŋz `ɑː pəhӕps | bət `nɒt `evri dӕm ˏθɪŋ.
10. ðə `trᴧbl wɪð `pɔl ˏɪz | hiz `ˏʤeləs | əv jɔ kri`eɪtɪv pɑəz.
11. ӕz i `kɑn krieɪt `enəθɪŋ ɪm`ˏself | hiz dɪ`ˏtɜmɪnd `ju ʃɑnt
12. `dəʊmp bi ˎsɪli, sed dɔrə. aɪ hӕvnt `eni krieɪtv pɑəz.
13. ən ˈpɔlz `terəbli krieɪtɪv. 'kʊʤu | ˈhəʊl maɪ 'glɑːs | n pɑs mi ðə ˏsəʊp.
14. ˎwel, `dəʊnt lets stɑt ɒn ˎˏpɔl | sed ˏnəʊəl. bət ə'baʊt 'ðəʊz rəˎlɪʤəs fəʊk.
15. 'dəʊnt 'let ðm | 'gɪv ju ə 'bӕd ˎkɒnʃns.
16. 'pipl laɪk 'ðӕt | ə`dɔ | 'hӕvɪŋ ə 'sens əv ˎsɪn |
17. ən 'lɪvɪŋ ɪn ən 'ӕtməsfɪər əv | ə'məʊʃn ən self əˎbeɪsmənt.
18. ju mᴧs bi ə `greɪt kӕʧ. ðə 'penɪtənt ˎwaɪf n səʊ fɔθ.
19. bət 'dəʊnt gɪv `ɪn tə ðm.
20. jɔ 'drɪŋkɪŋ `maɪ drɪŋk | sed dɔrə.
21. ðeɪ `meɪ bi `ˏnaɪs, | sed ˏnəʊəl, | bət ðeə 'θᴧrəli mɪsˎgaɪdɪd.
22. ju saʊn 'kwaɪp ˎpӕʃnət, sed dɔrə. 'pɑs mi ðə ˎtaʊəl.

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A carpet of flowers

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the following passage:
1. Flowers are definitely one of nature’s most beautiful creations. Equally as beautiful is
what the people of Tarquinia ( I suppose we could anglicise it to ) can create with
these flowers. I’m referring specifically to the “infiorata”, the festival of flowers.
2. Much to my amazement, the term “infiorata” is not included in any of the Italian
pronouncing dictionaries I have to hand, which is strange since this is quite a common
word here in Italy (there are other famous “infiorate” throughout the peninsula: in
Genzano, for example, near Rome, and in Spello, Umbria). Maybe this is because its
pronunciation is quite obvious (for native speakers): .
3. The Devoto-Oli 2011, not a pronunciation dictionary, traces the origins of the word
back to 1862 and describes the festival as a
4. “Profusione di fiori disposti come motivo di festoso ornamento; festa floreale. “
5.

(‘A profusion of flowers arranged in patters on the streets of towns; flower festival’.)

6. The “infiorata” is a festival which takes place every year on Corpus Christi Day, that is
two weeks after Whit Sunday. Flower petals are used to create amazing works of art in
the streets of towns. In some places the infiorata is a simple flower-petal design in
front of the town’s main church. At more elaborate “infiorate”, several different
tapestries are created, each with a different picture, but often centred around a single
theme.
7. To create the picture, the design is first sketched in chalk on the pavement. Soil is
usually used to outline the design, and then it’s filled in with thousands of petals and
seeds, much like the making of mosaics. The entire process takes a whole night to
complete.

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A carpet of flowers

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

8. On Sunday morning, the bells of churches will start chiming and the Bishop and his
entourage will emerge from Mass amid music and singing to lead the faithful in
procession through the streets of Tarquinia and over the stunning floral carpets,
which soon turn to a mass of crushed petals and shredded paper. A fleeting moment
of beauty, proof that nothing lasts, and encouraging us all to enjoy each moment as it
pans out before our very eyes.
9. If you are somewhere in Italy this weekend, please make sure you come to Tarquinia:
you won’t regret it!
10.(if you want to see pictures of the town I live in, have a look at this website: the photos
are excellent but the English translations are very bad!)

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A carpet of flowers

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

ə kɑːpɪt ə flaʊəz
1. flaʊəz ə defənətli wʌn əv neɪtʃəz məʊs bjuːtəfl̩ krieɪʃn̩z. iːkwəli əz bjuːtəfl̩ ɪz wɒʔ ðə
piːpl̩ əv Tarquinia (aɪ spəʊz wi kəd æŋɡlɪsaɪz ɪt tə tɑːˈkwɪniə) kəŋ krieɪt wɪð ðiːz
flaʊəz. aɪm rɪfɜːrɪŋ spəsɪfɪkli tə ði infiorata, ðə festɪvl̩ ə flaʊəz.
2. mʌtʃ tə maɪ əmeɪzmənt, ðə tɜːm infiorata ɪz nɒt ɪŋkluːdəd ɪn eni əv ði ɪtæljən
prənaʊntsɪŋ dɪkʃənriz aɪ hæv tə hænd, wɪtʃ ɪz streɪndʒ sɪnts ðɪs ɪz kwaɪt ə kɒmən
wɜːd hɪər ɪn ɪtəli (ðerə ʌðə feɪməs “infiorate” θruaʊʔ ðə pənɪntsjʊlə: ɪn Genzano
(dʒenˈtsano), frɪɡzɑːmpl̩, nɪə rəʊm, ənd ɪn Spello (ˈspɛllo), ʌmbriə). meɪbi, ðɪs ɪz
bɪkɒz ɪts prənʌntsieɪʃn̩ ɪz kwaɪt ɒbviəs fə neɪtɪv spiːkəz: ˌinfjoˈɾata.
3. ðə Devoto-oli 2011, nɒt ə prənʌntsieɪʃn̩ dɪkʃənri, treɪsəz ði ɒrədʒɪnz əv ðə wɜːd bæk
tə 1862 ən dəskraɪbz ðə festɪvl̩ əz eɪ
4. “profusione di fiori disposti come motivo di festoso ornamento; festa floreale”. (peɪdʒ
1407)

5. (‘prəfjuːʒn̩ ə flaʊəz əreɪndʒd ɪm pætənz ɒn ðə striːts əv taʊnz; flaʊə festɪvl̩’.)
6. ði infiorata ɪz ə festɪvl̩ wɪtʃ teɪks pleɪs evri jɪə ɒŋ kɔːpəs krɪsti deɪ, ðət ɪz tuː wiːks
ɑːftə wɪt sʌndeɪ. flaʊə petl̩z ə juːzd tə krieɪt əmeɪzɪŋ wɜːks əv ɑːt ɪn ðə striːts əv
taʊnz. ɪn sʌm pleɪsəz, ði infiorata ɪz ə sɪmpl̩ flaʊə-petl̩ dɪzaɪn ɪm frʌnt əv ðə taʊnz
meɪn tʃɜːtʃ. əʔ mɔːr ɪlæbərət “infiorate”, sevrəl dɪfrənt tæpəstriz ə krieɪtəd, iːtʃ wɪð ə
dɪfrənt pɪktʃə, bət ɒftn̩ sentəd əraʊnd ə sɪŋɡl̩ θiːm.
7. tə krieɪt ðə pɪktʃə, ðə dɪzaɪn ɪs fɜːst sketʃt ɪn tʃɔːk ɒn ðə peɪvmənt. sɔɪəl ɪz juːʒəli
juːzd tu aʊʔlaɪn ðə dɪzaɪn, ən ðen ɪts fɪld ɪn wɪð θaʊzn̩dz əv petl̩z ən siːdz, mʌtʃ laɪk
ðə meɪkɪŋ əv məʊzeɪɪks. ði ɪntaɪə prəʊses teɪks ə hɒʊl naɪt tə kəmpliːt.

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A carpet of flowers

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RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

Alex's phonetic thoughts

(visited 22-Aug-12)

8. ɒn sʌndi mɔːnɪŋ, ðə belz əv tʃɜːtʃɪz wl̩ stɑːʔ tʃaɪmɪŋ ən ðə bɪʃəp ənd ɪz ɒntʊrɑːʒ wəl
ɪmɜːdʒ frəm mæs əmɪd mjuːzɪk ən sɪŋɪŋ tə liːd ðə feɪθfʊl ɪm prəseʃn̩ θru ðə striːts əv

tɑːkwɪniə ənd əʊvə ðə stʌnɪŋ flɔːrəl kɑːpɪts, wɪtʃ suːn tɜːn tu ə mæs əv krʌʃt petl̩z ən
ʃredəd peɪpə. ə fliːtɪŋ məʊmənt əv bjuːti, pruːf ðəʔ nʌθɪŋ lɑːsts, ənd ɪŋkʌrədʒɪŋ əs ɔːl
tu ɪndʒɔɪ iːtʃ məʊmənt əz ɪʔ pænz aʊt bəfɔːr ɑː veri aɪz.
9. ɪf jɔː sʌmweər ɪn ɪtəli ðɪs wiːk, meɪk ʃɔː ju kʌm tə tɑːkwɪniə bətwiːn sætədeɪ n̩ sʌndeɪ:
ju wəʊnʔ rɪɡret ɪt!
10.(ɪf ju wɒnt tə siː pɪktʃəz əv ðə taʊn aɪ lɪv ɪn, hæv ə lʊk ət ðɪs websaɪt: ðə fəʊtəʊz ər
eksələnt bət ði ɪŋɡlɪʃ trænzleɪʃn̩z ə veri bæd!)

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‘The Spring Call’ by Thomas Hardy

RP Received Pronunciation

Transcription taken from

PhonetiBlog - Jack Windsor Lewis phonetic blog
(visited 05-Nov-12)

Make a phonemic (broad) transcription of the following poem
Down Wessex way, when spring's a-shine,
The blackbird's "pret-ty de-urr !"
In Wessex accents marked as mine

Is heard afar and near.
He flutes it strong, as if in song
No R's of feebler tone
Than his appear in "pretty dear",
Have blackbirds ever known
Yet they pipe "prattie deerh!" I glean,
Beneath a Scottish sky,
And "pehty de-aw" amid the treen
Of Middlesex or nigh.
While some folk say — perhaps in play—
Who know the Irish isle,
’Tis "purrity dare!" in treeland there
When songsters would beguile.
Well: I'll say that the listening birds
Say, hearing "pret-ty de-urr !"
However strangers sound such words,
That's how we sound them here.
Yes, in this clime at pairing time,
As soon as eyes can see her
At dawn of day, the proper way
To call is "pret-ty de-urr!"

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