This sound is typically represented by the combination of the letters 'ch', but there are at least four other spelling options. Besides, the 'ch' combination doesn't always mean you have to pronounce this very sound.
As you may have already guessed, this video is about the /tʃ/ affricate.
Watch this video to find out how to pronounce the /tʃ/ consonant correctly and avoid common pronunciation mistakes. You'll practice making this sound with pronunciation exercises recorded by a professional speech therapist.
Check out our website: soundsamerican.net/
Quick Links:
• Consonant sound /tʃ/ as in "chair": 00:00
• A Brief overview of affricate consonants: 00:44
• Affricate consonants definition: 01:33
• How to pronounce the /tʃ/ sound: 03:15
• Typical mistakes: 04:46
• Pronunciation exercise 1: 06:15
• Pronunciation exercise 2: 08:23
• Pronunciation exercise 3: 09:53
• Spelling for the /tʃ/ sound: 11:34
Related Videos:
#AmericanPronunciation #ConsonantSounds #AffricateSounds
► Consonant Sound /tʃ/ as in "chair" - this video
► Consonant Sound /dʒ/ as in "job"
• Consonant Sound / dʒ /...
► Consonant Sound /ʃ/ as in "show"
• Consonant Sound / ʃ / ...
► Consonant Sound /ʒ/ as in "vision"
• Consonant Sound / ʒ / ...
[THIS VIDEO HAS ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE SUBTITLES]
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TRANSCRIPT
Hello there! This is the "Sounds American" channel.
In this video, we're going to talk about the American consonant sound /tʃ/, as in the word "chair."
You can also hear this sound in words like "child," "coach," "nature" or "catch."
We'll be using special phonetic symbols - /tʃ/ - for this sound.
If you watched our previous videos, you may find these symbols quite familiar.
That's right, the /tʃ/ actually consists of two consonants: the stop sound /t/ and the fricative sound /ʃ/.
This video is about how they merge into an entirely different consonant sound.
The /tʃ/ is one of two consonant sounds in American English that are made this way. They're called "affricates".
So, what is an affricate sound?
The affricates are made by first stopping the airstream and then releasing it through a narrow passage in your mouth with audible friction.
To make the /tʃ/ sound, you need to merge the stop /t/ with the fricative /ʃ/ into one sound.
First, slightly open your mouth and push out your lips.
Now, focus on your tongue.
Place the tip of your tongue on the alveolar ridge behind your upper front teeth. Just as you do to make the /t/ sound. This way you stop the air.
Now, to release the air, arch your tongue so it's near the roof of your mouth. The same way as you do when you make the /ʃ/ sound. Make sure that you don't touch the roof of your mouth and that there's a small gap for the air stream.
When you release the air through this gap, it'll flow with lots of noise: /tʃ/.
Does that sound like a lot? Don't worry, let's watch it again in slow motion.
Remember, the /tʃ/ is an affricate sound, so it's important to completely stop the air and then immediately release it with friction.
Now, let's try and merge the /t/ and the /ʃ/ sounds together: /tʃ/, /tʃ/, /tʃ/.
Here are a few typical mistakes that people make when pronouncing this sound.
1. The most common problem is that many non-native English speakers confuse the /tʃ/ and the /ʃ/ sounds.
This happens when people don't stop the air before making the /ʃ/ sound. Be careful as this may lead to misunderstandings.
Compare:
"shop" - "chop"
"cash" - "catch"
Remember, the /tʃ/ consists of the /t/ stop sound and the /ʃ/ fricative. You have to first stop the air and then release it with a strong friction.
2. As always, keep in mind the Vowel Length rule!
The /tʃ/ is a voiceless consonant, so vowel sounds before the /tʃ/ are typically shorter than they are before voiced consonants.
Compare:
"badge" - "batch"
"ridge" - "rich"
[Pronunciation exercise 1]
Let's begin.
• chance
• chicken
• choose
• church
• attach
• bench
• each
• lunch
• much
• peach
• porch
• touch
• which
• catch
• ketchup
• kitchen
• match
• stitch
• switch
• watch
[Pronunciation exercise 2]
• question
• feature
• furniture
• fortune
• creature
• culture
• digestion
• century
• mention
• adventure
• mixture
• situation
• nature
• capture
• future
[Pronunciation exercise 3]
Next, we suggest you practice words in which the letters 'ch' are actually NOT pronounced as the /tʃ/ sound. So, if you pronounce them as /tʃ/, it's a mispronunciation.
• ache
• choir
• chemical
• machine
• christmas
• school
• character
• technique
• stomach
• orchestra
• chicago
• psychology
• headache
• technical
• chef
You're done! Congratulations!