02. [b]
/b/ as in BOY /bɔɪ/, RABBIT /ˈræbɪt/, and TUB /tʌb/
PRONOUNCING /b/
LIPS: are pressed together as for /p/.
AIRSTREAM: is stopped and then exploded.
VOCAL CORDS: are vibrating.
The consonant /b/ in English is similar to the sound of the letter b when it follows n or m or begins a sentence in Spanish.
SPANISH KEY WORDS WITH /b/
Spanish words have this sound when b follows n or m or begins a sentence.
KEY WORDS: también tambor Benito tiene un buen barco.
POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER
- The Spanish letters b and v are frequently pronounced alike. You may confuse the two sounds in English.
EXAMPLE:
If you use /v/ instead of /b/: boat /boʊt/ will sound like vote /voʊt/
- When /b/ is the last sound in a word, many Spanish speakers forget to make their vocal cords vibrate. This will make /b/ sound like /p/ and confuse your listeners.
EXAMPLES:
If you say /p/ instead of /b/:
robe /roʊb/ will sound like rope /roʊp/
cab /kæb/ will sound like cap /kæp/
The consonant /b/ will be easy to say if you make your vocal cords vibrate and firmly press your lips together. BE sure to say /b/ with a BOOM and you’ll BE at your BEST!
EXERCISE A
The following words should be pronounced with /b/. Pronounce them carefully.
/b/ At the Beginning
/b/ In the Middle
/b/ At the End
be /bi/
but /bʌt/
bat /bæt/
back /bæk/
best /bɛst/
bone /boʊn/
bank /bæŋk/
boat /boʊt/
begin /bɪˈɡɪn/
borrow /ˈbɑroʊ/
obey /əˈbeɪ/
baby /ˈbeɪbi/
table /ˈteɪbəl/
habit /ˈhæbɪt/
rubber /ˈrʌbɚ/
lobby /ˈlɑbi/
cabin /ˈkæbɪn/
label /ˈleɪbəl/
ribbon /ˈrɪbən/
neighbor /ˈneɪbɚ/
cab /kæb/
cub /kʌb/
rub /rʌb/
tub /tʌb/
rib /rɪb/
rob /rɑb/
knob /nɑb/
crib /krɪb/
bulb /bʌlb/
robe /roʊb/
HINTS:
- The letter b is almost always pronounced /b/. Note the exception described in the in the following hint.
- When b follows m in the same syllable, it is usually NOT pronounced.
EXAMPLES:
comb
/koʊm/
bomb
/bɑm/
lamb
/læm/
plumber
/ˈplʌmɚ/
EXERCISE B
Pronounce carefully the following pairs of words. Make certain that your lips are pressed together and that you add «voicing» when saying /b/.
/b/
robe /roʊb/
mob /mɑb/
tab /tæb/
rib /rɪb/
stable /ˈsteɪbəl/
symbol /ˈsɪmbəl/
/p/
rope /roʊp/
mop /mɑp/
tap /tæp/
rip /rɪp/
staple /ˈsteɪpəl/
simple /ˈsɪmpəl/
EXERCISE C
Pronounce the following phrases and sentences aloud. Remember, the boldface words should be pronounced with the voiced consonant /b/.
bread and butter.
brɛd ænd ˈbʌtɚ.
above and below.
əˈbʌv ænd bɪˈloʊ.
baseball game.
ˈbeɪsbɔl ɡeɪm.
black and blue.
blæk ænd blu.
the bigger the better.
ðə ˈbɪɡɚ ðə ˈbɛtɚ.
I’ll be back.
aɪl bi bæk.
Bad habits can be broken.
bæd ˈhæbɪts kæn bi ˈbroʊkən.
Bill is in the lobby.
bɪl ɪz ɪn ðə ˈlɑbi.
Bob bought a blue bathrobe.
bɑb bɔt ə blu ˈbæθroʊb.
Betty was born in Boston.
ˈbɛti wʌz bɔrn ɪn ˈbɑstən.