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Workbook 1 · Unit 1 Dress & Trap · L2

The Trap Vowel/æ/

JL

/æ/

Vowel type
Short Monophthong
Tongue
Front, down, open - arching forwards and down Tongue tip behind teeth
Lips
Slightly stretched throughout.
Tips
Smile during the vowel; with this oneit’s always recommended.

This is much harder than it looks if you are in the business of excellence.

– James Leyshon

Common mistakes

  • Don’t merge it with DRESS: say bad /bæd/, not /bɛd/.
  • Don’t use Russian “а” (STRUT): say cat /kæt/, not /kʌt/.
  • Open your jaw wider than for /ɛ/: man /mæn/ vs men /mɛn/.

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