FIRST SYLLABLES

Many errors of pronunciation creep into the speech through improper attention to first syllables. Such errors Such errors are usually in the vowel sound. A as an initial syllable in words like abate is sometimes wrongly changed to uh.

62. Exercise. When the first syllable is a single a followed by a single consonant, the a is that of a in fat.

Pronounce

63. Exercise. Be as a first syllable has the shortened sound of ee. It should not be elided nor changed.

64.

Exercise. Co as a first syllable usually has

the shortened sound of oh. When co with a consonant (cob, cod, etc.) is a first syllable, the o has the short sound of ah.

65. Exercise. De as a first syllable has the shortened sound of ee.