Pronounce carefully the following words containing the short Italian a:
| advȧnce | clȧss | lȧnce | plȧster |
| advȧntage | contrȧst | lȧst | pȧstor |
| ȧfter | enchȧnt | mȧsk | prȧnce |
| bȧsket | Frȧnce | mȧster | rȧfter |
| brȧnch | glȧnce | mȧstiff | shȧft |
| brȧss | glȧss | pȧss | surpȧss |
| chȧff | grȧss | pȧst | tȧsk |
Exercise 13
Pronounce the following carefully, noting each a that is marked:
| hälf | ideȧ | cälm | audācious |
| pȧth | cȧn't | āpricot | ȧghȧst |
| ȧsk | cătch | mȧdrăs | ălgebrȧ |
| fäther | v[+a]cātion | ăgile | forbăde |
| dȧnce | extrȧ | cȧst | trȧnce |
| lȧss | cȧsket | grȧnt | āviātion |
Exercise 14
Pronounce the vowel o in the following very carefully. Don't give the sound feller or fella when you mean fellow.
| fellow | swallow | theory | borrow |
| potato | follow | position | heroism |
| window | original | factory | donkey |
| pillow | evaporate | ivory | memory |
| chocolate | mosquito | licorice | oriental |
Exercise 15
The vowel u needs particular attention. When it is long, it is sounded naturally, as it is in the alphabet. Do not say redooce for reduce.