: While the official companion site has changed recently, it traditionally hosts supplementary materials and some audio files for registered users at Cambridge ELT. Streaming & Free Resources
English phonetics is the study of the individual sounds of English, also known as phonemes. It examines the physical properties of these sounds, such as the position of the lips, tongue, and vocal cords, and how they are produced. Phonetics also looks at the acoustic properties of sounds, such as their frequency, amplitude, and duration. By understanding the phonetics of English, you can learn to produce and recognize the individual sounds of the language.
You can find English phonetics and phonology audio CDs from various sources:
If you are a Mandarin speaker, you likely confuse /l/ and /r/. If you are Spanish, you may struggle with /ɪ/ vs. /iː/. Use the MP3s to create a custom playlist of minimal pairs for your specific challenges.
Moreover, MP3 is a universal, DRM-free (if legitimately purchased) format that works on any device, from a 2007 iPod to the latest Android phone. It will likely outlive proprietary educational app formats.
Only repeating easy sounds. Solution: Force yourself to spend most of your time on sounds that do not exist in your native language (e.g., /θ/ for French speakers).