– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

This is a short vowel sound - it's pronounced /ə/,  and to make this sound you just relax your mouth.  

You try - listen and repeat: /ə/, and again /ə/.  In fact, this is a very common sound in English,  

and in many grammar words it's the only  vowel sound, such as: 'a', 'the, 'of',  

'that'. Let's practice these - listen and repeat:  'a', 'the, 'of', 'that'. Now you also get this  

sound in many words of more than one syllable -  listen: 'about', 'common', 'standard', 'butter'.  

Let's practice - listen to me and repeat:  'about', 'common', 'standard', 'butter'. Good.

You could say that the vowel /ə/ is the most  important vowel in English. In fact, it's so  

important it has its own name - it's called John.  No, not really it's actually called schwa - schwa,  

which is pretty strange when you think about it,  because the word schwa doesn't have the schwa  

sound in it. So, why is this sound so important?  Well it's a very natural sound for English  

speakers and it's actually the most frequent  sound in English. It appears in just about  

every word with more than two syllables and it's  very important for getting the stress and rhythm  

of English right. Schwa is usually in unstressed  syllables. Let's have a look at some examples:  

'accuse', 'banana', 'father', 'camera'. OK.  Now you try - listen and repeat: 'accuse',  

'banana', 'father', 'camera'. Now as well as  being a part of many words, schwa can also  

be the pronunciation for a whole word itself and  to show you this I'm going to need an assistant.

A cup of tea, thank you. An ordinary cup of  tea but listen to what happens when I say the  

words 'a' and 'of' naturally: a cup of tea -  a cup of tea. The words 'a' and 'of' become  

schwa /ə/. Now you try - listen and repeat  after me: 'a cup of tea' - 'a cup of tea'.  

Good. Now this is such a natural and common  way to pronounce 'cup of' that in British  

English the word 'cuppa' actually means 'a  cup of tea', and after all that I'm really  

looking forward to my cuppa. Actually,  what I really fancy is a piece of cake.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
vowel /ˈvaʊəl/ B1	noun - a speech sound produced without significant obstruction of the airflow
pronounce /prəˈnaʊns/ B1	verb - to make the sound of a word or letter with the voice
relax /rɪˈlæks/ A2	verb - to make or become less tense or anxious
common /ˈkɒmən/ A2	adjective - occurring or found frequently
practice /ˈpræktɪs/ A2	verb - to perform an activity repeatedly to improve proficiency
syllable /ˈsɪləbəl/ B2	noun - a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound
standard /ˈstændəd/ B1	adjective - used or accepted as normal or average
important /ɪmˈpɔːtənt/ A1	adjective - of great significance or value
strange /streɪndʒ/ A2	adjective - unusual or surprising
natural /ˈnætʃərəl/ A2	adjective - existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind
frequent /ˈfriːkwənt/ B1	adjective - happening often
appear /əˈpɪər/ A2	verb - to come into sight; become visible
stress /stres/ B1	noun - emphasis given to a particular syllable or word in speech
rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/ B2	noun - a strong, regular, repeated pattern of sound
assistant /əˈsɪstənt/ B1	noun - a person who ranks below a senior and helps them
ordinary /ˈɔːdənəri/ B1	adjective - with no special or distinctive features; normal
fancy /ˈfænsi/ B2	verb - to want to have or do something

Key Grammar Structures

• In fact, this is a very common sound in English, and in many grammar words it's the only vowel sound.

  ➔ Adverbial phrase 'In fact' and 'only' as an adjective modifier.

  ➔ Use "In fact" to emphasize a point; "only" limits the noun phrase 'vowel sound'.

• Now you also get this sound in many words of more than one syllable.

  ➔ Comparative quantifier 'more than'.

  ➔ "More than" is used to indicate a quantity exceeding a specific number.

• You could say that the vowel /ə/ is the most important vowel in English.

  ➔ Modal verb of probability 'could' and superlative adjective.

  ➔ "Could" softens the statement; "most important" is the superlative form of 'important'.

• It's so important it has its own name - it's called schwa.

  ➔ So... that clause (result clause) and passive voice.

  ➔ "So... that" expresses extreme degree causing a result; "is called" is passive voice.

• It appears in just about every word with more than two syllables.

  ➔ Adverbial modifier 'just about' and prepositional phrase.

  ➔ "Just about" means 'almost'; "with more than two syllables" specifies the type of word.

• Now as well as being a part of many words, schwa can also be the pronunciation for a whole word itself.

  ➔ Conjunction 'as well as' and modal 'can'.

  ➔ "As well as" means 'in addition to'; "can" denotes possibility.

• I'm going to need an assistant.

  ➔ Future intention 'be going to'.

  ➔ "Be going to" is used to express a planned future action.

• What I really fancy is a piece of cake.

  ➔ Cleft sentence (What + subject + verb + be + noun).

  ➔ The "What..." construction is used to highlight or focus on the complement ('a piece of cake').