Pronunciation Notes 7
  1. Say these English words alowly, prolonging the "ng" sound.     

             Hanging             Singer

There should be no 'g' sound as in 'finger'.  Say following phrases      using the fist n to help you make the second.

 

   ໂຮງຮຽນ hóoŋ ŋáan factory
  ຕັ້ງງ່າຍ tàŋ ŋāay easy to start
  ຟົ້ງງາມ fɔ́ɔŋ ŋáam pretty waves
  ພວງເງິນ phúaŋ ŋén silver lei
ື  ນ້ອງໂງ່ nɔ̀ɔŋ ŋōo Foolish sister
  ຊ້າງເຫງ່າ sàaŋ ŋǎw lonely elephant
  ຕາງູ taa ŋúu snake eyes
  ບໍ່ງ່າຍ bɔ̄ɔ ŋāay not easy

   

  1. Compare    ື  yy (ʉʉ)ˏ ເ-ີ  eeˏ and -າ aa. They are all unrounded.   For   the teeth are close, for  ǝǝˏ and aaˏ a little open, for aaˏ open.    

Say:

  ອື່ນ ỳyn another
  ເອີ້ນ ǝ́ǝn call
  ອ່ານ àan read

          Compare the English word 'urn' and the Lao word ເອີ້ນ  ǝ̀ǝn. They should sound different.

  1. Most words which end in a short vowel are cut off short.  Say the following.
  ເໝາະສົມ mɔ́ sǒm suitable
  ປ໋າກັນ pá kan divorce
  ເປະເຮືອນ pέ hýan close to home
  ເຕະບານ té baan play soccer
  ເກີບເຕະ kǝ̂ǝp tε̄ rubber slippers
  ຂີ້ຕົວະ khîi túa to lie
    
   
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