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>>SARA KERSTEN: Today we are talking about what we call "ambiguous vowels."
And in some circles, some people might consider these "diphthongs" as well.
But I'm going to consider them ambiguous vowels.
You have "aw" "au" and "augh" as well as "al" and "all."
They all make the "aaaaa" sound.
So, for instance the word "saw" and "draw" make the "aaaaa" sound.
So, if you notice "au" here, we have "aw" when do you think we use which one?
"Aw" is typically at the end of the word, "au" is typically in the middle of a word.
So, one syllable. "Sauce" "fault" "launch" make an "aaaaa" sound.
Like I said, some people consider these "diphthongs" as well.
Then there is "augh." The best way to learn these is sight-word practice.
"Caught." Do you hear that "t" at the end? That's normally the way
that you can help save students.
"Daaaaaughter." So be careful with that. You hear that "t"-- that's when you can say
"augh" because you have that "t."
You do need to be careful with this, because it is definitely regional.
For instance, this word...
I'm from the Midwest, so I say "loiyer". But I actually taught in the South, and they
say "lawwyer." So, you have to be careful there.
I had to have my students write this word and I had to
make sure that I was saying it the Southern way. "Lawyer" not "loiyer."
So, "aw" can be "aww."
Now, these also make the same sound.
We have "salt"...
So, if you notice-what do you think the rule is?
When you hear the "all" sound at the end of the word, it's typically double-L.
When you hear "all" in the middle of the world, it's typically just one "L."
So, "salt" "chalk" "alright."
So, it's like "awl." It's like I'm saying that. "Awl." Alright.
So, you have "sawlt" "chawlk" "awlright" "mall" "small."
So all of these are what we can consider ambiguous vowels, and I teach all of these
to my students, so that they can understand when too use which one.
So, once again, these are the end of the word, hence the double-L.