Lesson 8 Front Nasal Simple or Compound Vowels:
Before learning these vowels, let us first review how the nasal sound “n” is made.
n (+e)
Front nasal. The major articulators involved are the tip of tongue and the upper gum. When producing this sound, the tip of the tongue presses against the upper gum to completely block the air stream from the oral cavity and let the air out from the nose with vibrating vocal cords. This sound is the same as the first sound in nation.
ɑn
Place the tongue in the position of producing the cinese simple vowel “ɑ” and then move the tip of your tongue slightly forward and produce the “ɑ” sound followed by the nasal “n”. Similar to the second sound in hand; however, the Chinese “ɑn” needs a wider opening of the mouth than the “an” sound in hand.
en
Place the tongue in the position of producing the Chinese simple vowel “e”, then move the tip of the tongue slightly forward to produce the first sound “e” followed by the nasal “n”. Similar to the “en” in Kentucky, except the tongue is slightly backward for the Chinese “en”.
in
First produce the Chinese simple vowel “i”, followed by pronouncing nasal “n”. Similar to the “en” in engage, except Chinese “in” has smaller opening of the mouth than the “en” in engage.
ün
This sound is made by producing the Chinese simple vowel “ü” followed by the nasal “n”. No equivalent in English.
iɑn
First produce the Chinese simple vowel “i”, followed by “ɑn”.
uɑn
First produce the Chinese simple vowel “u”, followed by “ɑn”.
üɑn
First produce the Chinese simple vowel “ü”, followed by “ɑn”.
uen(un)
Written as “un” after an initial consonant. It is produced by pronouncing the Chinese simple vowel “u”, followed by “en”.
Poem
A Snow Scene
雪(xuě)景(jǐng)
Qing Dynasty · Anonymous
清(qīng)·无(wú)名(míng)氏(shì)
One flake, another flake, and another,
一(yī)片(piàn)一(yī)片(piàn)又(yòu)一(yī)片(piàn)，
Three, four, five, and six flakes,
三(sān)片(piàn)四(sì)片(piàn)五(wǔ)六(liù)片(piàn)，
Six, seven, eight, and nine flakes,
六(liù)片(piàn)七(qī)片(piàn)八(bā)九(jiǔ)片(piàn)，
When flying into the reed marshes, they disappear.
飞(fēi)入(rù)芦(lú)花(huā)都(dōu)不(bù)见(jiàn)。
