Text Clarity

Articulation refers to the mechanics of producing speech and involves the movement and adjustment of speech organs (lips, tongue, velum, cheeks, jaw, larynx) to produce a specific sound or phoneme. A phoneme is one specific articulatory movement, such as forming the vowel [i] or the consonant [b].  Words are formed by groups of phonemes. 

Composers are (usually) diligent in selecting song texts. It is the job of the singer to communicate the composer’s intent to the audience by understanding the poem (or prose) and using musical cues. The three terms above contribute to how one can make words understood. The poetic and symbolic nature of singing text can be a challenge for the audience (and singer) to understand. Because of this, singers are tasked with making text understandable while still producing beautiful sounds.

PRONUNCIATION

VOWELS

Vowels are produced without any vocal tract constrictions. Since most singing occurs on vowels, students begin vocal study learning to form vowels accurately. There are subtle differences in vowels that can be affected by several things:

• individual characteristics of a vowel
• individual differences in articulating organs
• unneccesary muscle tension
• gender differences
• range in the voice
• dialects or accents
• dynamic levels

When singing vocal exercises, or vocalizing, we use the vowels ah, ay, ee, oh, oo, which come from the Italian language, and are called pure vowels. The IPA symbols for these are [a, e, i, ɔ, u].  The study of singing began in Italy, and Italian pure vowels are best for efficient, beautiful tone production. Other vowels may be used, and are encouraged, but mastering the five basic vowels will give you a strong foundation.

English vowels can be problematic because there are so many, and hearing the difference in vowel sounds can be difficult. Thinking back to the word list above, did you hear a difference in the way students pronounced the word “ten?”

VOWEL MODIFICATION

Vowels must be modified through slight physical adjustments when one is singing from low to high range. It occurs primarily when negotiating the transitional notes at register shifts (passaggi), especially when singing higher pitches.  Sing a scale on the vowel [i].  As you ascend into the higher range, notice the natural space that occurs. This is vowel modification. Sometimes a voice instructor will instruct students to modify the vowel they are singing in order to create more space inside the mouth. It is important that the instructor use clear language and the student understands what is being asked.

INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET

Professional singers must sing in several languages and they study diction to help them. Diction courses teach singers how to sing in different languages. This cannot replace studying the language itself, but it is a beneficial tool for singers. When studying diction, students learn the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to aid in pronunciation. IPA is a worldwide standardized system for transliterating speech sounds into phonetic symbols. It is also a useful tool for English singers to identify the correct way to pronounce vowel and consonant sounds when singing in their native language. You will find that the way words are spoken and the way words are sung can be quite different. The main reason is that you must sustain vowels in singing, and use more clarity in pronouncing consonants. Regional differences also affect the way words are spoken and sung. Vocal pedagogue Shirlee Emmons stated, “It is very easy to have what is known as good diction while singing poorly; the real trick is to have good diction while not letting it interfere with good singing.”

IPA SYMBOLS FOR AMERICAN ENGLISH

International Phonetic Alphabet symbols represent one phoneme (sound) or articulatory movement.  Although many look and sound like regular orthographic (written) letters, there are several that have unique symbols representing the sound. 

VOWELS

Pure Vowels

[ɑ]     father, not, October

[æ]     cat, add

[ɛ]     bed, said

[ɪ]     sit, improve, believe

[i]     real, evil

[ɔ]     caught, autumn

[o]     November, okay

[ʊ]     foot, put

[u]      clue, tool

[ʌ]      sun, under

[ə]      above [əbʌv]

SPECIAL VOWEL SOUNDS

“Nasty” vowel

[æ]

cat [kæt], ask [æsk}, add [æd]

This vowel is useful for vocalizing when the tone is breathy, weak, dark, or back.  However, make sure the vowel is being produced correctly and not too tense.  Singers can gain strength, brilliance, and projection with [æ] and [e] followed by [a] or [o].

Neutral Vowel “schwa” 

[ə]

kitchen [kɪtʃən], malicious [məlɪʃəs]

This neutral vowel occurs in unstressed syllables in multisyllabic words and can be represented by several different vowels.  Although the term schwa is German, we do use the term in English pronunciation.  Most unstressed syllables are pronounced like uh, although some are also pronounced ih.

Semi-vowels/Semi-consonants/Glides

The sound is created by movement of the articulators from one position to another. The first vowel sound glides to the second vowel sound, which is sustained.

 [j]  you [ju], music [mjuzɪk]

[w]  quick [kwɪk], want, witch

 [ɹ]  right [ɹaɪt], rest [ɹɛst]

R-Colored Vowels 

These vowels are followed by the letter r, which affects the sound of the vowel.  Although the symbol changes for stressed and unstressed, the sound is the same.

[ər] (unstressed) father, water

[ɜr] (stressed) bird, word, early

[aʊ]     house, owl

[aɪ]      sight, aisle, rise

[eɪ]      weigh, able, aim

[oʊ]     own, know, sew

[ɔɪ]      joy, boil 

[ɹ]           real, strain

[k]           cat, kitchen, quick

[z]           zoo, words

[θ]           thing, path

[ð]           this, weather

[ʤ]          jar, gem

[ʧ]            chain, achievement

[ŋ]           sing

[ʃ]            shoe, sash, nation