3.1.1. <span class="pho">ə</span>/<span class="pho">ɚ</span>/<span class="pho">ɝː</span>

<span class="pho">ə</span> 这个基础元音，在英语中最为普遍。在美式英语中，也相对特殊，因为它的长短两个版本都常常带着儿化音，所以值得第一个详细讲解。

在 6 个基础元音中，<span class="pho">ə</span> 和 <span class="pho">i</span> 的口型一样且最小。

3.1.1.1. 示例

<table> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2"><strong>British</strong></td> <td colspan="2"><strong>American</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>D.J.</td> <td>例词（Example）</td> <td>IPA</td> <td>例词（Example）</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="pho">ə</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-uk-male="/audios/uk_phonetics_sound_above_2023feb.mp3"></span></td> <td><b>a</b>bout <span class="pho alt">əˈbaʊt</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-uk-female="/audios/about-uk-female.mp3" data-audio-uk-male="/audios/about-uk-male.mp3"></span></td> <td><span class="pho">ə</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us_phonetics_sound_above_2023feb.mp3"></span></td> <td><b>a</b>bout <span class="pho alt">əˈbaʊt</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/about-us-female.mp3" data-audio-us-male="/audios/about-us-male.mp3"></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td><span class="pho">ɚ</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us_phonetics_sound_mother_2023feb.mp3"></span></td> <td>work<b>er</b> <span class="pho alt">ˈwɝː.kɚ</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/worker-us-female.mp3" data-audio-us-male="/audios/worker-us-male.mp3"></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="pho">ɜː</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-uk-male="/audios/uk_phonetics_sound_bird_2023feb.mp3"></span></td> <td>w<b>or</b>ker <span class="pho alt">ˈwɜː.kə</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-uk-female="/audios/worker-uk-female.mp3" data-audio-uk-male="/audios/worker-uk-male.mp3"></span></td> <td><span class="pho">ɝː</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/us_phonetics_sound_bird_2023feb.mp3"></span></td> <td>w<b>or</b>ker <span class="pho alt">ˈwɝː.kɚ</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/worker-us-female.mp3" data-audio-us-male="/audios/worker-us-male.mp3"></span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

3.1.1.2. 央元音 <span class="pho">ə</span>

在美式英语中，<span class="pho">ə</span> 有个专门的名称，叫做 “央元音”（schwa）。

在连贯的自然语流中，很多非重音音节的元音，都有被简化成 <span class="pho">ə</span> 的倾向，尤其是 <span class="pho">ɪ</span>。比如，individual, <span class="pho alt">ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl</span>，实际上会被读作 <span class="pho alt">ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒəʷəl</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/individual-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/individual-us-female.mp3"></span> —— <span class="pho">u</span> 也变成了 <span class="pho">ə</span>，而后 <span class="pho">u</span> 和 <span class="pho">ə</span> 之间有个加音 <span class="pho">ʷ</span>…… 事实上，现在已经有很多词典干脆直接标注成了后者。

在非重音音节上的 <span class="pho">ə</span> 是不可能带有儿化音的 —— 这一点要格外注意。很多人会矫枉过正，任何时候都把 <span class="pho">ə</span> 读成 <span class="pho">ɚ</span>…… 比如，有些人可能会把 focus <span class="pho alt">ˈfoʊkəs</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/focus-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/focus-us-female.mp3"></span> 错读成 <span class="pho alt">ˈfoʊkɚs</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-other="/audios/focurs-us.mp3"></span>。

3.1.1.3. 儿化音

短元音 <span class="pho">ɚ</span> 和长元音 <span class="pho">ɝː</span> 这两个儿化音，有两种发声方式，一种是凭直觉卷起舌尖（无论是前卷还是后卷，都被称作 Retroflex R），这也是绝大多数初学者发这个音的唯一选择。

由于这个音发声时的舌头动作是别人看不见的，所以，人们在学这个发音的时候，无法猜到第二种方式（被称作 Bunched R）：舌背部分抬起来，略微后缩，使舌的两侧接触到后牙。舌背的中心部分较低，空气通过这个凹槽产生声音。

以下是另外一个角度的图示¹：

以下的视频更为直观，worker <span class="pho alt">ˈwɝː.kɚ</span><span class="pho alt">ˈwɜː.kə</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-female="/audios/worker-us-female.mp3" data-audio-us-male="/audios/worker-us-male.mp3"></span> 这个词的长短两个版本的儿化音都是用 Bunched R 读出来的²：

<video controls width="720"> <source src="/videos/worker.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source>Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>

事实上，其他的儿化音也都可以用这种方式发声。不妨用这种方式重新试试 card <span class="pho alt">kɑːrd</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/card-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/card-us-female.mp3"></span>, mark <span class="pho alt">mɑːrk</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/mark-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/mark-us-female.mp3"></span>；再试试 door <span class="pho alt">dɔːr</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/door-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/door-us-female.mp3"></span>, short <span class="pho alt">ʃɔːrt</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/short-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/short-us-female.mp3"></span>, poor <span class="pho alt">pʊr</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/poor-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/poor-us-female.mp3"></span>, your <span class="pho alt">jʊr</span><span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/your-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/your-us-female.mp3"></span>…… 试过之后，再进行比较，你会发现更多的时候，第二种方式比第一种方式更方便。

在美式英语中，绝大多数人都使用第二种方式（Bunched R）发出儿化音。即便是使用第一种方式（Retroflex R），舌尖无论是前卷还是后卷，都一样，绝不会贴到龈脊上。

另外，辅音 <span class="pho">ʃ/ʒ</span>、<span class="pho">tʃ/dʒ</span> 在发音的时候，舌背也是同样的位置。

3.1.1.4. 常见拼写

<span class="pho">ə</span>

• a
  • about <span class="pho alt">əˈbaʊt</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/about-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/about-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • banana <span class="pho alt">bəˈnæn.ə</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/banana-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/banana-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • sofa <span class="pho alt">ˈsoʊ.fə</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/sofa-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/sofa-us-female.mp3"></span>
• e
  • open <span class="pho alt">ˈoʊ.pən</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/open-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/open-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • problem <span class="pho alt">ˈprɑː.bləm</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/problem-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/problem-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • synthesis <span class="pho alt">ˈsɪn.θə.sɪs</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/synthesis-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/synthesis-us-female.mp3"></span>
• i
  • animal <span class="pho alt">ˈæn.ɪ.məl</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/animal-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/animal-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • president <span class="pho alt">ˈprez.ɪ.dənt</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/president-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/president-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • pupil <span class="pho alt">ˈpjuː.pəl</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/pupil-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/pupil-us-female.mp3"></span>
• o
  • bacon <span class="pho alt">ˈbeɪ.kən</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/bacon-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/bacon-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • lesson <span class="pho alt">ˈles.ən</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/lesson-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/lesson-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • pilot <span class="pho alt">ˈpaɪ.lət</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/pilot-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/pilot-us-female.mp3"></span>
• u
  • circus <span class="pho alt">ˈsɝː.kəs</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/circus-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/circus-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • medium <span class="pho alt">ˈmiː.di.əm</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/medium-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/medium-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • support <span class="pho alt">səˈpɔːrt</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/support-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/support-us-female.mp3"></span>
• ou
  • courageous <span class="pho alt">kəˈreɪ.dʒəs</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/courageous-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/courageous-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • famous <span class="pho alt">ˈfeɪ.məs</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/famous-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/famous-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • humorous <span class="pho alt">ˈhjuː.mə.rəs</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/humorous-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/humorous-us-female.mp3"></span>

<span class="pho">ɚ</span>

• er
  • better <span class="pho alt">ˈbet̬.ɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/better-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/better-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • butter <span class="pho alt">ˈbʌt̬.ɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/butter-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/butter-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • teacher <span class="pho alt">ˈtiː.tʃɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/teacher-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/teacher-us-female.mp3"></span>
• or
  • actor <span class="pho alt">ˈæk.tɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/actor-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/actor-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • doctor <span class="pho alt">ˈdɑːk.tɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/doctor-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/doctor-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • editor <span class="pho alt">ˈed.ɪ.t̬ɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/editor-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/editor-us-female.mp3"></span>
• ar
  • beggar <span class="pho alt">ˈbeɡ.ɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/beggar-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/beggar-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • burglar <span class="pho alt">ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/burglar-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/burglar-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • collar <span class="pho alt">ˈkɑː.lɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/collar-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/collar-us-female.mp3"></span>
• ure
  • culture <span class="pho alt">ˈkʌl.tʃɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/culture-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/culture-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • figure <span class="pho alt">ˈfɪɡ.jɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/figure-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/figure-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • pressure <span class="pho alt">ˈpreʃ.ɚ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/pressure-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/pressure-us-female.mp3"></span>

<span class="pho">ɝː</span>

• er
  • her <span class="pho alt">hɝː</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/her-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/her-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • term <span class="pho alt">tɝːm</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/term-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/term-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • clerk <span class="pho alt">klɝːk</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/clerk-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/clerk-us-female.mp3"></span>
• ear
  • earn <span class="pho alt">ɝːn</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/earn-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/earn-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • earth <span class="pho alt">ɝːθ</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/earth-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/earth-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • heard <span class="pho alt">hɝːd</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/heard-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/heard-us-female.mp3"></span>
• ir
  • bird <span class="pho alt">bɝːd</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/bird-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/bird-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • first <span class="pho alt">ˈfɝːst</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/first-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/first-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • stir <span class="pho alt">stɝː</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/stir-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/stir-us-female.mp3"></span>
• ur
  • burn <span class="pho alt">bɝːn</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/burn-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/burn-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • nurse <span class="pho alt">nɝːs</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/nurse-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/nurse-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • turn <span class="pho alt">tɝːn</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/turn-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/turn-us-female.mp3"></span>
• or
  • word <span class="pho alt">wɝːd</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/word-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/word-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • world <span class="pho alt">wɝːld</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/world-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/world-us-female.mp3"></span>
  • worse <span class="pho alt">wɝːs</span> <span class="speak-word-inline" data-audio-us-male="/audios/worse-us-male.mp3" data-audio-us-female="/audios/worse-us-female.mp3"></span>

Footnotes

1. 该图示来自 https://globalspeechtherapy.com/how-to-teach-the-r-sound/ ↩

2. 这个视频片段，截取自一个收费软件 The Phonetics 3D，只有 iOS 版本。 ↩