Rx 1. [a] / [ɑ] | a / â / à
The sounds [a] and [ɑ] sound very similar except that the first is held slightly longer than the second. They can be spelled with the letters a, â or à in French.
In English, we don't use the shorter [a], but tend to use the longer [ɑ] in words like not and father. This sound is not in the English words such as cat, tall or tan. As a result, you need to rethink the way you pronounce the letters a, â or à in French words.
Below are some exercises to help you get used to pronouncing the letters a, â or à as they should sound in French.
I. Écouter et observer
Listen to the conversation between two friends. Pay attention to the pronunciation of the letter a by itself or when combined with i in the spelling ai. Notice how the letter a sounds different in words we use in English and in French, such as in the city Atlanta.
Bonjour, Alexis! Comment ça va?
Bonjour, Valentin! Ça va bien, et toi?
Oui, ça va pas mal.
Tu fais quoi ce soir?
Je pars à Atlanta.
Ah, parfait. A plus tard!
II. Ecouter et répéter
1. Les mots monosyllabiques:
ma – ta – sa – va – ça – la- à – par
2.Les mots et les phrases faciles:
Ça va? – papa – va – papa va – passe – papa passe – la – la caravane – la caravane va –
Savane – garage – parade – date – jade – banane – (ananas) – natte – nappe – trace – phare – drame- canne – plage – flamme – tram – malade – mamie – capitale – pratique – praline – parasol – parachute – parabole
3. Les noms géographiques et les noms propres
Ankara -Alaska- Canada – Panama – Sahara – Sara – Marie – Anne – Jeanne – Natalie – Carole – Chantal – Costa Brava – Cannes – Alpes – Paris
Exceptions!
Femme, évidemment
III. Comparer et contraster
Appeler – épeler, rapport- report, rame- rhum, âme -aime, panne- peine, trace – trousse.
En anglais ou en français?
Canada, Névada, Arizona, Santa Barbara, Californie, Anne, Natalie, capitale, garage, caravane, Alpes, Paris, tram, Chantal
IV. Lire – Enregistrer-Comparer
La caravane arabe va à Bagdad.
Anne va à la plage.
Papa va à Ankara.
Natalie passe par la Costa Brava.
Sa femme va à Cannes.
La femme malade va mal.
Ça va? – Non, ça va pas!
V. Le temps des virelangues!
La salade est savoureuse, sachez la savourer sans savonner.
Qu’a bu l’âne au lac ? — L’âne au lac a bu l’eau.