English Pronunciation Tip of the Day
Tip 49
Category:
Spelling to sound
Author: JAM
<wa> <wha> <qua> <quaw>
The sequences <wa> and <wha> are often pronounced /wQ/, as in want, what, swan. However we have /O:/ in water. If <r> or <l> follow in the spelling, then the pronunciation is usually /wO:/, as in swarm, warn, wharf, wall. The situation is similar with <qua> -- /kwQ/ in quantity, squash etc, /kwO:/ in quarter, squall etc. Notice however:
- /eI/ in quake, quaver
- /kwQ/ in quality, squalid, quarry
- /kwA:/ in qualm.
<ware> and <quare>. are /we@/ and /kwe@/ as in software, square.
The context in which these sequences are regularly pronounced with the vowel /{/ is when the following consonant is a velar - /k g N/, as in quack, swank, wag, but of course we have /O:/ in walk.
The sequence <quaw> is always /kwO:/, as in squaw, squawk.