park the fast car

Click to hear the sound

How to make this sound

Example words letter spelt -a- or -ar-

father alms arms park glass card garden alarm past father harder bath staff army bark laugh darling fast after bar star class

Example words with other letters

clerk heart sergeant guard heart

This is a long vowel. The mouth is quite open so the bottom jaw is dropped down quite a bit. The tongue tip is pulled back from the bottom teeth very slightly. The tongue tip is flat but not touching the bottom of the mouth- it is slightly raised off the floor of the mouth. The back of the tongue is flattened down towards the bottom of the mouth. Again resonance is more from the throat/back of mouth. Again the letter 'R' is often not pronounced in Rp English after a vowel letter.

Note that some accents use different sounds for the words can and can't but others use the same vowel sound. How do you say these sentences? Which way is easiest for the listener?

1. You can use my phone.
2. You can't go tonight.
3. You can come too.
4. I can do it for you tomorrow.
5. The children can't drive cars.
6. She can't wear jeans at work.