Pronunciation Continued 2: English Vowels

All vowels, some consonants and a number of diphthongs in English have more than one sound (pronunciation). It is for this reason that learning how to communicate intelligibly and effectively in English, for both native and non-native speakers, can be, or should I say is,  a trying process.  Wylcomenetwork.com has created istudycards and mp3s to help you to learn how to pronounce vowels in English.  (contains 8 sets of istudycards)  The audio for Pronunciation: English Vowels can be accessed at studyguides.com
Minimal pairs (vowels),Minimal pairs (consonants) and English consonants would be good buys to help you better understand English vowels and vice versa.

Also, videos on  more general discussions on pronunciation, metaphoric English, idiomatic expressions, grammar, collegiate vocabulary, prefixes, roots, suffixes and more, go to carralaficklin.com.  At Carralaficklin.com you can also find video on Spanish, Spanish expressions, Spanish grammar, Spanish relationship with English and English relationship with Spanish and the other Latin-based languages.  There even is a discussion on verbs and the subjunctive mood in English versus Spanish.
 

(continuation of description from Pronunciation: English Vowels, 1)
It would be incorrect to leave you with the impression that at all time when the vowel is alone in the word it is always short; it is not. However, when the vowel stands alone in a word and is long, it is considered irregular.  The following are examples: nasal, nadir, tomato, potato, spatial, papal, grind, iron, find, fine, rival, no, Jo, ho-ho,  Ruth, flu, Hindu, curate, union, cucumber.

Ironically enough, it is in words where the vowels DO NOT say their name, that the vowel normally stands alone.  The sound of the vowels in the following short words are short: lack, rap, lava, father, pan, met, pet, meds, Edward, Ed, sip, lip, strip, trip, sit, hid, pick  lock, dot, rock, rob, block, mutt, us, rush, luck, truck, cut.    (contains 8 sets of istudycards) (Continued at Pronunciation: English Vowels 3)