The word “wanted” contains a combination of short and long vowel sounds, depending on how you analyze it. However, if we focus on the vowel sounds in the word, we can break it down to better understand its phonetic characteristics.
Phonetic Breakdown of “Wanted”
The word “wanted” is typically pronounced as /ˈwɒn.tɪd/ (in British English) or /ˈwɑːn.tɪd/ (in American English), and its pronunciation consists of three sounds:
- /w/: The “w” sound is a consonant sound, a glide that is relatively short.
- /ɒ/ or /ɑː/: This is the vowel sound in the first syllable.
- In British English, it’s pronounced as /ɒ/, which is a short, rounded vowel sound (as in “hot”).
- In American English, it’s pronounced as /ɑː/, which is a longer “ah” sound (as in “father”).
- /ɪ/: This is the vowel sound in the second syllable and is a short, lax vowel sound (as in “sit”).
- /d/: The “d” sound is a consonant, also short in duration.
Long vs. Short Vowel Sounds
Now, focusing on the vowel sounds:
- The vowel in the first syllable (either /ɒ/ or /ɑː/) is a bit more complex. In British English, /ɒ/ is a short sound, while in American English, /ɑː/ is a longer sound. However, the overall pronunciation of the first syllable in both cases tends to be considered more of a short vowel sound when compared to the more elongated sound of a long vowel.
- The vowel in the second syllable (the /ɪ/ sound) is a short vowel sound, as it is pronounced quickly and without much emphasis.
Conclusion:
Overall, the word “wanted” contains both short and long vowel sounds, depending on the regional accent. In British English, the first vowel sound /ɒ/ is short, while in American English, the first vowel sound /ɑː/ is longer. The second syllable is a short vowel sound /ɪ/.