The spelling of words containing /ɜː/

The spelling of words containing /ɜː/ can be tricky for speakers of languages such as Polish. The exercise below deals with some commonly mispronounced words.

Ex. Write the following words transcribed in IPA using ordinary English spelling. Then put them in groups according to the spelling of the vowel  /ɜː/.

a. /wɜːk/ b. /wɜːd/ c. /wɜːld/ d. /wɜːst/ e. /ˈmɜːki/ f. /fɜː/ g. /fɜːm/ h. /lɜːn/ i. /bɜːθ/ j. /fɜːn/ k. /kɜːs/ l. /'wɜːʃɪp/ m. /ˈtɜːtl̩/ n. /tɜːm/ o. /ˈtɜːki/, p. /'dʒɜːməni/ q. /'dʒɜːni/, r. /dʒɜːnl̩/

KEY

a. work, b. word, c. world, d. worst, e. murky, f. fir/fur, g. firm, h. learn, i. birth, j. fern, k. curse, l. worship, m. turtle, n. term, o. turkey/Turkey, p. Germany, q. journey, r. journal

EAR - learn

ER - fern, term, Germany

IR - fir, firm, birth

OR - work, word, world, worst, worship

OUR - journey, journal

UR - murky, fur, curse, turtle, turkey/Turkey