“Give the sound which a has in these words: all, tall, walk, salt. This open, deep vowel is called the broad sound, and is marked in spelling with a dot below: ạ (/ɔː/).”
1
Phonogram Family Classification — Study the 16 words with broad ạ and trace each under its pattern:
Family -all
all, ball, call, fall, tall, wall, stall, small
Family -alk
talk, walk, stalk, chalk (silent l)
Family -alt
salt, halt
Influenced by W
want, warm
2
Silent Letter Detective — Cross out the silent l in each word and write its phonetic pronunciation:
walk
talk
chalk
stalk
3
Sentence Composition — Compose original sentences using words with broad ạ:
Sentence 1 (Use walk and chalk):
Sentence 2 (Use warm and small):
Broad A (Ạ) Orthography Rules:
1. The Diacritic Mark for Broad Ạ: In American lexicography (Webster & Wheeler), the broad sound of a is marked with one dot beneath: ạ.
2. Silent L before K: When l precedes k after broad a (walk, talk, chalk, stalk), the l is completely silent (/wɔːk/, /tɔːk/).
3. Influence of Initial W: The labial consonant w rounds the lips and changes short a into broad ạ in words like want and warm.
Wheeler's Elementary Speller • Lesson 77 • Broad A Sound as in "All" (ạ = /ɔː/)Page 1 of 2 (Student Worksheet)